RUSTY SURF HISTORY: Rusty and Occy have a long and valued friendship. Both found each other at a time where they were on a trajectory to top of their craft. Occy was a brash young kid who rode his first Rusty to the World Junior title and into the OP Pro. Rusty was an ASP judge and shaping the finest blades under the Canyon label. The work they did together changed the tri-fin as well as everyone’s perception of what could be done with the fledgling design. The partnership was a true success for years until the clothing side of things muddled things up. Occy was branded with Billabong for clothing so when the Rusty management team wanted into the apparel market, it presented a tough discussion for surfers who loved riding Rusty’s boards. In Occys case, or so the rumor goes, and as you can see in the first photo, Billabong laid down the ultimatum: if they see an Rdot on his boards he would lose his sponsorship. Billabong was a power house brand and has always paid their athletes right, so for Occy, the choice was made. While he would go on to get Rusty’s boards from time, they were logoless and the partnership and sponsorship came to a close. While the end of an era, the friendship remains in tact as Rusty and Occy both know business is just business and both are still doing what they love. #rustysurfboards #occy #surboard #surfboards #surfhistory #surfing #surfer #surf (photos:Rusty Archives)