Matt Branson Tracks June 1992
Air reverses leave me cold.
How many were pulled in the last surf vid you saw? Double digits, definetely. Triple digits, maybe. Yeah, it's a technical move, one must be a nimble young buck, but repeated ad nauseum they just seem limp. Pop and spin. There's not enough exertion, enough emotion, enough anger.
Which brings me to this move on the cover of Tracks June 1992 - Matt Branson twisting and torquing his way through a high-speed backside reo (click 'enlarge' for full effect). Check where Branno's head is - below the tail of his board. And he's looking back - not just cause it looks cool - but to give his body more angle and twist.
Yeah, surfers are doing similar moves these days, yet it's without the flair and the drama...and that counts. I wanna see the wind up down the line, sense the anticipation, and feel the weight of a fully-loaded and perfectly-executed backside reo.
Tension and release. So satisfying...
(Photo by Sarge)
Comments
I'll raise a glass to that...
No more turns like that for Branno, he is huge now, don't think he surfs anymore either. He plays drums in a biker band.
But he did rip his way through the 80's and early 90's.
What, like 'I'm huge in Japan'? What's the name of the band then?
Huge like "I weigh over 100kg" huge. Not sure of the name of the band but on his facebook page he lists his activities as "Beer".
here's an update on the hellman...http://planethomo.typepad.com/planethomo/2008/08/meet-matt-branson.html
You can check out his band 'The Ferry Road Disaster' here:
http://www.myspace.com/theferryroaddisaster
Heres one for ya, I saw the elusive Brano hacking the guts out of a few innocent rights no less than twice the other week (on weekdays to) at 15th ave Palmy recently, oooh the power!!!! Was a lot more nice to see than the 20 od groms wafting on popsticks... Give em hell Brano!
Don't you worry about Branson's power! He'll be changing the intended paths of pitching lips until he goes to the big mosh pit in the Sky. Given, you could be excused for chuckling or doubting at the sight of an extensively inked albino homo sapien, admittedly tending towards rotund, complete with nose rings, board under arm, looking as though he is going to at least attempt a paddle out. BUT, that soon changes after a turn amply exhibits the fact that, yeah, though he looks like a biker (and does ride one), he is indeed inherently a surfer; a frikkin powerful rail master at that! His blasting havoc has plenty of attitude and soon turns judgement into statement. I was just thinking, 'How readily do we all jump to conclusions, judging any proverbial book by its cover?' Comes too easy doesn't it. Ride on Branson.
(thanks for the photo acknowl' Ben)