“I Mute Your Videos Nowadays”: While Big Wave Legend Kai Lenny Fires Up a Rare Wave, Surf Fandom Stands Divided on the Aesthetics

Renowned big wave surfer, Kai Lenny recently posted a video on his youtube channel where the athlete can be seen surfing along a gigantic east swell that hit Maui a few days back. The surfing community was taken by surprise at the ease with which the surfer navigated through the wave. 

Overall, the video posted on 12th December 2022 on Lenny’s youtube channel received mixed reviews. Some fans applauded the athlete’s style, while others criticized the audio. The video also features pro surfer and actor Dusty Payne.

Praises for Lenny, and some constructive criticism too

“Best waterman in the world,” and “Unreal,” were some praises for the seven-time world stand-up paddle champion, Kai Lenny. While other fans called him “unconventional”, “ground-breaking”, “different”, and “great to watch”.

Some people cheered him on and said, “Your ability to surf big waves like they are small waves is pretty much unparalleled.” Although there were some negative comments, Lenny’s Youtube video mostly received praise for his and Payne’s splendid surfing style.

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One annoyed subscriber wrote, “What happened to the music lately? I mute your videos nowadays and I understand that the taste in music differs a lot, but it’s not only me, unfortunately. I think you’ll have more views with music to a wider audience…” There were divided opinions about the aesthetics of the video and the surfer’s choice of a wall to take his board for a spin on. One audience member commented, “Towed in, strapped up, and at a spot that can be paddled in =LAME”

Surfing icons steer through a rare barrel in Maui

The video features Kai Lenny and Dusty Payne barreling across the waves. The east swells lit up a few fickle zones with good walls, while the surfing stars took advantage of the situation. In addition, as the beautiful images of waves crashing and the surfers meandering through them began to unfold, the fans took it upon themselves to admire the beauty of the sport.

“That was an epic swell” wrote one fan. Another fan admired the serenity and grandeur of the sea. “Just the sound of waves and awesome surfing shots.”

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“Awesome rides on crazy cooking seas,” resonated the next person. One Dusty Payne fan was glad to see him back on the board. “Good to see Dusty humping it,” he wrote, “I know after he got hurt it to a while to get back to a comfortable state of surfing but need to keep him for sure.” One fan took it up a notch and stated “poetry in motion, it’s like watching art.”

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What do you think of the surfers’ style? Let us know in the comments.