…or how to make it into a surf newsletter?
I have to admit it always makes me a little tiny bit proud every time a see a surf pic of myself in one of the daily surf-newsletters. We all know and love Frothers and Aquabumps who brighten up our inbox while we are slaving away in the office. And I’m sure, everyone who surfs in the morning secretly wonders if they might be the chosen ones this time…come on admit it…I know you do…and that’s ok I mean who does not like a little selfie?
Being in one of the newsletters was one of these things I did aspire to when I was still almost drowning in the North Corner while trying to balance on my mal. One day – I’d tell my friends – you’ll see, one day I’ll be on Aquabumps…they thought it was very funny and that there would be no way in hell I would ever stand up long enough to have a picture taken.
For years, every day I would check the Newsletters and see if I finally made the cut into the top surf pics of the day. And let me tell you it was not until many many many Aquabumps and Frothers Newsletters later until I first discovered myself in one of the pics. I would be so excited (I still am)- even if it was just my head cut off in the bottom corner of a pic. But hey at least I could say I’ve been on Aquabumps… Eventually, I would even make the proper shots where people actually recognised me. That’s when I found I had proper bragging rights. The first few times I would forward the newsletter to everyone I know who had an email address including my family and relatives in Austria who have no idea about surfing (quote Mum: ‘But you’ve got nothing to hold onto’ – I think for years she thought I was windsurfing….).
Now, unless you absolutely rip in the surf and your photo gets taken on the pure basis of extraordinary surf skills, you need to employ other techniques if you ever want to make it. Oh well…who needs talent to get in the media – think Paris Hilton – it’s all about being at the right place at the right time in the right outfit.
Here are some of they things you could try to improve your chances for your 5 minute claim to fame.
1.) Wear tiny shorts
2.) Wear a tiny bikini
3.) Wear some other sort of whacky outfit (my mate was wearing a mask once and made the cut)
4.) Get out their all the time. I was in their face constantly. More often than not I would almost run them over them when they came out with the underwater cam – accidentally of course. Eventually, they could not ignore me any longer.
5.) Bribes maybe?
6.) Might be a bit of a drastic measure but if you are desperate you could get fake boobs. Even if you are not the most talented gidget you would at least stand some chances to make it into swimmer cam.
7.) Photobomb – who says you need to be the focus of the surfshot, just shadow someone in the surf who rips..surely your head or leg or something will make it.
8.) Go surfing in shit conditions; less people in the water increases your chances.
9.) Go surfing with a mal when it’s really small and everyone else is on a short board – technically, you should catch more waves than the rest. More waves = more photo opportunities
I think 95% of my surf pics are on my mal in tinny tiny waves, the other 4.5% is me standing around with my board somewhere (works better in summer cos shorts make better pins than wetsuits). Either way, thanks to Brad and the rest of the Frothers team and Uge from Aquabumps for great pics every morning. Loving the fact that you bring a bit of the surf morning into the office with or without selfie…
x Clauds
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