If one were asked to explain Jamie O’Brien in a word, they might choose “explosive.” Whether being spit out of a seething Pipeline barrel, launching an air reverse six feet above the lip, or blowing up in front of a camera, Jamie’s surfing is a full frontal assault on the senses. There is a saying that “the person having the most fun in the water is the best surfer on any given day.”

O’Brien was born on June 9, 1983 in Hawaii and currently lives in Haleiwa. He has said that he was fortunate as a child to grow up near the Banzai Pipeline. He is one of the youngest surfers ever to win a Pipe Masters challenge.

Jamie’s father was a life guard and Jamie has said that one of the things that got him … Read More »

Video may have killed the radio star, but for Chris Ward, it made the surf star. In another time, Ward would have been another hot kid from Southern California. As it is, his legend has followed — and perhaps even surpassed — that of his San Clemente neighbor, Matt Archbold, another worldwide sensation who never seemed to fit in a contest jersey.

The Wards moved to San Clemente from Galveston, Texas, when Chris was nine. Martin Potter had clocked some hours at T Street in the mid-’80s and ignited a freesurfing frenzy that began with Archbold and Christian Fletcher, filtered through international stars like Shane Beschen and rubbed off on kids like Ward. As Ward entered his formative years, the area was already synonymous with radical, outside-the-lines surfing. Rumors started circulating in the mid-’90s about a little … Read More »

After four years of competition amongst the world’s finest surfing pedigree, the goofy-footed talent hailing from Santa Barbara, California continues to cement himself as a perennial Top 10 finisher on the ASP World Tour. Martinez’s lethal backhand attack groomed by Santa Barbara’s famed righthand pointbreaks, combined with his knack for threading the needle in critical barrels, proven by his victories at the Billabong Pro Teahupoo and the Billabong Pro Mundaka, both twice over, prove he has the ability to scalp an event win at any stop on tour. The Californian’s versatility in all conditions make him a dangerous competitor in any event on the ASP World Tour schedule.

There have been many impressive brother duos in surfing’s history: Michael and Derek Ho, Shea and Cory Lopez, Andy and Bruce Irons. Never, though, has a set of twins ascended so far in the competitive ranks as Florida’s C.J. and Damien Hobgood. These almost indecipherable goofyfoots and NSSA nightmares turned into top-10 WCT powerhouses, wreaking double trouble on the rest of the world — especially in heaving lefthanders. Hailing from Satellite Beach, C.J. and Damien followed the now well-heeled path from the Sunshine State to surf stardom established by Charlie Kuhn, Todd Holland and Kelly Slater, with CJ becoming the first East Coast’s second-ever men’s world champion.

Since beginning as menehunes in the Eastern Surfing Association, the Hobgoods swapped first- and second-place finishes like they were swapping socks. In 1991, they set the trend … Read More »

Since he was a kid, Sunny Garcia’s dream has been to kick back as a fat, happy Hawaiian with a bunch of kids running around. That existence remained in jeopardy as the one prize that would make him content — a world title — eluded him 14 consecutive years. With the inspiration of a new love and a new fitness regimen, he kept a horde of challengers at bay and, at age 30, led the ASP tour from start to finish to run away with the 2000 crown.

Growing up in Waianae, on Oahu’s West Side, wasn’t an easy task — even for a local. Vincent Sennen Garcia came from a broken home and found surfing as a refuge from fighting and poverty. He owned his division in the Hawaiian Surfing Association and jumped onto the tour … Read More »

age: 29 years-old
a.k.a.: Freddy P
d.o.b.: December 15, 1981
born: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
resides: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
parents: Mom Julia is a social worker, Big Fred Sr. used to own a surf shop
siblings: Two sisters, Leilani is the oldest and Lehua is the youngest.
significant other: Girlfried Melissa
offspring: None yet
hobbies: Playing golf

www.freddyp.com

Short Biography

Fred Patacchia is a fast and powerful goofyfoot who was born and bred on the North Shore of Oahu. He’s a former prodigy and NSSA Champ and was the 2005 ASP Rookie of the Year. He’s an incredible tube rider at spots like Pipe and Teahupo’o and he’s also got a wicked backhand honed from years smacking the lip at his home break of Haleiwa. Fred is super friendly and outgoing. He waves the aloha flag 24/7 and brings true Hawaiian spirit wherever he goes.

Outside of surfing, Fred loves … Read More »

Ever since music went bad — as disco replaced rock — Australia ruled competitive surfing. Rolf Aurness, the 1970 World Champion, was America’s last hero, and he vanished without a trace. Michael Peterson, PT, Rabbit, Cheyne, MR — Aussies owned the ’70s and early ’80s.

Enter Thomas Roland Curren. In 1982, the unassuming introvert strolled into Duranbah and single-handedly dumped Australia on its head. He quickly became the most popular surfer in the world, a title he would hold for two decades. By the time he showed the first signs of slowing, disco had come full swing, again clogging the airwaves.

Legendary big-wave rider Pat Curren didn’t wait past the toddler stage to put his son Tom on a surfboard. By the time Tom was a teen, his depth of wave-mastery was almost … Read More »

Mick Fanning has been surfing since the age of 5 and is now a pro surfer from Australia. Mick is well-known for his super aggressive style and ability to whip his board. Pro surfer Mick Fanning competes at the WCT championship surfing level. Mick Fanning’s nickname is Micktor. Mick also goes by the nicknames Eugene, and White Lightning. This is the Surfing.com Mick Fanning biography.

Height: 177cm, 5ft 10in Weight: 73kg, 161lb
Birthday: June 13, 1981
Birthplace: Penrith, New South Wales Australia
Current Home: Tweed Heads, NSW Australia
Surfing Coach: Phil McNamara
Life Facts: Mick was born in Sidney suburbs of Penrith, he first put his feet on a surfboard at the age of 5, then surf occasionally. He really get into it when his family moved to Tweed head (border between NSW and QLD state) by the age of … Read More »

Jordy Smith 22 girls for Billabong Pipeline event. Jordy showed up on the North Shore this winter with a 22-board quiver of provocative sleds. Some are jealous of the art, others (namely his ex-girlfriends) think it’s gross, Jordy thinks it’s funny. “Kelly had those boards with the girls on them back in the day,” says Jordy. “I thought it was classic, and that’s kind of what gave me this idea.” Jordy Smith’s Quiver for Pipeline >

The 22-year-old prodigy born and raised in the rough and tumble land of Durban, South Africa is set to embark on his third year on the ASP Dream Tour. The powerful regular-footer’s spotless season in 2007 saw him claim both the 2006 ASP World Junior Championships as well as the ASP WQS season, qualifying for the coveted ASP Dream Tour … Read More »

FAST FACTS

AKA: Parko
DOB: April 10, 1981
Born: Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Resides: Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia
Hobbies: Fishing and spending time with the family
url: www.joelparko.com

VITALS

Height: 6’0′ (183 cm)
Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)
Stance: Natural
Sponsors: Billabong wetsuits and clothing, Von Zipper eyewear, Kustom footwear and JS Industries surfboards
Shaper: Jason Stevenson
Magic Stick: 6’2″
Training Ground: Snapper and D’Bah
Favorite Wave: Long ones
Favorite Maneuver: Big ones
Inspirations: Kelly Slater, Mark Occhilupo and Matt Hoy

2010 Rating: DL
2010 Points: 10500
2010 earnings: $20,000.00
Career earnings: $1,141,226.00
Highest Rating: Runner-Up in 2009, 2004 and 2002
Elite Inception: 2001
Years on Tour: 2011 will be Joel’s 11th year on the ASP World Tour
Sabbatical: None yet

Rating by Year:
2009: 2nd
2008: 4th
2007: 4th
2006: 6th
2005: 12th
2005: 2nd
2003: 5th
2002: 2nd
2001: 21st

Filmography: Still Filthy (2009), Stranger Than Fiction (2008), Trilogy (2007), Free As A Dog (2005)

Honor Roll: Two-time ASP World Junior Champion, ASP World Runner-Up in 2009, 2004 and 2002, Perfect 20 … Read More »