Wipeout |
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While the Surfaris' hit "Wipeout" went higher on the charts than any other surf instrumental (it topped out at No. 2 in June of 1963), wipeouts themselves are not usually regarded as the high point of a surf session. In fact, as most surfers would contend, they suck.
There are countless variations on the maneuver, almost none of which are intentional. Any slip, fall, pitch, pearl, twist or splat that terminates a ride is deemed a wipeout. If you think they occur more often in big surf, you're wrong. Surfers in heavy conditions tend to be both more experienced and more cautious as opposed to the carefree attitude you'll find when it's smaller. Far more wrecks occur in a crowded little beachbreak than at any big-wave venue. When a wipeout does occur in large-scale surf, it can be deadly. Typically, death doesn't occur from merely being held under, but from taking a knock to the head that renders the surfer unconscious. Such an injury is more likely in big waves, but it is still rare. Mark Foo's untimely passing at Maverick's on December 23rd, 1994 was just such an occurrence. More often, a wipeout merely results in a good beating. Despite the inherent dislike of wipeouts by the performers themselves, the move is executed more than any other in surfing. At any beach on any day, surfers are wiping out horribly. From the best in the world to the most bumbling of beginners, no one is immune. It could be said that the better you are, the less you fall, but that isn't necessarily the case, especially with the high-flying antics of today's elite. When talented surfers fall, the result is often that much more entertaining. For spectators, it has always been an overwhelming favorite. Whether you're paddling out, sitting on the beach, or lounging in front of the television, nothing draws as much roar of approval as a disastrous accident, so long as no one gets hurt. Since our watery landing pad is so forgiving, mishaps are typically benign. Even for people who don't surf, who couldn't tell you the difference between a surfboard and a stretcher, wipeouts are fun. As a result, nearly every surf movie and video through the ages has spliced together the most gruesome spills in a montage of tumbles. Of course, most are unimaginatively accompanied by the Surfaris' tune, just in case the viewers need a hint about what they're watching. -- Jason Borte, May 2001
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