Ben Marcus Rules

Sponsored by: Dewalt Tools
or Turtle Wax or A surfing
dentist or chiropractor or
The Boring Company (!!!) or Halliburton

Your host: John “Turtle” Philbin

Submitted clips: 45
Total votes so far: 346
Prize pool as of right now: $3456

PRIZE BREAKDOWN SO FAR: $3456

First place (%50):          $1728.00

Second place (%25):         $864.00

Third place         (%13):           $450

Fourth place:            (%7):            $242

Fifth place:                   (%5)          $173  = $3457

Introduction: If it’s legal and not too expensive, use that clip from North Shore with Turtle telling Rick Kane not to sit here when the lip hits there or you’re gonna get drilled.

Then John introduces himself and says what he wants to say about that clip which was shot in 1987.

John would want to write his words, but they’d be along the lines of: 

“A long time ago and far away, during a decade called the 1980s. I played a character called Turtle in the movie North Shore. In a scene that has become famous and is still resonating to this day I gave advice to a Barney from Arizona named Rick Kane on where to be and where not to be at the Pipeline.

When I think about it, this is the surfing version of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be speech:” You don’t want to be here, or you’re not going to be no more. Brah.”

I have lost count of the number of times strangers have come up to me in the street and repeated the whole scene as I nodded and smiled politely.

A lot of things have changed in the surfing world since then, but some remain true. When the lip hits here, don’t be there or you’re gonna get drilled.

Back in 1987, Pipeline was about the worst drilling you could imagine but in the fullness of time that certainly has changed. As here in the 21st Century there are places like Jaws and Mavericks and Teahupoo and Cortes Bank that are, as Turtle would have said: “Gnar.”

If you’re sitting in the wrong place at those spots, you are in for the worst drilling you can imagine. It’s amazing the doughnuts people get these days and shake shake shake it off.

What also has changed is the use of GoPros and drones and other hand-held or board-mounted cameras which bring us all into deep kimchi and share the experience with the rest of the world: What it’s like to get drilled at some of the gnarliest surf spots in the world: What it’s like when the lip explodes, what you would see under water as you’re getting beat and you had your eyes open, and what it’s like to come back to the surface, hoping there isn’t another one. Which there often is.

Rinse and repeat.

So Turtle’s advice to Rick Kane from the 20th Century still applies. Don’t be here when the lip hits there or you’re gonna get drilled.

But enough of my yakking: Here are the nominees for the Trophee Du Turtle: The Worst Drilling While Caught Inside.”

THE NOMINEES IN VOTE ORDER

1. KAI LENNY AT JAWS

Votes: 36/346
When: December 20, 2020
Duration: 6:54
Shot by: Kai Lenny

Shot with: Hand held GoPro ???
Shot where: Peahi.
Submitted by: Kai Lenny 6/12/2023.

The story in 50 words or less: KAI LENNY WOULD FILL THIS IN WHEN HE SUBMITS THE CLIP

To see it elsewhere: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t0IaS3fU3g

2. KAI LENNY AT THE 2017 PUERTO ESCONDIDO CHALLENGE

Votes: 29/346
When: July 29, 2017
Duration: 14:50
Shot by: Kai Lenny

Shot with: Nose mounted GoPro ???
Shot where: 2017 Puerto Escondido Challenge
Submitted by: Kai Lenny 6/12/2023.

The story in 50 words or less: KAI LENNY WOULD FILL THIS IN WHEN HE SUBMITS THE CLIP

To see it elsewhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWBSP__lYjk&t=113s

3. NATHAN FLORENCE CAUGHT INSIDE 2ND REEF PIPE

Votes: 25/346
When: ??/??/2021
Duration: 16:38
Shot by: Nathan Florence and ????
Shot with: Nose mounted GoPro ???
Shot where: Pipeline, North Shore, Oahu
Submitted by: Alexandra Florence 5/12/2023.
The story in 50 words or less: NATHAN OR ALEX WOULD FILL THIS IN WHEN THEY SUBMIT THE CLIP
To see it elsewhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ExBcYXrZjY&t=598s