"It was hard surfing against Stuey, especially in Round Two," said Connor O'Leary after his defeat of Stuart Kennedy. "It was bound to happen at some stage, but of course it happened here in Brazil, when we are staying together."
Stu Kennedy - WSL / Poullenot
The rookie counts Kennedy as both a good mate and mentor and believes Kennedy played a big part in his qualification last year. While based in Cronulla, O'Leary spends a significant chunk of his time off tour surfing with Kennedy's home break of Lennox Head, where O'Leary's girlfriend also lives. The two have also spent the last few years traveling together on the Qualifying Series (QS).
This Australian rookie has been one of the biggest surprises this season...but he shouldn't be.
"His determination and his focus is what I'm trying to emulate," O'Leary said last year. "I'm fairly cruisy, can get easily sidetracked and not be as focused as I could be. When Stu's in an event, he just clicks into this focused, determined, animal."
The two sparring partners and travel buddies turned things on during Round Two of the Oi Rio Pro.
It seems Kennedy's approach has rubbed off on his younger charge. Focus wasn't an issue as they put their friendship to the side and put on the best show of the day. O'Leary was one of the few non-Brazilians to really get the crowd screaming on the way to a heat total of 18.20, Round Two's highest. He used his major weapon, a power-packed backhand with drawn-out bottom turns and vertical hammer blows to the lip, to earn a pair of nine-point rides and a throwaway eight.
Stu Kennedy's career nearly ended two years ago, but he wasn't about to give up. This is his story.
Kennedy has pushed O'Leary throughout his career and today was no different. He showcased a different approach to the goofyfooter's power, offering more variety and progressive edge. It wasn't enough though, even if his losing heat total of 15.16 would have won every other heat surfed today, bar none.
"Stu's been ripping and hopefully he will get some results during the year," O'Leary said. "He's one of my best mates, so I want to see him do as well as me."
Roommates O'Leary and Kennedy Push Each Other to Day's Biggest Scores
Ben Mondy
"It was hard surfing against Stuey, especially in Round Two," said Connor O'Leary after his defeat of Stuart Kennedy. "It was bound to happen at some stage, but of course it happened here in Brazil, when we are staying together."
The rookie counts Kennedy as both a good mate and mentor and believes Kennedy played a big part in his qualification last year. While based in Cronulla, O'Leary spends a significant chunk of his time off tour surfing with Kennedy's home break of Lennox Head, where O'Leary's girlfriend also lives. The two have also spent the last few years traveling together on the Qualifying Series (QS).
"His determination and his focus is what I'm trying to emulate," O'Leary said last year. "I'm fairly cruisy, can get easily sidetracked and not be as focused as I could be. When Stu's in an event, he just clicks into this focused, determined, animal."
It seems Kennedy's approach has rubbed off on his younger charge. Focus wasn't an issue as they put their friendship to the side and put on the best show of the day. O'Leary was one of the few non-Brazilians to really get the crowd screaming on the way to a heat total of 18.20, Round Two's highest. He used his major weapon, a power-packed backhand with drawn-out bottom turns and vertical hammer blows to the lip, to earn a pair of nine-point rides and a throwaway eight.
Kennedy has pushed O'Leary throughout his career and today was no different. He showcased a different approach to the goofyfooter's power, offering more variety and progressive edge. It wasn't enough though, even if his losing heat total of 15.16 would have won every other heat surfed today, bar none.
"Stu's been ripping and hopefully he will get some results during the year," O'Leary said. "He's one of my best mates, so I want to see him do as well as me."
Stuart Kennedy
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Oi Rio Pro
It's airs and barrels--it's the next generation of pro surfing.
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The Aussie powerhouses light up the quarterfinals in the 2017 Oi Rio Pro.