Surfers, notoriously, have a tough time agreeing upon names for tricks.
The most divisive, debated maneuver in recent surf history is the air reverse – is it a 360-degree rotation, or a 540? Surfers, snowboarders, skaters have argued to the death.
Now, here’s another one to debate over from Griffin Colapinto:
“Name the following trick…” Lost Surfboards posted, showing Griff stomp a backside shuv-it, with an added body varial 360 and grab.
The trick is, admittedly, skate-inspired – like a big spin, with a grab.
But what to call it with a grab? Here’s a few notables from the comments:
“Hey kids, when you shove it’s called a big spin. When you grab it’s called a varial.”
“Backside big spin mute”
“The one who invents/first sticks the trick is the one who names it!!! How it always has been and how it always should be.”
Todd Richards, a former pro snowboarder, chimed in with this:
“Varial back 3. [As in 360.]”
It’s not the first time Richards has gotten involved in the mess that is naming surfing tricks. Back in 2018, when Albee Layer virally landed a double-spin alley oop, Richards stepped into the line of fire in naming the trick. It even made it to The New York Times:
“Surfers are going to look ridiculous calling something that has been done in a different sport by a different name,” Richards said. “It is about paying respect to the people who came first and pioneered the tricks. They killed themselves to put their names on tricks.”
Is this the double alley oop debacle all over again?
Stay tuned.
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