From High-Performance Pro Moves to Total Wipeouts
In this legendary grid of surf action, Bob Penuelas catalogs the essential (and the accidental) maneuvers that defined the 1990s. This comic serves as a visual dictionary for the era, ranging from legitimate “State of the Art” maneuvers like the Fin-Free Takeoff and the Under-the-Hook Snap to the comedic disasters every surfer knows too well. Whether it’s the grace of a “Petting the Cat” cutback or the sheer terror of the “Pearl Bailey,” Penuelas captures the movement and style of 90s surfing with his signature ink-heavy detail and sharp wit. It’s the ultimate checklist for anyone who survived the thruster revolution.
The 90s Surf Maneuver Dictionary
To help you master the lineup (or at least talk like you do), here is a breakdown of the iconic maneuvers featured in the Wilbur Kookmeyer guide:
### High-Performance Techniques
- Fin-Free Takeoff: A progressive maneuver where the surfer intentionally releases the fins from the wave face during the initial drop-in.
- Under-The-Hook Snap: A sharp, aggressive turn executed at the very top of the wave, right under the breaking lip or “hook”.
- Cutback Aerial 360: A high-level aerial maneuver where the surfer launches off the lip, rotates a full 360 degrees in the air, and lands back on the wave face.
- Stale Fish: A grab inspired by skateboarding where the surfer reaches behind their back to grab the heel-side rail of the board while in the air.
### The “Kook” Classics & Wipeouts
- Straight-Off Adolf: A humorous term for a surfer who fails to turn and simply rides straight toward the beach, often through the impact zone.
- Foam Groveling: The act of struggling to stay upright or make progress in the turbulent “white water” or foam of a broken wave.
- Pearl Bailey: A classic surf pun referring to a “pearl” (when the nose of the board digs into the water), resulting in an immediate and often spectacular nose-dive.
- Petting The Cat: A stylistic, somewhat exaggerated cutback where the surfer’s trailing hand grazes the face of the wave.
- Inside The Tube Foamball Floater: An extremely difficult (and often accidental) maneuver where the surfer attempts to ride over the turbulent “foamball” inside a barreling wave.
Comic | 32-11
