Australia Up Close Champ'S Triumph Renews Aussies' Love of Surfing By DARREN McLEAN	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
豪優勝でサーフィン人気さらに高まる 先月14日にブラジルで開催されたプロサーフィンの大会で、豪のマーク・オキルポ選手が2位に入賞、総合ポイントで大きくリードし、今シーズンの優勝が確定しました。ビーチに恵まれたオーストラリアではサーフィンが大人気で、この優勝に国民も大喜びです。

Australian surfer Mark Occhilupo achieved his lifelong dream of becoming world champion last month during the 1999 Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship at the Rio Surf International in Brazil. At 33, Occhilupo is now the oldest world champion in surfing history.

Bursting onto the professional world surfing tour as a teenager, Occhilupo endured 16 years of defeats and near misses before securing his first world championship. In 1989, Occhilupo threw in the towel during a world tour event and vanished from professional surfing. Seven years later, he emerged from hiding more focused and determined than before, ready to win his first world crown.

"Occy," as he is known to his fans, reached an unbeatable lead of 1,060 points in the world championships after defeating Brazilian Raoni Monteiro in the third round. In the end, Occhilupo was defeated in the fourth round by fellow Australian Taj Burrow, who went on to win the Rio competition. This places Australians at No. 1 and 2 in the world rankings.

The head of world surfing professionals, Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew, says Occhilupo's world title win is just the first of several from Australian surfers in years to come. He predicts a golden period for Australian competitive surfing after this year's world tour, which was dominated by Australians.

After his historic win, Occhilupo headed for his hometown of the Gold Coast, famous for its sandy beaches and superb surfing conditions. "This is a dream. I really can't believe this has happened," said an emotional Occhilupo, on arriving home to his family and cheering fans. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry."

Captain James Cook, the man credited with discovering Australia, was also the first Westerner to see the sport of surfing when he sailed into Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii. At this time surfing was a sport only practiced by Hawaiian kings and those of noble birth, who were greatly respected for their control over the sea's powers.

It wasn't until 1915 that Australians, living in a country surrounded by vast beaches and superb surfing conditions, realized the potential of surfing as a pastime. In the '50s and '60s surfing established its own culture in Australia. Rock `n' roll music from groups such as the Beach Boys, together with plenty of sun, surf and relaxation on the weekends, shaped the nation's identity in that famous era.

You only have to visit one of Australia's many beaches to realize the popularity of surfing for people from 8 to 80. Many young Australian boys and girls rise with the sun every morning to hit the beach and catch the day's best waves. After school is finished, they rush home to collect their surfboards and surf until the sun goes down.

Surfboards can be found in all shapes and sizes, ranging from small fiberglass models to the long and heavy Malibu boards made from solid timber. Professional surfers use lightweight fiberglass-coated polystyrene boards that are custom-made to suit the rider's height, weight and surfing style.

Over the years, surfing has influenced the development of a host of associated sports. These include body-boarding, where the rider lies or kneels on a short, square board; windsurfing, using a large sail mounted on the board to propel the rider; and wakeboarding, where the rider is pulled along behind a speed boat.

Off the water, surfing has also inspired the popular sports of snowboarding and skateboarding where the same principles of balance and maneuvering apply.

Surfing has grown into a multi-million dollar industry in Australia, particularly in coastal towns like the Gold Coast. Designer surfware is the most popular fashion for male and female teenagers here. Large surf warehouses provide clothing for surf lovers, including colorful and artistic T-shirts, board shorts and wetsuits for the surf, and sandals to protect feet from the hot sand!

Mark Occhilupo's gallant victory has given him status as a legend in the eyes of many young surfers around Australia. There will be many proud Australians watching as he is crowned world champion at the Pipe Master Championship in Hawaii in December. And if you get the opportunity, try the unique and enjoyable sport of surfing for yourself.

Shukan ST: Nov. 12, 1999

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