With much needed cameo from surfing' first transsexual competitor, the wildly inspirational Sasha Jane Lowerson…
Surf fans are in for a terrific sight this Easter at the Bells Beach Kathmandu Pro, which peels back its curtain on Tuesday, April 4, and runs into April 14 although, traditionally, organisers try to wrap up the show on the day of Jesus’ resurrection, which occurs this year on April 9.
For at some point during those ten days, three-time world champion Tom Curren, hero to Kelly Slater and star of the wildly underrated film Free Scrubber, will surf a heat against his old foe Mark Occhilupo, a father of nine who famously told the world in 1984, “I want to get real and stop these American wankers.”
The heat is a reprise of their 1986 semi-final still lazily described as the best man-on-man heat ever. (That honour was bestowed upon Kelly Slater and John John Florence in 2014 for that year’s semi at Teahupoo.)
Real hard to find any sorta footage of the ’86 heat, only this confusing pastiche.
It ain’t the first time Occ and Curren have done the ol’ vaudeville routine for fans at Bells.
In 2019, a skimboard-riding Curren was smashed by Occ, a revenge of sorts for their 2014 heritage heat at J-Bay, won by Curren after scoring a ten, and also that distant semi, also won by Curren.
Both men are near sixty although age seems to weary neither.
Anyway, some surf fans are a little sad there ain’t a gal’s heritage heat, which is fair enough I suppose given the current mania for equity etc, one posting, “Who is in the women’s heritage heat? Surely, there is one too…”

The replies are revealing.
“They will put them out when the surf turns onshore.”
“They need to make sure it’s small enough.”
Even inspirational tranny surfer Sasha Jane Lowerson makes an appearance.
“Can we see Pam and Pauline?”

An excellent response.
I wish to see Lisa Andersen versus Sasha at Bells, a clash of styles and eras and mixed with sexy gender bending!
And, you?
What all-gal heritage heat would give you the thrills?