ESM Interview

MUTE NOT THE MANCHILD:
IS TOMMY O’BRIEN THE BEST TEENAGE COMPETITOR IN THE U.S.?

You can't determine a sportsman's true substance through a quick size-up. You have to really do your homework, study past and present statistical facts, understand his all-around game rather than dissecting single achievements, and empathize with the emotions behind his motives rather than just hearing the words. Though the former NSSA National Champion has enjoyed extensive athletic breeding from an early age, a galaxy of travel experience, and heavy parental support, 18-year-old Tommy O'Brien still gets the runt-of-the-litter treatment by the big-dog California mags--out of sight, out of mind. He's scored 8.5's at scary Backdoor with power and panache to spare. He's had an instinctual connection with on-rail surfing since before he was a preteen. He's scored critic-burying video segments and is one of Billabong's most valued Eastside youths. And most recently, at the Billabong Junior World Championships--held the first week of January at a North Narrabeen, Australia, sandbank--Tommy placed equal-ninth amongst the best 20-and-under surfers in the entire world. That's higher than any other Mainland American. Once you look beneath the enfant terrible image, the just-for-kicks modeling shoots, and the South Brevardian beach dialect, you'll find a mature athletic focus as healthy and intense as any in the sport. Eastern Surf spent an evening with Tommy at his Melbourne Beach, FL, home, along with the family O'Brien and a few of his wisecracking bros to find out exactly what makes this teenage time bomb tick, and what kind of damage he intends on doing once he gets the chance to blow up on the WQS.

By Matt Pruett

ESM: Just how hard was the competition at this year's Billabong Junior World Championships?

TO: It was so gnarly, like an actual 'QS contest. This was my second year, and everyone stepped it up this time. I saw the gnarliest surfing ever down there.

Tommy at ESM's office. -- Mez

ESM: You had seen the eventual winner, Brazil's Adriano De Souza, 15, perform at last year's ECSC in Virginia Beach. Did he give any early indication that he'd be a legitimate threat at this contest?

TO: The first day I got there, it was waist-high and he was just throwing it up, doing ten turns all the way to the beach. So I knew if it was smaller he'd do good. Sean Moody almost put him out in the semis--got a 9 and only needed a 2, but couldn't catch another wave. In the final, De Souza got lucky off the bat with a right and Shaun Cansdell was bogging for waves, so I knew he'd win.

ESM: Who else in particular impressed you throughout the week?

TO: Jordy Smith's a South African kid who surfed really good. Damien Farenfort, TJ Barron, Moody, Kekoa Bacalso, then a bunch of Australian kids: James Woods, Cansdell... Everyone was looking solid.

ESM: Of all the clusters of young talent, which region looks to have the deepest talent pool in the years to come?
TO: I don't know, everyone's stepped it up to another level: Hawaiians, Brazilians, Aussies, South Africans--there were even Tahitians, Fijians, and kids from Indo. You can't say this country has this or that anymore. On tour before there were always a certain amount of people who'd always win. But now everyone's so good and hungry. Andy and those guys better look out because the groms are coming up, that's all I'm saying.

ESM: It's been less than a year since you secured a deal with your current clothing sponsor, Billabong, but you were full throttle on the photo trip/ contest scene long before that. Was it harder doing all that traveling and competing without a major sponsor?

TO: I wouldn't say it was harder because I was still pumped to travel, do good in contests, and get photos. But at the same time, it's always better having someone backing you. The mags wanna run you more, and it seems like you're more in there rather than if you're some random guy with no stickers who rips, y'know? And if a trip comes up, you just call whoever you got, and they'll get her done for you.

ESM: How instrumental is your mother (Delta Service Agent Elaine O'Brien) in facilitating your travel needs?

TO: It's been killer for the last five years. But it ends this July, because I'm 18 and not a full-time student and that's Delta's policy. Before that I went everywhere and it helped me so much because even when I didn't have a sponsor, I could still travel and do the contests I needed to do without having to worry about a plane ticket. So I gotta deal with buying tickets now, but I can still get buddy passes.

ESM: And your father, Tom Sr.? He usually acts as your onsite coach but couldn't make it to Australia with you this time around. Did you have anyone else out there stepping in to lend a helping hand?

TO: Not really. It was man-on-man after the first round, there was priority in it, and the announcers read your scores out, so you knew what you needed to have. Before heats I'd just sit there by myself and figure out in my head where I needed to be. I wish he was there, though. He probably would've pumped me up more.

ESM: You hung in Oz for a while after the contest was over, right?

TO: I just cruised with Eric Taylor the whole time. We were the only two East Coasters there. Alek (Parker) got in a car accident, so he didn't qualify. And Joneser (Justin Jones) didn't do the Lost Junior Pro or the Heritage New Jersey Junior Pro. You have to do three contests and your best two count, and the top six qualify for the Worlds. After the Worlds, Moody, Kekoa, Ola Eleogram, ET, and I rented a hotel on the beach by Kirra. We just chilled and surfed for four days before flying down to Melbourne for another Junior Pro at Bells Beach. After that we flew back to the Gold Coast and got a hotel right by Greenmount for 12 days. It was so perfect. This was my second trip to Australia, and it was sick because I got to really see the place instead of just surfing the contest and bailing.

ESM: Being an East Coast surf magazine, maybe we're looking a little too deep into this, but it seems to have escaped everyone's attention that you were the highest placing American in the whole contest, finishing equal 9th. Why do you think that result didn't seem to shake people up?

TO: Maybe because I'm from the East Coast and don't live in California and suck up or whatever. I don't know--equal ninth is equal ninth, but next year I'll better that result.

Tommy at Sebastian Inlet -- Mez

ESM: Still, to get that far in such a prestigious event...

TO: Yeah, but I was bummed because I knew I could've done better. I just had a bad heat. The waves weren't coming that I needed, and he had priority. But that's all beside the point. I will do better next year.

ESM: Where were all those promising Californians we always hear about? Too over it to compete for a world title, maybe?

TO: Y'know, I see Dane Reynolds on every cover. I mean, he's cool, he rips, but he bogs in lots of contests. I actually did pretty good, though, and I'm not seeing myself on any covers. I know mags pick who they want, but you're exactly right--where were these kids? Give the East Coast some love already! It's like, what do I gotta do? I get video parts. I go on trips and get photos, but where's my name? I mean, it's my job to do this, and I think I do it good. Whatever, I'll show 'em all one day... but Surfing did just call and ask me to go on a trip to West Java, so maybe that will change things.

ESM: You still have a couple years eligibility left in this contest, correct?
TO: Two years left, and I know I can win. I'm going to train all year, because that's all I want--the Junior World Title. I mean, look at all the people before who got it: Parkinson, Andy, Ben Bourgeois. They're all blowing up now! It's a starting point. So that's my goal for the next two years, to get that title.

ESM: What's it gonna take on your part?

TO: Training--lots of it. Surf, push-ups, sit ups, bicycling, beach sprints, and when you're sitting around, you just gotta think about it and want it all the time.

ESM: And after the World Juniors? Full on WQS charge perhaps?

TO: Yeah. I'm trying to set myself up now with a good placing near the top 100, so I have a good seed. Then when I do the WQS full-on, I won't have to surf hundred dollar trial rounds. But right now, my focus is mainly on the World Juniors.

ESM: So you're not looking to take the twentysomething photo pro route?

TO: No, that doesn't work. I wanna make the 'CT by the time I'm 25.

ESM: How about your Brevard homeboys? Do any of them seem interested in pursuing the contest game at all?
TO: There's a few people around here that should do it. I wanna start traveling with Alek and do the WQS. Joneser could do well, too. (Nick) Guilarte is in Brazil right now, so he's trying to have a go at it. It would be cool to travel with all my friends from home.

ESM: The surfing talent is obvious amongst your peers, but of all the young Sebastian crew, who do you think has the best chance of making it competitively?

TO: I'm calling Kris Wiernicki and Blake Jones. Those are the two firing grommets coming out of Inlet right now. Wiernicki's got that backside snap, and the tricks down, too. And Blake is like a mini Gorkin. He's got the cutties, the airs, everything--and he's super quick. Then there's Sean Tubbs and Eddie Guilbeau. Seeing the groms surfing in Australia, and the groms surfing here at Inlet--it's like watching the same thing. They've just gotta be 'bout it.

ESM: Not to digress, but what's up with your boards getting ripped off while you were gone?

TO: That's f---ed up! I'm sure it was someone who knew I had mass boards in my garage and knew I was out of town. I don't have any clues but I'm gonna find that f---er. I mean... [laughs] take my girlfriend, but don't take my surfboards!

ESM: What's your biggest long-term goal?

TO: To be known as one of the best surfers to come out of Florida. What else am I gonna do, work at McDonalds from 8 to 5?

Well, let's not let Junior have the last word. Let's pass the mic to those who know him best...

ESM: If you had to sum up Tommy O'Brien in the simplest of terms, what would it be?

BRO #1: A role model--or at least a model.

BRO #2: Rock star.

BRO #3: Madman.

BRO #4: The future.

BRO #5: Gnar-kill.

BRENNA (sister): Perfect.

ELAINE (mother): Awesome.

TOM, SR. (father): [Sighs and looks up at ceiling] Heart attack.

TOMMY O'BRIEN (himself): [Smirks] Golden.