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Surfers will be doing everything they can to milk scores… and that includes ‘CLAIMING’. |
Dane ‘No-Claim’ Reynolds returns to the ASP world tour for the 2011 Billabong Pro, J-Bay. Pic: ASP/Kirsten
The J Bay Claim-Athon Draws Near. In two short weeks the ASP world tour will swing back into action. It will have been 53 days since the controversial Rio event (the longest break of the year), when the Billabong Pro J-BAY waiting period begins in South Africa.
The luscious right-hand point of Jeffreys Bay the perfect antidote for quality surf hungry competitors and surf fans alike. But with calls of suss judging, poor surfing and poor waves still permeating in the webisphere from Rio, what are the chances of this event accommodating all the skeptics, purists and die-hards?
The answer is no chance… derision will once again raise its head and in case you haven’t noticed, that’s the way we like it. Opinions will vary on what is good surfing at Jefferys this year and every year here after, but one thing we can all agree on is the worlds best surfers will be doing everything they can to milk scores from the fantastic five [ASP judging panel] – and much to the horror of many that includes ‘CLAIMING’.
For better or worse ‘the claim’ has become a permanent fixture of the ASP world tour. Like getting a tattoo or becoming an art house photographer, everybody’s doing it – well almost everybody. Without a hint of trepidation I predict a glut of post-barrel claims at this event.
Look, some surfers need to add a little pomp and ceremony to their act to get the score, and good luck to them. Others however have enough flair to kick out of a wave with their hands still safely inside the car… no matter how good the ride. Yet, even these surfing Adonis’ fall prey to the claim. Why?
These men are claimers so we can’t show you their faces… ah fuck it, from left, Bottle, Taj and Adriano.
Kelly Slater has been credited as being the, “one who does not claim”, well not directly, but I’ll get to that. Tracks asked Kelly if he believed that claiming waves had an effect on judges? “Probably.” He said. “It’s like, ‘Look what I just did, I’m one of the best in the world and I can’t believe I just did that!’ It’s probably going to make an impression.”
The champ’s insightful appraisal shoots down my belief that claims are desperate cries for attention from lonely man-child like surfers pining for a hug or a pat on the back from Dad [at least that’s why I do them].
Legitimate attempts to sway the judges or otherwise – truth is claiming works! Need an extra point-five on your score? Want to make sure that high eight creeps into the nine region? Then throw down a double fist pump, or perhaps a low-key, but equally arsey, head down close chest fist.
Look, to be fair there are times of such unabashed joy in surfing, such unbridled emotion, when surfing a wave like Pipeline or Teahupo’o, that raising your arms skyward and hooting yourself horse is a must. Denying those magical endorphins rocketing up through your ying-yang, through your spine and eventually blowing your mind near impossible… I for one will never deny a fellow surfer such ecstasy for it’s precious moments like these that make all the shitty onshore early morning surfs worthwhile [no a backhand foam re-entry does not qualify for such celebration – sorry Adriano.]
Ace Buchan is on the legal limit, he does claim, but is not an over-claimer. A man’s not a camel. Pic: ASP/Kirsten
But what poise, what grace, it is when, like some sort of Jedi knight, a surfer rides out of what appears to be the ride of a life time without even a hint of a claim – dignity intact. Joy and warm satisfaction internalised and magnified for his or her enjoyment alone. Guru.
Coming back to reality, you may be surprised by who claims on tour and who doesn’t. Proof they work doesn’t get any more damning than a quick look at the top ten; current world number two, Joel Parkinson, big time claimer. Adriano De Souza, mad over-claimer, Mick Fanning, consistent claimer. In fact the list goes on.
To be fair, surfing a full year on the world tour claim free would be quite an achievement. Showing restraint when you’re one heat away from qualifying, for example Maui’s own Dusty Payne in the Pipe Masters last year. Being spat out of an impossible tube needing a high nine with 30 seconds to go and not claiming is almost impossible. In this case, Dusty claimed the shit out of it and saved his career and his pride in one fowl swoop.
Remarkably there are those that don’t claim, or claim so little it does not register; Dane Reynolds, staunch non-claimer, Adam Melling, so far so good non-claimer, Brett Simpson, honourable non-claimer and Josh Kerr, “I can’t believe he didn’t claim that”, non-claimer.
Those with a keen eye may have spotted the odd non-claim claim on tour – a rare bird that can be veiled in secrecy and camouflage. But to the avid no-claim spotter they stick out like dog balls on a hairless cat.
Taj Burrow does the sort of shit that would have most of us fist pumping the sky like maniacs. ASP/Kirsten
And that’s where Kelly comes into his own – the subtle nose blow [done many times at Backdoor], the sudden Duke Kahanamoku bolt upright stance [after Rip Curl Pro winning alley-oop at Johanna Beach in 2010], both no-claim claims. Far less vulgar or showy than a shot gun claim – but a claim none the less.
In conclusion I’d like to present an open letter to the top 34 surfers of the ASP World Tour.
Dear surfers,
Please, at this year’s Billabong Pro at Jefferys Bay, please save any exuberant over claiming for those special moments that absolutely and unequivocally call for it. Claiming a two and a half second tube in round one does not call for a claim… a double barrel from Supertubes and all way to Salad Bowls in the semi finals on the other hand, definitely worthy of a claim, heck we’ll be claiming with you.
Thanks.
Love, Colin Bernasconi
P.S I asked Kelly about the possibility of him leading an anti-claim campaign on tour, as suggested by an avid Tracks reader, his response, “I’ve been trying but nobody notices when you don’t claim, only when you do.”
I rest my case.
Claim on boys.
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