Everyone’s talking about the Academy Awards aka Oscars this week. Well, ok not everyone and most people are over it by now, but most gossip magazines are covering the aftermath. It’s not so much about the movies really but they are full of ‘who wore the best dress on the red carpet, haircut, make up, worst dress, etc…’ Same, same every year, though, same gossip, similar people, same categories, same slagging off host, etc…
Now, you are probably wondering what the Oscars got to do with surfing? Ok, not too much but it made me think about surf movies (the weird and wonderous ways of how a gidget’s brain works….). Certainly, none of the surf movies tends to be nominated for Oscars (how about that for a new category…) but I was thinking just like with the Oscars whilst the story lines vary slightly, 90% of surf-movies show the same waves…
If there were Oscars for top featured waves in surf flicks…
Most featured wave:
And the winner is…Pipeline, Hawaii
There are lots of crazy waves undoubtedly, but Pipeline aka Pipe (like most surfers refer to it…don’t forget it’s all about the surf lingo ;-)) in Hawaii I guess is one of the most featured waves and well known ones. Even when I only just started surfing, I remember seeing the wave everywhere…in movies, posters, magazines.
Most featured insane barrel:
And the winner is…Teahupoo, Tahiti
Ok I admit, I’m a bit biased with that one because as my loyal readers would know, that’s my all time favourite wave so I had to find a category for it, just so I can mention it. Having said that, it’s safe to say there are hardly any big name surf flicks that would not include Chopes (see what I did there…Teahupoo = Chopes…if you want to sound like you know your stuff…). It’s this wave where it looks like the whole ocean is sucked up and folding over the surfer. Crazy.
Most featured wave combined with shark reference:
And the winner is….Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa
J-Bay is a veeeery long right. That’s one of those spots that always looks cold and rugged, lots of seals around too. So frequently featured when they start talking about sharks.
Most featured wave with best general stack:
And the winner is….Shipsterns Bluff, Australia
or Shippies, mate (surf lingo, surf lingo…). I love that wave. It’s a powerful right and it has this trademark step in it which means after a 5 meter free fall you think the brave surfer’s made it only to see this step in the wave coming out of nowhere. Some surfer’s make it, some don’t. Makes for awesome wipe-out footage…Well-deserved title.
Most featured kiss (kiss the cliff that is):
And the winner is…Ours, NSW, Australia
It’s on our doorstep and it’s an insane wave. It’s a right-hander that breaks in front (when I say in front I mean in front) of a large cliff face. If you don’t make the drop you are going to kiss the cliff which is very close to take off zone…did I mention it’s right in front of the take off zone? Oh and if make the drop, you’ll better be fast not to stack it along the way in the super fast barrel. It makes for very popular footage.
Most featured crowded wave:
And the winner is…Superbank, Gold Coast, Oz
Good old Superbank. No footage of a crowded line-up without Superbank. Easy to recognise, amazing, amazing longest left ever. Unfortunately, quite a few people glued onto the fact that it’s one of the best waves in the world. Hence, the rather big number of surfers in the water.
Most featured Indo wave:
And the winner is…Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
A classic when it comes to boat scenes. Any surf flick that involves surfers jumping off a boat into perfect waves, chances it’s the Mentawais
Most featured foreign aeh unusual wave:
And the winner is…Eisbach, Munich, Germany
It’s a standing wave in a river in a park in Munich. I have never been there and it’s not that exciting compared to many other waves but they throw it in sometimes just for the novelty factor I guess.
Did I forget any categories or waves? What do you think about my winners? Anyone dare challenging my winners?
Next Surf Oscars, I’ll talk about the most featured surfers too…good…got another year to think about that one. Maybe you start sending me nominations now…
x Clauds
PS On a side note, in case you have not heard Austria got two Oscars. Congratulations Christoph Waltz (yes, yes, it’s true Tarantino’s current muse is Austrian) and Haneke for best foreign film. Good work. Austrian heritage pride coming through.
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