If a professional surfer scores a 10-point ride but doesn’t claim it, was it even a 10? From our estimation, Ian Walsh is the only surfer in this entire eight-minute compilation of 10-point rides to avoid the instinctive punctuation of a wave ridden with “perfect” style and flow.
While this compilation was probably made with the intention of showing off some incredible surfing, it’s impossible to watch without the claims taking center stage throughout. Kelly does it. We all know Filipe and Gabs do it on the reg. John John…these are just some of the usual suspects here, but the point is that pretty much every athlete falls victim. The arms in the air claim is perhaps the most genuine display of excitement, while the pose and flex, “this isn’t a claim” claim is ironically the most-oft used form of showboating. There’s the bow, some double shakas, and even a proper showing of 10 fingers from Italo last year at Keramas, which was also about his third claim on a single wave, letting the judges know exactly what he was expecting in return for his services.
So if you’re an aspiring CT pro, consider this video more of a “how to” in the art of the claim than in how to actually score a perfect 10.
