Tom Curren in the 2014 Heritage Series heat against Mark Occhilupo.
Waves were firing. Eight foot and flawless was how most media outlets described it. Tom Curren arrived looking fit but a bit weather-beaten, while Occy arrived looking like a putto in a wetsuit. Both of them ripped. Tom was fast and dynamic, and he read his wave well, pulling into the tube with precision and riding it with aplomb. Uncharacteristically he claimed the barrel on exit, and on the beach afterwards he was almost apologetic about the claim, and in the interview said that with regards to the claim, ‘I must have got a bit carried away at the end there…’ or words to that effect. Tom always has been an absolute pleasure to watch at Supers, and in the same heat he pulled off this long, drawn out cutback, and as he was about to hit the whitewater the wave grew and barreled a bit. He saw that the whitewater was swirling and barreling, so he just compressed even tighter and hit it even harder utilizing power and confidence to pull it off. Classic Curren.
Jordy Smith whooping from the top, 2014 JBay Open.
This wave probably got the score because of the raw power, the critical moves and the total utilization of a full repertoire of moves, as opposed to the barrel. The tube ride wasn't thick and deep at all, but it added to the repertoire to make it a complete wave. When Jordy gets going on an open face and has the speed and confidence, not much can get between him and 10 points. A fact that event his fellow competitor, in blue, the accomplished Jadsen Andre, raises his hand in acknowledgement as Jordy speed past him. Jordy didn't even need to finish the wave as his job was already done by then. After the heat Jordy said that he couldn't really remember the ride, it was so fast, and all the moves sort of mixed up in his head.
Bobby Martinez' backhand bomb.
In 2008 Bobby Martinez was happily competing on the Championship Tour, and was getting great results, points and excellent prize-money. This backhand tube ride was sick, and a very excited beach commentator 1977 World Champion Shaun Tomson, in a moment of excitement, called it possibly the best backhand tube ride he had ever seen. He pulled in during an early morning heat, when the devil wind was still up and just about to switch, but that very same wind actually kept it open for him, and he exited, and did a couple of turns and got the score. On the beach he was totally humble, and when he heard of Tomson’s comment, he said that he thought that Shaun was just being nice, coz he’s definitely would have seen better backhand tubes than that.
A few short years later, just for us to reminisce with a smile, Bobby told the world in no uncertain terms what he thought of tennis right here
Nathan Hedge and seven hard cracks off the top for a tenner.
This was a hypnotizing ride to watch. We kept on thinking that he was going to slow down, to race down the line or do something more mundane. Instead Hedgy just got faster, more vertical and more aggressive. Seven times off the top, and a claim to bring it home. When interviewed on the beach I asked him at what stage did he think he might get a perfect score, and his reply was, ‘I don't know mate, I can’t remember a thing about the ride.’ Go the Hog!
