Nica Post: Video...Squishing the Surf Stink Bug

A review of Spat Out in Glory's surf videos revealed an ugly reality: Persistent stink bug stance. Video after the jump documents efforts to drop the inexplicably high ass.

We're at T-Minus six days of surfing in Nicaragua to catch a barrel. The hopelessness that gripped the project for several weeks in January is evaporating...

The Camera Monkey pegs odds of getting barreled here at 50-50. With the elimination of the stink bug stance, poco a poco, this seems to be in the ballpark.

Thanks again to reader Ace for putting a name to the gawky ass-up stance Spat had been employing, and thanks to Matt Warshaw's Encyclopedia of Surfing for the pithy definition:

"stinkbug stance – Crouched and splayed-limbed surfing posture, stable but ugly, often used by beginners. By strict definition, the stinkbug stance should also include a raised butt, in imitation of the eponymous cloud spraying insect."

The problem being that if the ass is up, so is the center of gravity. Which makes it difficult to get into a turn, and exaggerates the turn once you've committed. Getting into the fecal crouch directly out of the pop-up enables a turn on the face, creating shots at the barrel that don't exist in a full down-the-face drop in on Playa Santana's tricksy, fast little beach break.

Comments

[Holly Beck]

looks painfully frustrating! i hope you figure it out soon!

[jeff]

I'm sure I've ever actually seen you stand up on a board... Have you?

[Popoyo Nicaragua]

Funny article! Thanks for sharing. Check out our daily surf report of Santana and Popoyo Nicaragua resuming next week.

[Greg]

Jeff...dude... I can't believe you don't remember the giant standup barrels at Ledbetter. I guess I was so covered up in the shack that you couldn't actually see me.

[Brucifer]

This is what I was saying at the outset!!

[Greg]

Brucie... It's in the scripture... Many who are called. Few who answer...

[sistersue]

For some reason I am thinking Grizzly Man when I watch this. Careful out there.