Linguistics: “Knifing” and such!

He's knifing into a wave! Nice knifing! Knifing the takeoff! Let's knife!

Yesterday was a fabulous one by any measure. Jaws really did soften me up and I thought to myself, even while writing that The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau is the best show on earth, that it would look weak and small compared to Maui’s right hook.

I have rarely been happier to be wrong. Those drops? Mason Ho getting obliterated? Grant Twiggy free falling from the sky? Tangled leg ropes and mixed martial arts? Jaime O’Brien? It was a tour de force.

Watching “The Bay Call the Day” and listening to the web commentary team describe the heroics like John John “knifing” into a big one was pure pleasure and how many times did the web commentary team use the word “knifing?” Every time someone caught a wave? Every other time?

I accidentally have a graduate degree in applied linguistics and so, for me, language is also accidentally a very fun thing to observe. It seems like every year there are three or four words that the WSL commentary gang get into their mouths and cannot get out. Who could forget such classics as “foam climb” or “thanks for the insight, Pete?”

Do you think “knifing” will cross the Pacific and make its presence felt as the tour kicks off on the Gold Coast? Which are your favorite oft repeated WSL words?

 

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Kimberley
Kimberley
10 years ago

How about ‘body english’?

I’ve definitely heard that one said. …I’m wondering if it’s much different to other body languages?

TecatePapi69
TecatePapi69
10 years ago

“pretty fun to watch”

Seymour Khantz
Seymour Khantz
10 years ago

how has “flying down the line” not been mentioned yet?! My first completed manoeuvre

Bertleman
Bertleman
10 years ago

Bring back “pizza throw”

madweed
madweed
10 years ago

youve missed “on point”

Blue-flamer Quantico Cat
Blue-flamer Quantico Cat
10 years ago

Mick Fanning’s “twist wrap”.

Suss Oldman
Suss Oldman
10 years ago

Packing the barrel
Really packed it
Got under the hood of that one
Taps one off the top

toofattosurf
toofattosurf
10 years ago

.joe’s “- he’ll padlle back out ‘n reset…”

toofattosurf
toofattosurf
10 years ago

.ross’ “- silky smooth style…”

toofattosurf
toofattosurf
10 years ago

.pottz’ “- wow!”

toofattosurf
toofattosurf
10 years ago

“- absolutely right, joe!”

omlete
omlete
10 years ago

Turps hasn’t mentioned the “tube monster” for a while.

dickie toledo
dickie toledo
10 years ago

full of ohana, so much ohana, amazing to see ohana. brock hussein ohana, ohana swell. spread ohana. only ohana can ruin the word ohana.

Happy in the Brine
Happy in the Brine
10 years ago

Joe Turpel commentating a head dip, “He got a quick cover up.” Joe Turpel commentating a 10 second, behind the foam ball barrel, “He got a quick cover up.”

Truth
Truth
10 years ago

Best surfers on the planet. Pottz to use this 50+ times in 2016 as well as other highly annoying over used over hyped boring as batshit personal repetitive one liners

Ima Slappahoe
Ima Slappahoe
10 years ago

Tautology: “ANSWER BACK”

Lance Burkhart
Lance Burkhart
10 years ago

Some phrases that come to mind are:
“Taggin’ it” very often followed by “To finish”
“He needs a score in the Excellent range”
“The Hail Mary!” used whenever Kelly catches a wave in the last minute.
“The Dragon door” The doggy door on heavier waves.
Only heard this one once but it deserves a mention: “Floppy Marmaduke” …I shit you not!

Chas Smith
Chas Smith
10 years ago

Yes! This is what I was looking for with this damned post. Thank you!

Tom
Tom
10 years ago
Reply to  Chas Smith

what about highline wrap
bottom hand top turn combo???? heard turpel say that
beautiful arcing turns
my favourite – absolutely on point
transition looked seamless
jams it

Red
Red
10 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Cutting it back to the power source

Stringer Bell
Stringer Bell
10 years ago

Kala and Makua spooned

The MHL Buoy
The MHL Buoy
10 years ago
Reply to  Stringer Bell

Just don’t put a fork between them

DramaFactory
DramaFactory
10 years ago

that list not too strong but “these guys are athletes” is CLASSIC.


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