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Surfing
Dec 2, 2016 16:15:48 GMT -5
Post by Kirby Lambert on Dec 2, 2016 16:15:48 GMT -5
Is anyone on the forum knowledgeable on the topic of 1950's-1960's California surf slang?
Kirby
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Surfing
Dec 4, 2016 21:54:17 GMT -5
Post by Ralph058 on Dec 4, 2016 21:54:17 GMT -5
I would suggest streaming a couple of Gidget movies. They were full of surfing jargon, if my memory serves me right.
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Surfing
Dec 4, 2016 23:07:25 GMT -5
Post by Wes on Dec 4, 2016 23:07:25 GMT -5
I remember seeing a web page about surfer slang back when I was doing Dawnwalker, but that was a long time ago -- longer than I want to think about. Still, a Google search might be useful.
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Post by K Pelle on Dec 5, 2016 1:10:30 GMT -5
Try this link: www.surfing-waves.com/surf_talk.htm I had to use it during a trip to Long Beach, Vancouver Island a few years ago - I swear some of those kids thought they were using a lingo that no one understood - too bad a guy who lived through the sixties was chuckling at them using 'the same old slang' kp
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Post by Kirby on Dec 6, 2016 7:54:21 GMT -5
The terms I am trying to find are "catching gas", "The Quasimoto" & "The Coffin".
So far google has not been a help.
Kirby
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Surfing
Dec 6, 2016 13:17:54 GMT -5
Post by K Pelle on Dec 6, 2016 13:17:54 GMT -5
I'd imagine "catching gas" would be the same as "catching air" - which is when surfer finds his board unsupported by water - say on a switchback maneuver when the surfer uses his speed to drive back against a breaking wave and is carrying enough speed that he 'lifts' at the edge of the wave while it drops away beneath him - that can be a spectacular sight for viewers! (imagine flailing arms, legs and board a foot or two ABOVE the waves edge!)
I've heard of "the Coffin" but not certain where or what it was - it might be a stretch of spectacular surf that led to a dead-end on the rocks, but I'm not certain. (I think that was what a set of rocks at the end of a beach in California or Oregon was called, but I'm not certain - too long ago.)
"the Quasimoto" sounds like a 'suicide' move of some sort, but might also be the name of a bad stretch of wicked waves that give surfers trouble?
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Surfing
Dec 6, 2016 20:20:50 GMT -5
Post by Kirby on Dec 6, 2016 20:20:50 GMT -5
Thanks KP.
I am sure your answer on Catching gas is good. Where I came across the terms led me to believe that the other two were actually surfing moves of some sort, although I cannot say that with conviction.
Kirby
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Surfing
Dec 6, 2016 21:08:40 GMT -5
Post by Wes on Dec 6, 2016 21:08:40 GMT -5
After those two terms came came up something was tickling my memory, and with good reason: Jan and Dean, and the lyrics from Sidewalk Surfin'. Ah, the good old days! You can do the tricks the surfers do. Just try a Quasimodo or the Coffin too. Grab your board and go sidewalk surfin' with me. You'll probably wipeout when you ...With that as my mission and Google my sword, I managed to find a few things: Coffin: The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: "a surfing maneuver in which the surfer lies prone on the board, his hands crossed over his chest." Quasimodo: Glossary of Surfing: "A maneuver named after the character from the hunch back Notre Dame. The surfer resembles the Quasimodo because of his/her posture they are bending waiting to enter the barrel. Typically performed by long boarders." Interestingly, this glossary doesn't include "coffin."
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Surfing
Dec 12, 2016 13:08:08 GMT -5
Post by Kirby Lambert on Dec 12, 2016 13:08:08 GMT -5
I presume that entering the barrel is the same as shooting the curl?
Kirby
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Surfing
Dec 13, 2016 18:44:52 GMT -5
Post by Kirby Lambert on Dec 13, 2016 18:44:52 GMT -5
I got to thinking about those moves and the song. At that time period the skateboards we had still had metal wheels and you could barely get both feet on them at the same time. NO WAY to do the coffin. I did not see a skate long board until the late 90"s. Not that I was ever able to stay on a skateboard, as my brother was so happy to remind me! I spent my time living the part of the song that went "Bust Your Buns."
Kirby
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