The claim is a recurring hot-button issue in surfing. Should you just go ahead and claim it? Is it lame to claim? When do you claim? Why do you claim? All these are questions that will endlessly be debated because there’s not exactly an objective way to decide whether or not it’s cool to wave your hands around after you get barreled. Also, who cares.
Luke Cederman, the comedian behind the always-funny Raglan Surf Report, has decided to sidestep the claim versus no claim discussion in favor of something more productive. His latest video has a handy-dandy guide for WSL surfers to improve their claim technique using American Sign Language.
It’s almost too obvious. The vast possibilities of using an actual language to claim allows surfers to convey themselves like never before. No longer are CT pros limited to your classic arms in the air, finger waving around your head, hands behind the back, charades nonsense. Now they can tell the judges exactly what they’re thinking after exiting what they think deserves to be a perfect-10 wave.
Or they could also just decide to blackmail them from 100 yards away.
“I have video of you from Saturday night,” signs Cederman to the camera. “It would be a shame if your wife saw it.” As he goes on to explain, this advanced maneuver requires “quite a bit more pre-heat preparation” than your average claim, but it is also a hell of a lot more effective in getting you out of repechage.
Can’t wait to see who turns up in the final five after this catches on.
