If surfing was more like skateboarding
November 3, 2009 3:32 PM Subscribe
Matt Meola surfs like a character in a surfing video game. Sky rocketing airs, barrel rolls, 360 airs, shuvits, & weird flip spins that are more at home in a concrete skatepark or snowboard trick park than a Hawaiian wave.
Awesome, though I'm a little surprised that no one was trying these tricks earlier... I don't exactly think of surfers as being a conservative bunch.
posted by GuyZero at 3:53 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by GuyZero at 3:53 PM on November 3, 2009
Jesus fuck is that board stapled to his feet? Holy shit.
posted by dersins at 3:53 PM on November 3, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by dersins at 3:53 PM on November 3, 2009 [3 favorites]
Been surfing the internet this way for years.
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 3:57 PM on November 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 3:57 PM on November 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Sure he can surf in the ocean, but does he have what it takes to surf the internet?
*eats peanut butter cup, refreshes boingboing*
posted by brain_drain at 3:57 PM on November 3, 2009 [7 favorites]
*eats peanut butter cup, refreshes boingboing*
posted by brain_drain at 3:57 PM on November 3, 2009 [7 favorites]
For more surfing awesomeness, see also:
Step Into Liquid
Riding Giants
posted by dersins at 3:59 PM on November 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Step Into Liquid
Riding Giants
posted by dersins at 3:59 PM on November 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Matt's a great surfer without a doubt, but that's what a lot of modern surfing looks like. I'm very happy to stay fully connected to the wave though.... can't remember the last time I chose a shortboard over one of my longboards.
posted by blaneyphoto at 4:00 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by blaneyphoto at 4:00 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm no surfing guru, but a lot of his tricks look extra 'choppy' to me. I think it's those late turns in the water where he's really forcing the board around again, after a landing. I think part of this perception comes from the fact that I'm just used to slow-mo snowboard videos, though.
He's certainly bucking his legs around in a way that makes my ACL green with envy.
posted by jstef at 4:07 PM on November 3, 2009
He's certainly bucking his legs around in a way that makes my ACL green with envy.
posted by jstef at 4:07 PM on November 3, 2009
Watching that makes me want to play Wii Sports Resort again. Sadly, I'm stuck at work. Damn you and thank you mathowie!
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:08 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:08 PM on November 3, 2009
Damn it's real-life surfing like on California Games
posted by hamida2242 at 4:10 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by hamida2242 at 4:10 PM on November 3, 2009
Didn't do much for me. The choice of uninspired music didn't help. (Either that or it was perfectly chosen music.)
When I'm impressed with surfing (the above mentioned Riding Giants is fantastic) it's because the surfer can stay on the board which stays on the wave until the wave is no more. All this guy did was flip up in the air over and over again, with each clip lasting just long enough for him to fly and land. As my mom would say... "Whoopdedoo."
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 4:22 PM on November 3, 2009
When I'm impressed with surfing (the above mentioned Riding Giants is fantastic) it's because the surfer can stay on the board which stays on the wave until the wave is no more. All this guy did was flip up in the air over and over again, with each clip lasting just long enough for him to fly and land. As my mom would say... "Whoopdedoo."
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 4:22 PM on November 3, 2009
Impressive. Very impressive.
Like a cross between Kelly Slater and Joel Tudor was the first thing I thought of.
posted by Relay at 4:23 PM on November 3, 2009
Like a cross between Kelly Slater and Joel Tudor was the first thing I thought of.
posted by Relay at 4:23 PM on November 3, 2009
You Should See--
Dude, consider the forces tearing that board away from his feet, but constantly *not*.
posted by effugas at 4:28 PM on November 3, 2009
Dude, consider the forces tearing that board away from his feet, but constantly *not*.
posted by effugas at 4:28 PM on November 3, 2009
Awesome, though I'm a little surprised that no one was trying these tricks earlier
Oh, they have been.
If anyone here hasn't seen Dogtown and Z-Boys, go watch it. Kids, surfboards, skateboards. Fantastic.
posted by rtha at 4:32 PM on November 3, 2009
Oh, they have been.
If anyone here hasn't seen Dogtown and Z-Boys, go watch it. Kids, surfboards, skateboards. Fantastic.
posted by rtha at 4:32 PM on November 3, 2009
I'm a sucker for surfing documentaries, and hung with surfers in high school. Several of those moves look bizarre and amazing to my eye. Nice find!
posted by artlung at 4:35 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by artlung at 4:35 PM on November 3, 2009
Dude, consider the forces tearing that board away from his feet, but constantly *not*.
Fair enough. I don't think it's not difficult, I just found myself bored after 2 "jumps".
On preview, that's fine, The World Famous. Obviously you were impressed. My mom was pretty pumped the first time I bunny hopped onto her car. After that it was "get the fuck off the hood of my car!" :)
Looks like Riding Giants is on youtube for anyone who hasn't seen it.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 4:52 PM on November 3, 2009
Fair enough. I don't think it's not difficult, I just found myself bored after 2 "jumps".
On preview, that's fine, The World Famous. Obviously you were impressed. My mom was pretty pumped the first time I bunny hopped onto her car. After that it was "get the fuck off the hood of my car!" :)
Looks like Riding Giants is on youtube for anyone who hasn't seen it.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 4:52 PM on November 3, 2009
I just started surfing this year, in the Pacific NW.
I keep having to tell myself that, no, the kid's not going to die of hypothermia because he's not in a wetsuit, because the water is probably not 50 degrees where he is.
posted by gurple at 5:01 PM on November 3, 2009 [3 favorites]
I keep having to tell myself that, no, the kid's not going to die of hypothermia because he's not in a wetsuit, because the water is probably not 50 degrees where he is.
posted by gurple at 5:01 PM on November 3, 2009 [3 favorites]
You are giving surfing video games way too much credit, I think.
That was neat, but I'd've thought there was enough crossover between skateboarding and surfing for someone to have done this already.
posted by graventy at 5:10 PM on November 3, 2009
That was neat, but I'd've thought there was enough crossover between skateboarding and surfing for someone to have done this already.
posted by graventy at 5:10 PM on November 3, 2009
Well, I'm not impressed. I get a black box with "loading menu" perpetually writ upon it.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:24 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by five fresh fish at 5:24 PM on November 3, 2009
I was impressed. It's a great evolution of surfing. I have a lot of respect for the dudes in Riding Giants, notably Laird Hamilton.
This kid is the next generation of those, pushing the envelope on what people thing is possible. Great stuff.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:27 PM on November 3, 2009
This kid is the next generation of those, pushing the envelope on what people thing is possible. Great stuff.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:27 PM on November 3, 2009
This guy: Pretty great.
Learning there's a Wii Sports Resort: Priceless.
posted by DU at 5:38 PM on November 3, 2009
Learning there's a Wii Sports Resort: Priceless.
posted by DU at 5:38 PM on November 3, 2009
Any ideas how to get it to work? It looks like it's a flash player, and I don't have trouble with other flash sites.
Suppose I could fire up an alternative browser, see if it works there...
posted by five fresh fish at 5:50 PM on November 3, 2009
Suppose I could fire up an alternative browser, see if it works there...
posted by five fresh fish at 5:50 PM on November 3, 2009
I think the fact he's goofyfoot makes a big difference - he's "jumping" the wave while looking at it. That's a much stronger position than turning backwards, I would think.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:08 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:08 PM on November 3, 2009
My mom is gonna looooove this.
(She used to surf competitively. How cool is that?)
posted by Never teh Bride at 6:46 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
(She used to surf competitively. How cool is that?)
posted by Never teh Bride at 6:46 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
DU: "Learning there's a Wii Sports Resort: Priceless."
Being told you have to buy at least one more 20 dollar peripheral to play with another person: at least 20 dollars.
posted by graventy at 6:51 PM on November 3, 2009
Being told you have to buy at least one more 20 dollar peripheral to play with another person: at least 20 dollars.
posted by graventy at 6:51 PM on November 3, 2009
My reaction to the first jump in the video was "Huh, well that's neat. I'd be more impressed if he had actually landed i.... oh. Wow."
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 7:27 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 7:27 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Stapled to his feet is right. How the hell does the board just stay with him? Amazing.
(The story about Laird Hamilton is pretty wild too!)
posted by Flashman at 8:57 PM on November 3, 2009
(The story about Laird Hamilton is pretty wild too!)
posted by Flashman at 8:57 PM on November 3, 2009
Dude.
posted by brundlefly at 9:31 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by brundlefly at 9:31 PM on November 3, 2009
Thanks for introducing me to Riding Giants, You Should See The Other Guy. Watching Laird Hamilton in Tahiti at the end was unbelievable.
posted by dazed_one at 10:38 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by dazed_one at 10:38 PM on November 3, 2009
NOT IMPRESSED? I am actually lol... Will wait for your self submit video of you doing ANYTHING YOU CAN DO in your life that is half as impressive as that. And I mean it, if you can do anything that well (typing, coding, driving, painting, dishwashing,...) I would like to see it.
posted by jcworth at 10:46 PM on November 3, 2009
posted by jcworth at 10:46 PM on November 3, 2009
i used to be able to pull off similar stuff. whatever. it's like no big deal.
posted by rainperimeter at 11:26 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by rainperimeter at 11:26 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Awesome! I wonder if he hones his skillz on no boards in the winter?
I love how massively the rate of progression has accelerated with the relatively recent big rise in popularity of extreme sports. Check out any current season bmx, mtb, snowboard, freeski, wakeboard, kiteboard etc. etc. vids and / or competition footage, it appears that someone's out there with a masterplan that involves breeding ninjas and stoned circus perfomers . . .
posted by protorp at 11:44 PM on November 3, 2009
I love how massively the rate of progression has accelerated with the relatively recent big rise in popularity of extreme sports. Check out any current season bmx, mtb, snowboard, freeski, wakeboard, kiteboard etc. etc. vids and / or competition footage, it appears that someone's out there with a masterplan that involves breeding ninjas and stoned circus perfomers . . .
posted by protorp at 11:44 PM on November 3, 2009
another youngster who surfs like he's on wheels is Clay Marzo
posted by billyfleetwood at 12:03 AM on November 4, 2009
posted by billyfleetwood at 12:03 AM on November 4, 2009
Surf pedantry alert! There are no barrel rolls here - backside it's more likely a ">Rodeo flip or a ">Gorkin flip and frontside I think you'd call it a Kerrupt. If you don't find these avant garde tricks aesthetically pleasing, you might enjoy harking back to ">simpler ">times
posted by henners at 2:48 AM on November 4, 2009
posted by henners at 2:48 AM on November 4, 2009
Oops - here are the links...
Rodeo Gorkin simpler times
posted by henners at 2:54 AM on November 4, 2009
Rodeo Gorkin simpler times
posted by henners at 2:54 AM on November 4, 2009
The surfing was cool but I'd just like to say:
THAT IS HOW INTERNET MAGAZINES SHOULD BE DONE!
posted by srboisvert at 3:02 AM on November 4, 2009
THAT IS HOW INTERNET MAGAZINES SHOULD BE DONE!
posted by srboisvert at 3:02 AM on November 4, 2009
Why are videos of California-flavoured sport always set to annoying music? Back in the 70s and 80s it was more often heavy-ish metal and not the modern electronic pulses we hear now.
I suppose it's better than the Beach Boys or Jan & Dean. But still.
posted by clvrmnky at 5:50 AM on November 4, 2009
I suppose it's better than the Beach Boys or Jan & Dean. But still.
posted by clvrmnky at 5:50 AM on November 4, 2009
Some of the recoveries he pulls off are as stunning as the tricks, to me - he looks like he fell off 5 seconds ago, and I'm wondering what the camera is still tracking and then *pop* the little fella calmy scoots out of all that water carnage like nothing happened.
He's so good, it makes me want to slap him in a wholly unnecessary burst of jealousy.
posted by Brockles at 7:31 AM on November 4, 2009
He's so good, it makes me want to slap him in a wholly unnecessary burst of jealousy.
posted by Brockles at 7:31 AM on November 4, 2009
This doesn't detract from Meola's considerable skill, though it does challenge the implicit idea (of a FPP) that this style is novel.
Aerial surfing existed as early as the late 1970s and was widespread by the mid 1980s.
posted by mistersquid at 11:27 AM on November 4, 2009
Aerial surfing existed as early as the late 1970s and was widespread by the mid 1980s.
posted by mistersquid at 11:27 AM on November 4, 2009
misterquid, I'm not getting the point of the link, which goes to a short film that doesn't seem to have any surfing in it.
posted by rtha at 11:53 AM on November 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 11:53 AM on November 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
I sure wish I'd watched this video when it was first posted, as now Surfermag appears to have pulled it. Anyone have a link to a cached version?
posted by dnesan at 9:13 PM on November 4, 2009
posted by dnesan at 9:13 PM on November 4, 2009
Criminy! I meant to link to a brief history of aerial surfing.
My bad.
posted by mistersquid at 7:42 AM on November 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
My bad.
posted by mistersquid at 7:42 AM on November 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
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