King Of The Claims
Assessing The Value Of A Well-Celebrated Wave
There once was a time, not so long ago, when claiming a wave was considered taboo. The claim was a gesture that signified great triumph over the elements and your competitor. It was used sparingly, and sincerely, and more often than not, it was an uncontrolled response to pure surfing stoke.
But after watching the season-opening World Tour event on the Gold Coast it's clear that the claim is simply not what it used to be. I say this because after watching the unbridled display of fist-pumps, hand-claps, and finger-waving it became obvious that the once-taboo claim is now as important as your bottom turn is if you want to truly succeed on the world tour. How do I justify this? By re-watching the last two days of competition, that’s how. I’m almost certain (at least for the sake of this polemic) that on the final day of competition there were more claims than there were maneuvers.
No, they weren’t signaling for the jet ski, they were throwing their arms up in mock-stoke in the hopes that the judges would reward them for it. Which makes sense, of course, since the judges don’t exist within a vacuum. They too are susceptible to the same excitement and drama as the rest of us are, and sadly–and contrary to their job description–are equally prone to reacting to it.
Indeed, from many thousands of miles away, I could almost hear the judges double-take and reenter their scores when one of the world’s best surfers throw their arms up in pseudo-joy and triumph. C’mon Parko, Taj and Mick, are you telling me that your mid-range score at windswept Coolangatta Beach filled you with enough stoke to warrant you throwing your arms around like you’ve just had the best wave of your life? Of course you aren’t. I have personally seen all three of you get better waves at Backdoor Pipeline and kick out without so much as raising a smile. Here you are, 10 minutes into a random heat on a rainy day, claiming a 7-pointer.
But it obviously works, take this as an example: Parko gets barreled (somewhat ridiculously I must confess) throws an extended claim to the judges and crowd¬–albeit a subdued claim considering the complicated sign-language-type-gestures he’d been throwing out all morning–and then launches a straight-legged-pooh-man-air, and falls off.
Of course, the result is a perfect ten.
I’m calling it the Fly-Away-Air-Claim, never mind that if he actually made that ridiculous-looking air then he would have received the exact same score.
I apologize if I have focused on only a few surfers when there are clearly many more culprits: Adriano de Souza has a wonderful yoga-esque claim that is sometimes followed by clenched-armed spasms. Jihad Khodr has a variety of mid-wave claims that don’t even seem to interrupt the flow (or score for that matter) of the wave. As for Jordy Smith, well, Jordy’s quiver of claims is so vast that it’s not surprising that the judges simply don’t know how to score them.
I feel compelled to point out that this phenomenon didn’t happen overnight either, its been a growing epidemic for at least the last few years. However, if the trend continues throughout the year, I am likely to wait for my Fantasy Surfer scores to hint at the end result, since I simply cannot continue to watch the best surfers in the world whore themselves out with extravagant–and at times borderline lewd–hand gestures in the search of an extra fraction of a point. In my opinion, if you want that extra point or two, do as Dane does and just rip harder.
Finally, before you judge me and this article consider this: As soon as I finish typing this paragraph I’m going to throw a two-fist-pump-to-double-hand-clap combo. Then I’ll hold the palms of both my hands to the screen, making sure to have all ten fingers spread wide….I can hear you reassessing your judgment already.
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READER COMMENTS
Thu Mar12, 2009, 4:45 PM
Totally agree, claims should be done only after an impossible tube. Not after every good ride! brazilians are claiming everything! Some of parko's tubes did deserve a claim though, they where f-ing amazing! but not all of them. Please only claim when you really can't help it! not to get a better score from the judges
Thu Mar12, 2009, 5:29 PM
You wrapped this article up perfectly. I give you a 10
Thu Mar12, 2009, 6:52 PM
Well written article Brendon. Solid. It is getting ridiculous to see so many claims these days on tour. Equally pathetic is the surf media's excessive overuse of terms like "epic" and "legendary" etc. I see it all the time, how 3 foot surf is described as "epic" or surfers like Kalani Chapman (who's a great pipeline surfer, don't get me wrong) is called a "pipe legend". Come on... Pipe legend? I don't think so. Not yet anyways. The media is also guilty of its own "claims" of over hyping marginal surf conditions as "epic" or "all time" etc. and good surfers as "legends".
Thu Mar12, 2009, 7:08 PM
Brendon...you crack me up man. Great stuff.
Thu Mar12, 2009, 11:59 PM
Don't forget Jihad claiming every one foot no grab frontside air in rd 1 and rd 3 and Jordy's two fisted claim against TK (which was for an 8.47).
Fri Mar13, 2009, 1:09 AM
Surf articles should not use the word "polemic."
Fri Mar13, 2009, 2:41 AM
Typical American bullshit ... Slater's not short of a claim when getting over scored at Trestles (Macca and Taj are still shaking their heads) as for Dane ... hard to claim when you're no longer in the event!
Fri Mar13, 2009, 3:27 AM
Hell they ought to penalize a claim! its fine if ur life is on the line at Chopes or Pipe, but definitely not any 4footers. Great article! good on ya Brendon. Call em out!
Fri Mar13, 2009, 7:07 AM
you guys realise the fist pump / lame claim was invented in the US of A. Don't bitch about someone sneezing on you when you gave them the cold in the first place.
Fri Mar13, 2009, 7:57 AM
they're not claiming for the wave, they're claiming for the trophy, the money...
Fri Mar13, 2009, 9:23 AM
I agree on the over claiming. But don't forget that what you can't see or hear on the video is the crowd of thousands hooting and hollering on the beach. Most over claiming in this case came from Aussies, surfing on home turf, in a country that takes the sport of surfing seriously. Some of the claiming, is a mix of stoke and showmanship.
Fri Mar13, 2009, 11:01 AM
It's been a while since I don't read something out of he ordinary in the surfing media. Great stuff Brendon, congratulations. Despite the fact that I am Brazilian, I do think that Jihad's claims were excessive this time around. However, I can honestly say that I think that he's been doing this "show" much more for himself than for the judges. He does this regularly, even in the free surf.
Fri Mar13, 2009, 12:01 PM
Very well put. I hope surfing does not become like professional tennis has, where the players are fist pumping after the first point of the match.
Fri Mar13, 2009, 1:27 PM
i see your point but don't forget that the comp surfing is different from free surfing. there is added pressure and excitement. if your surfing 1 foot slop and need a 9 in the last minute of your heat, and you get a 1.5 foot set wave and go to town, you are gonna claim it because you think you got the score. it isn't necessarily about the wave.
Fri Mar13, 2009, 2:37 PM
Good article. I love all the opinions coming out in the surf media these days. Call bullshit. Everyone used to just let everything go without an opinion but now people are speaking up. I agree with you so much on this. Mick Fanning claimed a tube that didn't even make the highlight reel of that heat. It was like a 6 point ride or something. Judges need to start penalizing for claims instead of rewarding. at least the ones that are noticeably unnecessary.
Fri Mar13, 2009, 4:39 PM
I think we should seize the moment and jump on board. Coming to a break near you...mad fist pumping, face crunching, body spazzing claim fest. I think everyone should claim, everything. Stand up, lame weak cutty, claim, pump down the line white water re-o, claim, claim, claim, claim. Why not. Surfing is super rad and we're all super pumped. All kidding aside though, I was watching a lame contest ( I don't have anything against contests this particular series just blows, always shit waves, lame scoring and a bunch of wanna-be's...sun diego? monster? yeah whatever) and they had an air show where surfers could claim an air once in the heat to boost their score?!? Whatever. Since when did having a retarded ego make a turn air or whatever better? Oh thats right, we're talking about surfing...haha my bad.
Fri Mar13, 2009, 5:00 PM
Hello Brendom. I am brazilian and my english it's not perfect, so if you read some mistakes, sorry. I can't agree 100% with you because we are here seating in the front of screen or seating on the beach judging persons that are doing theirs jobs under a really big pression and exposion. And their are trying to reach theirs dreams. So, what is the problem to claim when you think that you done something nice, even if wasnt' a 10 point ride? I look at the claim of Fanning after his barrels and I really dont' think that is his best barrel ever. But, put yourself on his situation: you are in a semi-final of the first event of the season, kelly went down early, all your friends are at the beach, the crowd scream at every wave and you are surfing against one of your best friend and one of the most dangerous contenders. What's tha problem in claim with your waves? Leave this man's express thenselfs. About Jihad and Jordy, I think ridiculous too. But only a brazilian knows what De Sousa's
Fri Mar13, 2009, 5:15 PM
good stuff brendon, i dont think anyone would disagree!
Sat Mar14, 2009, 2:38 AM
If surfers chose to claim or fist pump after a ride in a heat, so be it. Judges need to be held accountable, not the surfers. It is the judges' job to be objective in their scoring. They should know better than to judge on anything other the competitors level of surfing. Perhaps there is a sex appeal here that we are not considering?
Sat Mar14, 2009, 10:55 AM
WHOOOOOOO!!! I'm posting on surfermag.com!!!!! WHOOOOOO!!
Sat Mar14, 2009, 2:44 PM
Cmon man. Let people get excited about surfing. It isn't wrong to express a little bit of emotion after a really fun wave at a time when your career depends on it. Imagine a scenario for a second. You are negotiating a business deal that would make you 30,000 richer instantly. You make the deal and the built up stress starts to dissapear. After you leave the room, do you not throw a quick fist pump when nobody is looking. What if 1,000s of people where waiting to see if you would come out sucessfully? Would you not throw your hands up in the air with happiness. You gotta put yourself in their place before you criticize them. As much as people like you try to censor it, surfing is an emotional experience. It is something to get excited about. Go claimers!
Mon Mar16, 2009, 6:58 AM
id definately respect the pros more if they came out a perfect barrel relaxed and with no claim. it just looks forced when they claim
Mon Mar16, 2009, 4:34 PM
Everything changes, and unfortunately that includes surfing. Dont get me wrong I know how easy it is to get frustrated when the sport you love most is getting turned into some pop culture fad, but don't loose sight of how much you enjoy surfing for yourself. Let kooks be kooks and let guys who rip harder than you do what they want, too. The more deep breaths we allow ourselves to take the better off we will be.
Tue Mar17, 2009, 7:44 AM
Great, great, great piece BT!! More than anything, claiming is just bad style... Can you imagine Curren claiming a wave? I've seen him nonchalantly kick out after a 10 second tube like it was nothing, and that's true style... How about Frankie Oberholzer? Martin Potter? Rasta? Dorian? These are some of the world's most stylish surfers and they simply let their surfing do the talking. Respect.
Wed Mar18, 2009, 6:37 PM
Claim it, claim em all. When I roll out of bed and my back doesnt hurt, I claim it with a WHOOHAA. When I score a parking spot in Newport in July, I claim it with a horn honk. When I walk down to the water to take a trunk dip pee pee. I do a double fist pump to claim it. I think the pros should even claim it for their sponsors by pointing to the logo after their ride. Ride it and claim it!! YEAEEEZZZ!
Wed Mar18, 2009, 8:41 PM
Thank you for using the word "polemic". I looked it up at dictionary.com and learned something. 1. a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc. 2. a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist. Now what's this nonsense about claiming waves?
Wed Mar18, 2009, 10:57 PM
Every sport on the planet has claims of all shapes and sizes why should surfing be any different............WHAT cause its COOL ????? Please !! Bit of self expression who cares
Sat Mar21, 2009, 2:09 PM
Another article proving that too much sun and salt water also bleaches brain tissue. This is COMPETITIVE surfing folks. You know, as in there are SPECTATORS. The ASP no doubt encourages claiming since it helps to motivate and engage the fans and those watching. Surfing is often one of the single most boring spectator sports on offer these days. Claims are the only way that the surfer can directly engage the audience. Claims are a way for the athlete to communicate and acknowledge the people who are paying their bills. Yes, they gesture to the judges but it isn't for the judges any more than a spike or dance in the end zone is for the referees. GLADIATOR! GLADIATOR! Get it? Don't like it? Stop watching organized sports. Nothing like a bunch of uptight, soulier-than-thou zealots to miss the point and spoil the fun for the lay people who simply came for a good show.