Style and Flow

Sorry to drop in, i'm just reader of the forum and don't post, but I like this topic and think style-oriented surfing is the most interesting side of surfing. Could spend all day watching Machado, Craig Anderson, Rastovich, Kassia Meador etc.

That Joe Aaron vid always seems a little suspect to me, as amazingly skilled as he is. It's like he combed hours of tudor footage to find the crappiest 10 seconds and put it up against eleven and a half minutes of himself doing heli spins in a modern art wetsuite. Dude kinda sucks the air from the room.

Tudors drop knee thing is timeless, hard to imagine a more economical and still surfer. He's so un-busy it's like he could be doing something else like making a lovely frittata. I don't know about tudor's rep as a figure in surfing, but someone earlier mentioned taking a LB approach no matter what board and I think he shows how effective that can be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9UKYHU03KQ

Haven't noticed if this was posted on SI yet but the recent steph gilmore video is amazing:

https://vimeo.com/184455304

Partly to do with how well made a video, but she's another one who makes it look much easier than it is. I imagine many pros could do the same, it's just not a side you get to see much of. Sorry I don't know how to embed, I'm technology impaired (and naturally lazy).

 

I agree, I've seen that video before and the dude comes across as a whiny little pussie. The dude can clearly shred but he's no Tudor.

 

The Tudor video is amazing. Style master for sure

 

^^^ Glad somebody else sees what I see. That's what I mean by, "economy of motion." The guy doesn't move a finger if he doesn't have to, but he surfs with incredible speed and flow... and draws flawless lines.

By contrast... Knost is a caricature. Very talented, but he squeezes in as many unnecessary body movements as he can in every wave. Which makes him really fun to watch... you never know what he's gonna do next. But it comes off... at least to me... as very contrived.

A lot of shortboard guys seem to surf the same way. For example... why do most shortboarders habitually pump their boards for no reason? I think they want to seem like they're "ripping," and don't really know any other way to surf.

 

This kid is full of style

[video=vimeo;35087511]https://vimeo.com/35087511[/video]

 

^^^ Yes he is.

Closest thing to Lopez I've seen in a long time.

 

I agree about the Joe aaron video. Didn't post it to say he's better than tudor. That's just thinner only video I ever saw of him.

I like tudor allot when he's off a LB. Seen videos of him surfing mid lengths and egg shapes and stuff. Guy can surf any board with style

 

The common denominator I see in people with style is flexibility. The deskbound life makes flexibility difficult to maintain. Being able to touch your toes is one thing but I'm learning hip flexibility is where it's at.

 

You a receiver DP?

 

Will try.

 

I remember seeing that epic swell in Indo in 15". I think it was Kandui. He was on that super short board and did the most styled out turn on a huge 10' plus wave. It was heaving and so critical and he did a huge turn and sorta did a drop knee coming out of it to control the board. Very Impressive. Cool vid.NYNJ.

 

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/c...als-the-show-indian-ocean-xxl-part-4-_128997/

Could not find the video clip but the wave (Anderson-Kandui) is slide 8. The caption is "miles beyond style".

 

I have a fair amount experience, I have very little of either - style or flow. Some guys have it and some don't, regardless of experience, and Iam one that doesnt have it. I know guys that have experience, and look like a spazz pumping down the line...looks ridiculous and they are gaining no speed, but I dont have it in my heart to comment...then there are some guys with moderate experience are smooth as silk, pump smoothly or cruise straight and follow with an arching carve or cut back...there own style and flow and looks natural...looking natural is the key, nothing forced! Wish I could look like that. I try.

 

A lot of it comes from body mechanics, too... how each person is built, physiologically... that results in the subtle differences in posture and movement.

There's also the "kinesthetic intelligence" part of it, too... some people just have a superior form of it over others.

 

That is such a sick shot... Being calm and smooth in waves of consequence = maximum style