Survey at the end!
Do you like to frontside or backside?
I’d say the vast majority, maybe 80% of surfers worldwide would prefer to be on their forehand. It makes sense — you can see the wave better, there are more options in terms of maneuvers and, if you’re that type of gal, the frontside bottom turn allows one to show off her assets. Her Alana Blanchard!
But the backhand, oh she’s a dark power. More grunt than grace but beautiful it’s nonetheless. All it takes is one heelside hanger to make a believer out of me. In fact, I find it difficult to imagine a simpler, more appealing turn than a backside vert. And boy do the CT judges agree!
Recently Clay Marzo and Ramzi Boukhiam, two talented goofies from half’a world apart, showed their hands.
Ramzi, hailing from Morocco, is a real motherfucker on the backhand — like a tall Tom Carroll or a caramel Wiggolly Dantas. This winter North Africa was hit with a few behemoth swells and Ramzi shut the joint down. No-grab tubes were his go-to, but a few of the turns in between will make you squeal like a pig. Please, indulge!
Up next is Marzo. Maui’s greatest enigma is currently filming for his second profile film, This Is Clay, which means these clips are likely throwaways. Because of Clay’s immense talent, the reel remains totally bonkers despite its B-grade nature. Clay sticks to his beloved left-handers and gorges on a platter of tubes, turns, and the odd slob. Watch!
Now the question: who did it better? Backside or front? Dark or light? Quiksilver or JSLV?
I think Ramzi took this one, but only with the advantages of wave quality and not withholding A-clips.
Chris Dixon and Frank: please email [email protected] from the address you'd like your BeachGrit login on.
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
Ramzi’s waves (and surfing) are mental but for me it has to be Clay. Everyone kind of forgets he’s on the autism spectrum and has overcome that challenge to become a phenomenal surfer.
Ummmm I don’t know much about autism but I do know that aspergers in particular gives people super powers
Quiksilver or JSLV? The winner is… HAHAHAHAHAHAH
Surely JSLV would win from a debt perspective?
That Ramzi clip is the shit.
I think they tied for first place.
“Dampens your drawers…”
Ramzi by far. Clay’s clips are mental and the song choice was nice, but Ramzi threading those tubes layback and no hands was somethin’ to see. If he only made it out of those couple mutant drainers tho…
Clay took this one you’re just mad he beat you at nationals
hahahahaha! Nationals! I made one heat my whole “campaign”! Lol One year, I wasn’t privy to it, as I was on the wave, but I caught a left and tried some stupid one footed layback that I had no business attempting. The legendary and late Mike Morgan said “Looks like he went for his patented move”. Which was choking. Good shit
Haha many good times at nationals I remember when Chas Chidester got caught smoking in the bathrooms
Clay wins this for sure