The no-claim claim is a humblebrag, a delicious display of faux modesty…
Let’s talk a bit about the no-claim claim. It’s a humblebrag, a delicious display of false modesty meant to illuminate accomplishment without resorting to any untoward gesticulation.
A downward gazing fist pump, soul arching kick out, meant to say, “I’m proud of myself, but I’m not gonna get all up in your face about it.”
It covers up failure well.
Maybe that barrel wasn’t so deep, that air so high, that turn so hard. All the no-claim’s saying is that you think you did good, not better than anyone else. Ostensibly, at least. We all know the truth. It’s like complimenting an old lady on her famous homemade pie crust.
“Oh no, this one didn’t have enough sugar, it was terrible.”
But the old biddy is smiling on the inside, ‘cuz she thinks the meringue you whipped up tastes like sour cardboard.
I don’t do humility so good, got an awful tendency toward self praise. I really don’t see much wrong with it, you’ve gotta have a lot of self confidence to get shit done.
Years ago I got a damn good barrel out at Turkeys, a guy on the beach even said so.
“Dude, sick tube you got out there.”
My reply?
“Yeah.”
On the drive home the wife pointed out that I kind of came across like a prick.
“You should just say, ‘Thank you,’” she said.
Hard to wrap my head around at first. I try hard, why shouldn’t I just bask in well deserved praise? Because people will like me more, that’s why.
It’s a pretty manipulative move. Almost insulting, denigrating an impressive accomplishment only serves to shit on those who aren’t on that level.
But we lie to ourselves and others every day. In word or deed, it’s these forced delusions that get you through life.
It works great with freediving.
“Yeah, I only hit 120′ before I turned around. Pretty weak.”
I’m not an idiot, I know 12 stories is plenty deep. But the subtext, so beautiful.
“I’m so gnarly that 120’ ain’t shit.”
But make no mistake, it’s all the same when things are said and done. Whether you’re waving your arms above your head like some meth-ed out monkey, or just setting your jaw and giving a bit of swagger, you’re broadcasting to the world that you think you’re better. Just in a more palatable fashion.
And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.
Of course, I wouldn’t. I’ve got a pretty high opinion of myself.
(Thanks to Karl Myers for the idea…)
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This is awesome, thanks for writing this Rory. Humblebrag may be the term of the century.
History will prove that before the world’s first beach nuclear dump there was the claim.
There’s definitely a cultural dimension to this: in Aus with it’s convict scum heritage and where Jack is as good as his master, showing superiority is frowned upon. Whereas “merica with it’s roots as a religious paradise and where every kid can be President is more fond of the right to brag.
Theory demolished by Curren though, the most humble no-claimer ever.
This smells like a claim.
He totally just lost his balance and had to lift his arm up to correct it. Curren never claims.
True, but he left it up there… I was shocked and joyous at the same time.
He def claimed it, I was equally shocked. I’ve probably watched that replay a hundred times, never gets old.
good god.
There isn’t a struck match between that and De Souza’s Portugal wide stancer.
True that. One of my best friends is a total cunt. He’s a Kiwi but has strong Australian tendencies. I tell him he’s a cunt to his face quite regularly and he knows its true.
Once while surfing a heaving reef in Indonesia I was balls deep, standing tall in quite possibly one of the best barrels I have ever ridden. My mate the cunt was right on the edge of the shoulder, purposely looking away from me.
Because he knew if our eyes locked, that moment shared would have been an acknowledgement and forced acceptance of me riding the wave of the trip. Standing tall/posing is as bad as a claim in his book and he wasn’t going to have it.
Of course, if I had been about to get a lip in the head he would have been looking straight at me screaming his head off in excitement.
At the other end of the spectrum while in a beachside restaurant in Costa Rica. I had a ex-pat Yank give everyone within ear-shot ie the whole fucking restaurant, a play by play account of a wave I had surfed earlier in the day, complete with arm movements and wooshing noises… I just wanted to curl up into a ball and quietly roll away.
So you basically try to do a verbal double no claim here that you’re a damn good surfer and have traveled to Indo and CR.
The past is a glorious place to venture for surf tales… surfing in the present is a different kettle of fish for me. Fear, self loathing and failure seem to feature quite regularly.
I like your mates style.
btw is it just me or is Chloe looking a bit paunchy?
You left out the Hawaiian originators of surfing’s humblebrag.
Terrified white guy on beach: “How big was it out there?”
Hawaiian: “Fun size, there were a couple four footers coming through.”
I love me a good claim or even a no claim claim. The naysayers sound like old timers in baseball that get all uptight when players with too much attitude (read: Cubans and Dominicans) toss the bat after a home run or take too long to round the bases. The crusty old timers want to keep the game’s “tradition” and the way it used to be played in its glory days. You know back when baseball was segregated and black players were forced to play in their own league.
Hey what do I know “I’m just a humble man with a big dick.”
…oh Mahdi, welcome back!