Now that's a party. Pee-wee, Rodney Dangerfield and Diamond Dave.
Professional surfers can be rockstars at times. Perhaps that’s why so many think they are or try to be musicians. Musicians get a free pass. They can get arrested, do every drug in the book, drink massive amounts of booze and the end result is they sell more records. They make more money.
It’s not so simple for the professional athlete. Image is everything. Keeping sponsors happy and avoiding negative press is of utmost importance. Unless you ride for …Lost. Then partying is in the contract. There’s a reason they don’t hold the NBA All-Star Game and an ASP event in the same city at the same time. Every weed dealer in town would run dry. It’s a supply and demand thing.
But surfers and pro basketball players aren’t the only dysfunctional athletes. Stars in literally every sport enjoy the booze, the drugs and the women.
Recently, tennis player Andre Agassi wrote a book in which he admitted to doing meth at the peak of his pro career. Plus, he wore a hairpiece. He was more ashamed of the rug on his head. In 1970 Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Dock Ellis no-hit the San Diego Padres. An impressive feat. Shockingly, he did it while on LSD. Reminds me of a certain Santa Cruz surfer we know and love. Doesn’t it?
There are so many classic and not-so-classic stories of surfers falling off the deep end or pushing the limits. There was the high-profile surfer who smuggled coke back from the world champs in Peru to Hawaii glassed into his boards. Or the eclectic Australian who once paddled out at Waimea on a 5’9″ after eating mushrooms.
Then there’s the time Rod Kerr showed up at Zarautz absolutely shitfaced after an all-nighter, paddled out against Richie Collins, threw up in the shorebreak and smoked the god-fearing Christian. Richie was so rattled he went to Rod’s place that night with a bottle of bourbon and insisted they demolish it together.
And who could forget the antics and excess of Bunker Spreckles?
Frankly, this list could be a top 100. But, I had to narrow it to five. In my criteria partying expertise alone did not win you a spot. Competitive success along with media exposure was part of the equation. And I narrowed the scope to include just the last 20 years. If you feel I missed someone, or you do not agree, be sure and voice your thoughts in the comments.
5. Eugene Fanning
He has a world title and who could forget the time he crashed Slater’s acceptance speech at the Surfer Poll drunk off his ass. When Kelly put his arm around Fanning on stage and asked what would happen if he showed up in Australia and acted that way, his response was “You’d get laid.” I miss Eugene.
4. Christian Fletcher
I first saw Christian surf in person at Churches one summer afternoon. I think it was around 1986. I was just a little tyke. I was amazed when I saw him pull off two airs on one wave. I couldn’t believe such a thing was possible. His rise and demise has been well documented. It’s even rumored Jeff Booth is no longer jealous.
3. Darryl “Flea” Virostko
Anyone who surfs Mavericks for the first time on a half a hit of acid deserves to be on this list. Flea’s struggles with meth have been widely reported and he has recently cleaned up his act and started a program called FleaHab to give back.
2. Andy Irons
The three-time world champ had a long and tumultuous 2008. He even dropped out of the WCT. Rumors of addiction and an ensuing rehab swirled wildly. He hasn’t officially told “his” story yet and I’d be surprised if he didn’t already have a book deal in place. One thing is for certain. The WCT will be better in 2010 with Andy on board.
1. Mark Occhilupo
Occy is a legend for sure. We love him. After prematurely quitting the tour at 22, Occy went into hermit mode. He story is perhaps the best and that is why he tops the list. In the late ’80s Occy drove a Harley Davidson into the back of a car and did a full somersault over the handle bars, over the car, and landed on his feet. Hard to imagine but witnesses on hand swear it’s a true story. You have to admire Billabong for not giving up on him. The fact he battled back and won the world title in 1999 was an extraordinary achievement. Don’t believe me? Nine-time champ Kelly Slater called it “one of the great sports stories of all time.” And who can argue with that?—Nug
Nugable 
Hell ya! That photo is classic. This is the best top 5 yet. I think the ASP could outsmoke the NBA anyday of the week. As long as Allen Iverson is a no show.
A tv show in NZ interviewed Christian Fletcher a few years back while he was there for an art exhibition or something, while being interviewed a small canister on his necklace came open and his “vitamins” spilled over the floor in front of the cameras, the guy doing the interview didn’t know what to do, they put it to air for all to see, a classic party moment.
Killer snap by Andy today in a losing effort at oily looking 5 to 7 foot Sunset.
It only ended up being a low 6 because he fell soon after but the snap, by itself, for a second, was on par with Jordy and company.
Hey Nug what about Buttons on Dog the Bounty Hunter? Slammed to the cement in the lot at Point Panic a few years ago and now he looks healthy and happy as a new north shore father
Thats gotta be in your top five bro.
What about Jeff Hakman? Did you even READ Mr. Sunset Nug? Andy’s run seems like triple a ball compared to the major league antics of the “man who never nursed a bottom turn at Sunset”.
And then there is David Eggars.
Hey guy, can I get some love for Brad Gerlach here? I’ve seen pretty impressive video of him partying it up back in the day.
Think you missed Wardo and Archy.
For a great take on the Dock Ellis LSD no-hitter check this link:
It’s animated and funny. Go for it.
And Gerr, The Box, Party Thomas and Shmoo could have made the list single-handed, or as a BARbershop quartet!
As for Flea and Fletcher, maybe if you take the ASP out of the title since they weren’t really full-on contest guys… and Mark, the Nug did specify “in the last 20 years” which kind of takes Mr. Sunset out of the equation, even if he is alluded to in the article that intros the list.
My personal favorite (although outside the last 20 years) is Doc Sutherland surfing proper Waimea at night on a heavy dose of acid. Truly out of his mind!
That would have been JOCK Sutherland and not Doc Ball (who would have loved to take the shots had it not been at night)!
@ Mark
Did you read the criteria?
The crime of it all is the complete lack of coverage given to this from your so called surf journalist. For such a colorful sport the coverage is absolutely puritan. I’ve read more racy stories in Golf Digest and Tennis Magazine. Of course some respect for your athletes privacy is warranted; however, you guys get nothing.
Reminds me of baseball back in the Babe Ruth era when it was a big bro fest between the players and news media and nothing ever got reported.
I get the impression that if Jordy or another one of your pro’s has their gal go ghetto on them in a few years and spears their surfboard through the back of their SUV, that the mainstream surf media would run a water downed story 4 months later.
Thank God for the Blogs, Nug you got a job for me?
This is bullshit. I could take any of those fools down in a party off.
HAHA, bud llamas would fuck it up.
WINDSHIELD WIPER = double lip bash
I too will take Bud LLamas..
What about me… what about me?
Archy, Wardo and Gerlach would all be in the top 10. Gerlach is a personal fav. And Mark I have not read Mr. Sunset and I read a lot. Would you recommend it?
Nug,
Definitely read Mr. Sunset. Hakman is one of the original “surf hard, party harder” crew, and the writing is by OG wordsmith Phil Jarratt… Hynd, Baker, Reilly, LS, and Blas all rolled into one!
@ M @ 9:47
No. I normally just give a post a quick skimming over and then unleash whatever fury I am feeling on the keyboard.
Reading the criteria is for kooks like you “M”.
I am hereby putting a moratorium on commenters who only use one letter for their name. Take note Nug.
@ Mailman
Jarratt was decent.
What about Eggars?
Youngest ever world tour competitor, won more amateur contests than Tom Curren and an absolutely blazing fuckin ripper out of La Jolla.
Then he discovered whatever is was he discovered and started goin ORFFFF! Burnin down the town, sleepin in the bushes etc. Off the tour in a year and right into the gutter.
And “M” or that socialist Mailman better not whine that Eggars story is actually 25 years ago not 20.
@ Nug @ 20:44
Of course you read a lot.
Most liberal elitists do and are more than thrilled to tell everyone so.
@Mark
As soon as I finish basketball legend John Wooden Legs’ biography I’ll read Mr. Sunset.
SmyrnaJeff,
No whinging about how long ago it was, but… it’s spelled EggErs with an E not an A. I won’t argue that he killed it either. I remember seeing him pull a legit 6 foot backside air off the end section at Pipe in ’86 in a heat against Shaun Tomson and I can’t remember who else.
One of my capitalist business partners over here in Socialismland grew up with him in San Diego and was good friends with him through the dark times. Eggers’ amateur world title trophy is actually currently in good hands decorating a bar here in the southwest of France.
The only thing I’d have to say is there is a difference between the ‘pushing partying to have a good time to the limit’ like Gerr and the boys used to and like Eugene does today, and the totally self-destructive, ‘drug abusing to the point of no return’, that it seems like mostly a lot of high profile dudes from California indulge(d) in…
For anyone who gives a shit about golf or Tiger… this just in… it was a pitching wedge.
Dear Nug — Nonsense!!
Where is Archy on your list? Ross Clarke-Jones, for christ’s sake?
And the biggest omission of all, surely the number one all time heavyweight champion, eclipsing every pissant half-cut Pretender to the Crown… MATT HOY??
Hoyo destroyed every record in ASP tour party history. Started young, with his mate Powelly, under the tutelage of RCJ and a number of other heroes of the genre. Set the Skulldrag Record on Namotu in Fiji (the Skulldrag is an appalling cocktail of at least five different spirits topped off with a pathetic amount of fruit juice and a goddam paper umbrella; I think Hoyo drank 12, while nobody else could get beyond 3, including Mr Party King Occy). Nobody has ever matched this man for stamina, wit, or grace under the pressure of multiple substances. He is the King.
ps Dan Rather, you really ought to read the Australian surf magazines. You’re missing out.
Oh dear I am forgetting the Rod Kerr/John Shimooka Axis of Evil.
Could go on but I think I will save it for my Memoirs.
Dear Mr. Carroll,
Yes. Dagnamit. Matt Hoy should be in there. That’s why I welcome your comments. My criteria was weighted towards media coverage and/or competitive success. Occy won the title and had the breakdown if you will. As I stated earlier Archy is probably 6th or 7th. But an argument could be made for him in the top 3.
That being said. I think Blasphemy could go toe-to-toe with Mr. Hoy.
I love this article. Thank you Nug, now THIS is some good web fodder.
Not that anyone cares nor asked for it, but some of my personal favorite pro-surf party bros are:
Occy
Benji
Paul Fisher and Nick Rozsa
Justin Cote
Daren Crawford
BI and AI
Brian Bielmann
[…] SteveNug: Wants Russo to get pics of Alana Blanchard. Wants a slightly soiled pair of Alana’s panties… Ok, HEAVILY SOILED, Thinks Brodie Carr is ok but is interested in seeing the man choke on his own chicken. […]
How quickly we forget Ricky Basnett.
If only for the night at Bells where he turned up at Surfing Life’s Peer Poll wearing trackpants and eyeliner. He promptly threw a fork at Dane Reynolds and took the stage, called Pottz a South African deserter, told Jordy to fuck off and announced that he, in fact, should win every award. Before being escorted off the premises Ricky Bobby got in a red wine fight with the Harringtons that left the bathroom looking like an abattoir.
And yes, Dan Rather, you could have read all of this in an Aussie mag.
@Binnsie
I thought Nug’s criteria only included ‘Professional’ surfers?
@ Mailman
You are full of it Mailman. A total imposter.
How could you have seen David Eggers, a nuggety goofyfoot, launch a backside air off the tail section at Pipe?
And to think about all the times I defended you when Mike made fun of you.
I
@Mark,
Mailman didn’t want to use the word ‘Backdoor’ before Pipe for obvious reasons. He had the simply feared that it might send those familiar tingling sensations to your nethers when the word ‘backdoor’ resonated about your hollow skull and reminded you of all those intimate sessions with your pastor as a young child.
Sorry Mark.
Other than that, you’re a cool dude. We all have a few skeletons in the closet, eh?
@ Lonnie Rott
Ronnie Lott was significant.
You aren’t.
OK, Mark. My bad. I was only 16 at the time. Lots has happened since then. Then it was a frontside air. Shit. It was an air, because I distinctly remember wondering how he got such a shitty score for such a sick move on such an insane wave… Anyway…
And Nick, not wanting to let any cats out of the bag, but wouldn’t your little brother deserve a spot somewhere towards the top of this list too? Not as blatant about his party skills as anyone you or Nug named above, but…
I think Nug just broke some sort of Surf media commentor record fro one post…Cote, ASL, Nick Carroll, Dan Rather and Kampion, Hynd, Warshaw & Hawk.
flea …
only a half of hit at mavs ?
puss !!
;-]
and i say the 80’s Tour guys would easily knock-off any group of ASP’ers before or since ( with all due respect and reco to bugs, pt and other fellow ISP’er’s Party Animal skills and accomplishments in that post surf comp arena arena ) 80’s lad’s were Fucken All Stars I reckon.
And Nick, when THAT memoir comes out i’ll be first in line mate!
I love the camaraderie on this one
must have been the picture
flea? for real? over wardo, archy, et al? what about Herring?
Three hits of acid. Three perfect tens. Guy’s name was Shane – although he was not the outgoing partier. Ward – hands down is an animal. Not even a person when he parties. Saw him show up at the Search La Jolla awards in trunks only when everyone else was collared up. Then he proceeded to fight half the people there over a scuffle with Freddy P’s dad. There are 50 more of these – ask anyone on tour. Arch could party. The guys on your list – aside from Fanning who in reality is nothing but a beer drinking frat boy (heck Taj belongs more than Mick) – the guys on your list could not handle WHILE they were partying. AI and MO fell off tour. Wardo went 5 years straight and kept staying on somehow thanks to Pipeline. I guess it depends on your definition of party – but if the picture of Rodney Dave is the definition – Wardo could be #1.