The GoPro dropped in on our worlds back in 2006.
Back then, it was a contentious item to fix upon your steed, as it came
with a side of salted vanity and pickled narcissism, cue: returning of
christmas presents. But, 2007 rolled in and the GoPro made a significant
upgrade – it got sound. This being the Digital Hero 3. Why was this
such a big deal? As any blue tack free surfer would know, the crack of
fins or vacuum of a tube are sounds that you just can’t find anywhere
else. They’re gratifying to the soul and keep you coming back for more.
Such are the idiosyncrasies of the surfer’s brain. Maybe it was fate,
maybe it was popular culture, but the status quo had changed when the
GoPro became your co-pilot.
Fast forward seven Christmas times and you’ve got
the best-selling camera in the world. A publicly traded company valued
at more than $8 Billion and offices on almost every continent. To top it
all off, when Kelly Slater is drawing your logo on his board in
permanent marker, you know you’ve fucking made it.
But, this isn’t a GoPro business case. No. This
is popping bottles kind of shit. A celebration of the best GoPro clips
to ever grace the screen because, well, sometimes a selfie goes viral.
**Requirements for viewing:
- HD on.
– Volume up.
– Volume up.
7. Kelly Slater, Teahupoo
During his round three heat against Jadson Andre
at the Billabong Pro, Teahupoo, Mr. Slater went and put four nine point
rides on Jadson before the yellow/white flag was up. Amazing and not at
all surprising, tbh. He then decided to really fuck F.U.T.W by mouth
mounting a GoPro, swinging into a west bowl and delivering us vision
that will likely never be seen again. Pause this just before take off…
yikes.
****
6. Mark Healey, Mavericks
Mav’s is a wave that has claimed the lives of two
Hawaiians, and gave claiming a third a real good try. This isn’t the
kind of clip that’ll make you want to surf – it’s quite the opposite,
actually. But when you watch this back for the second time (which you
will) you’ll notice the relatively calm breathing despite not so calm
facial expression of Healey as a 30-footer blocks out the sun. The GoPro
takes you along as a VW collides with a city bus.
****
5. Filipe Toledo and Gabriel Medina, Fiji
As we regain our breath from the previous clip,
let’s nestle into the palms of two of Brazil’s finest, Gabriel Medina
and Filipe Toledo. On a small day in Fiji, as any two pals would, Gabs
and Filly traded the same wave recording all the way. Clip hunting,
maybe. Fun, most certainly. Stick close to the whitewash and watch as
the two trade air revs B/S and F/S – with ease, mind you.
****
4. Shane Dorian, Teahupoo
How did this not get more attention? There’s
plenty of reasons why this is straight-gnar. If you’ve seen this wave
before, you know what kinda size it needs to properly break, and GoPros
don’t quite do waves of this magnitude justice. If Mr Dorian is hooting
when he pulls off a wave, you just know it was a stomper. Drink in the
spit of this, and the second throw, and the pull off before the death
closeout on the inside!
****
3. Anthony Walsh, Indonesia
Job-quitting stuff within. And we mention job
because it’s Mr. Walsh’s gig to travel the world for GoPro and make
videos like this possible; your job > mine, Anthony. Any
semi-travelled or Stab Cinema-loving surf dog will know this
wave and won’t be surprised that it’s produced a clip of this length.
The particular cavern that draws a shriek of pure joy is almost enough
to give city life away.
****
2. Benji Brand, Namibia
A very close number two, may we add, but this
wave of Benji Brand’s is something out of another world. It’s cold and
dark – but goddamn is the vision handsome. This is a wave that, 10 years
ago, nobody knew existed. Now it’s the setting for the two best GoPro
clips to ever be captured atop foam.
****
1. Koa Smith, Namibia
Well, it is. This is the best GoPro clip ever
captured. It has everything; the sun, the sand, the spit. It’s a clip
that hypnotises and dazzles on the screen. And that’s what gets it the
GoPro crown, wethinks.
