Is rail surfing for studs only, airs for the fragile and sexually transcendent?
A couple of days back, Filipe Toledo put together the most extravagant ride in the history of pro surfing. He made J-Bay whimper in his arms and his competitors look like haggard masturbators.
But when I posited as much on Instagram, there erupted a debate as ancient as surfing itself, the whole “rail” versus “air” thing. Now, you would’ve thought this sorta argument would’ve disappeared long ago as surfers came to realise that doing a cutback is a hell of a lot easier than an alley-oop.
But, no!
As the noted filmmaker Rory Pringle wrote, “Uhhhhhh, can I get a rail carve in there? WTF is this, Ubatuba?”
Another commenter wrote, “Airs are shit. Lay down some power carves.”
Another, “Fuckn bullshit overhyped shite. This ain’t Trestles.”
Back to Rory, ” And doing two identical moves back to back is progress? … We’ve got six year olds in Hawaii dropping alley-oops.”
Filipe, meanwhile, replied thus:
What do you think?
Is rail surfing for studs only, airs for the fragile and sexually transcendent?
Or do you think a fabulous switcharoo has taken place and rail surfing, inhibited, safe, is the “new gay”?
For reference, here’s Filipe’s double oop, multi-hack, ten.
I too like replica pistols, playing Guitar Hero and rail surfing
For the most part, Felipe’s rail game is on par with everyone else on tour, but that pre-air energy build-up (wide stance, spastic pump) is downright hideous. I get that he “needs” to surf this way to obtain the stability and speed to get that high off the wave. But still, it’s gross. To me, that stance is the new gay.
He was very impressive comboing Mick Fanning in J-bay
I just read because I thought it was a Russell Brand story and he had put on some kegs.
Was very disappointed Derek
I thought he looked familiar. I was fooled by the same stare you get from a dog shitting on grass in front of you.
Derek, the real question is wtf were they doing running heats in that morning sickness drivel?
Nobody in their right mind, at a world class wave for ten days, with that epic forecast, would waste any energy paddling out in those conditions.
Especially after what they’d already had, and knowing what was coming in a few hours.
That ten should never have happened.
I like rail surfing. But Connor coffin (for example), is annoying. It’s like he thinks he’s too classic to do an air. Even if he needs a 9 and its the last wave of the heat, he would rather finish with a downcarve rather than an air. Even if he knows that will only get him a 7. In his mind that is a moral victory or something? My guess he then goes off to his locker room, closes his eyes, and then strums a pearl jam solo on his 1963 gibson les paul gifted to him by lenny kravitz on his 18th birthday.
Connor doesn’t think he’s too classic. He just understands key concepts and key terms…..
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
He’s Conner Coffin XIX a classic noble snob, who understands physics concepts but just don’t have the ability to overcome his barriers, and sooner will be forced to face extinction…
But I like his style…
Haha that’s pretty funny “too classic to do an air”.
Or maybe Connor’s parents are sooo rich he doesnt even care about his surfing competitive career
The only time poor Filipe’s seizures stop are when he takes to the air
Maybe maybe, maybe hahahaha
Is anyone going to point out that the second air he landed was poo stance take it in the bunghole head in the water ostrich style to recovery? Didn’t even come close to landing it clean. That wave sucked because of that, sorry.
anyone? anyone?
Yeah but when it’s the 2nd 6 foot high air you’ve pulled on an overhead freight training wave it kinda doesnt fuckin matter. Like all the commentators said – that wave was a 10 even with one air. With two airs and some carves it was actually one of the best waves in the history or competitive surfing. And even the old school shaun tomson made that call.
“If I could rail hot dudes cut in Fascinus’s image, rife with 12 rock-hard abs, oily olive skin, and a taste for Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, I would. I would also do airs consistently if I could.” –Undisclosed top-22 WCT surfer who also somehow learned how to read.
Both are important, as JJF present it today, and Filipe itself are learning and improve his surf with the rail game.
The important thing is each surfer implementing their game, but maintaining its main characteristics.
I call this blood feud bullshit!