The world needs your verdict!
I was up in Los Angeles today having a lovely meeting with our handsome web developer and otherwise minding my own business. At the end of our productive session (plug-ins and widgets etc.) he asked, “Do you live near Michael Ciaramella?” I told him that I did and he said that Michael had come up and placed in or won or… oh details were never my strong suit… but something in a South Bay big wave contest.
First, I was amazed that such a thing existed.
Second, I can’t remember.
But third, Michael had apparently won a gift certificate to a local restaurant, some Spy sunglasses and a poster of himself surfing a big wave in the South Bay. Our handsome web developer walked me to his garage to give me Michael’s gifts.
I studied the poster for quite some time.
A fine big wave with Michael clearly charging etc. “But what is falling out of his mouth?” I quietly wondered. “Was he eating a hot dog? Vomiting?”
And then I realized that he was cradling a GoPro mouth mount.
“Hmmm.” I quietly wondered.
“Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.”
Has the jury come in and delivered an official verdict on the GoPro mouth mount? Jamie O’Brien and Anthony Walsh talked about it here…
But I don’t necessarily consider them the jury. I guess I consider YOU the jury.
So what is the verdict?
Is this…
Worth this…
Vote in the comments!
Do we have definitive proof that photo is not of Mason Ho?
Love ‘ol MC, but yeah, no. That’s pretty funny this won a big wave contest. It’s solid, but not “big”, in my humble and shitty opinion.
I only mount the mouth in one way and one way only… well depending on the mouth … ah fuck… got me there
My favourite game is to read a BG headline and guess the author. I was 100% sure this was by Michael but alas, it was Chas plumbing the depths. Again.
What isn’t being taken into account is the sound effects associated with these. Sure it’s all fine when someone edits some rocking Fugazi/Motörhead/Hard Ons into the scene. But until that happens, it’s a wave that looks much smaller than what it was like in real time with heavy breathing. But, you know, whatever turns you on.
Three of my all time favourites! You sure you’re not me?
Ha! Blackie digs my band!
Gotta be happy with that.
The man has taste. Well, for a vegetarian.
And on that. Don’t ever tour in the same van as him. He leaves smells that linger.
Reasonably sure. Where did you surf this morning?
I worked… Surf tomorrow.
Bummer. Good round here last couple of days. Maybe some leftover for tomorrow. I barely work through the week, let alone weekends. We are different people then.
I used to be you. Then I helped make some babies. The urge to provide is more powerful than the urge to surf these days.
Mouth mounts are kind of like selfies, Selfies can look good depending on the pose, place, background etc but if someone takes a photo of you taking a selfie you look like a total cock no matter what.
I won a grand thanks to that tonsil tickler so all of your opinions are moot.
Also, try getting a career barrel with one of those things and tell me you don’t replay it, in slow-mo, every time you’re feeling a bit down. Nothing better than riding your best wave over and over again.
And Chas, did you know that our handsome web developer is a way way way better surfer than all of us? Like made finals in QS events good?
Post the footage
I’m almost compelled to challenge Chas to a surf off. In place of a blindfold I will surf switch. Are you keen Chas??
Was it a photo comp or in-person, judged comp?
I’ve surfed with the kid who won this year’s South Bay Boardriders Big Wave and he legit charges big stuff and drives all over creation to do it.
Some people just like to get piped with hotdogs in their mouths as well, Chas, geez! I’m certainly not one to pass judgment on those people.
Chas I think you are trying to get the commenters to do your dirty work here.
Strap a mouth pro on?
Chas hasn’t surfed a wave that big. He’s jealous. Give him time.
Thanks to this article, I fucked up some madelienes I was baking. Totally burnt while I was reading the comments. Fuck. You have to chill the bastard dough for an hour. An hour, plus mixing time, totally wasted. Fucking beach grit.
More blood feud, less shit stories please.
I would feel like more of an asshole than I already am if I disparaged that awesome wave in any way.
depends on your photo incentive structure. are you a social media guy? the POV is fine for social media posts but isn’t doing shit for you in the mags. there’s still mags, right?
Ask him! He’s on your doorstep!
Burn it with fire.
painful….. in every way….
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Here you go Mike, don’t let the bastards get you down…
at first glance the wave appears to be big. Then I remembered he’s only 4’10.
How tall is he really? Mike? I’m curious.
Suppose we took it from the camera’s perspective, instead of the full frontal facial view. (Why are you lookin’ at dude’s mouthes, anyway?) Ilikeit! Thanks to all you oral fastened filmers, you give us the perspective we want to see, when we surf, or surf vicariously.
But re-visit Michael C’s poster picture. He was charging and it would have looked very fine if he didn’t have a hot dog in his mouth. I mean vomit. I mean a mouth mount.
Nothing since George Greenough in Crystal Voyager (or whatever it was called) justifies this narcissism!
What’s the issue with Greenough? That Lennox footage is insane goodness
It’s amazing, nothing since it has blown my mind. He shot that footage back in the 60/70s, incredible film. Hard to get excited about modern POVs
Yeah, agree about modern POV’s. Weird that vision is what we want, but is pretty boring to watch
Have you seen the camera George used at Lennox? Plus it was solid surf too, amazing