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Jamie O’Brien: The Deion Sanders of Surfing
One of the world’s best freesurfers is expanding his game. When news of Jamie O’Brien’s participation in the Turbo Bodyboards Pipeline Pro first broke, it sounded like a one-time foray by O’brien into the world of competitive sponging….a simple demonstration of his nearly unmatched knowledge, ability, and style on the wave sitting outside of his back door.
After bowing out of the event with a 3rd in his very 1st heat, O’Brien made it known that he’s not quite done with the sport of legend Mike Stewart. “I’ll be back bigger and better next year,” said J.O.B. after his valiant effort fell short.
In fact, in a post by our friends at EXPN, O’Brien went on to prophecy great things for next years event- “We’re all riding waves and I was stoked that they respected that. Who knows? Next year I want to make the finals. That’s my goal.”
Why not? I dig O’Brien’s venture into competitive bodyboarding and look forward to seeing what he can do if he puts a little more time in, especially with the event being held at Pipeline.
Even if you no longer partake of the sponge with any frequency, chances are you cut your surfing teeth on a Morey and have a a soft spot in your heart for riding waves in the prone position. If O’Brien brings the same mentality to bodyboarding that he does to surfing….Spongers beware.
Tags: Jaime O'Brien, pipeline
Posted by Shaun on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 in Surfing.
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March 5th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Jamie O looked like a total kook out there on the sponge. Leave the bodyboarding to professionals. I saw that el rollo he tried to pull and it was sad. Theres a huge difference between rolling over on your board and actually projecting into the air and busting an el rollo. Bodyboarders getting no respect even though they’ve paved the way for where surfing is now. Even though surfing is still about 15 years behind where bodyboarding is today. Youtube a clip of bodyboarding and you’ll understand.
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