THE BASICS
• Originated in L.A. hardcore music scene during the early ‘80s
• Crowd surfing is illegal at most festivals and concerts in Europe
PLAY OR GET OUT OF THE WAY
• Huntington Beach Strut- Swing your arms around and hit anything and everyone in your way. You’re on your way to becoming a Mike Marine of the O.C. who apparently made enough people bleed to get this type of slamdancing named after him.
What you should do: Curl up in a ball or run in a zig zag—either will minimize risk of serious injury.
Allow me to paint you a picture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yiv95j-tEIM
• Wall of Death (the Braveheart)- Essentially a modern-day revolutionary war bum rush sans bayonets. Two groups divide into two lines with a large gap between them, and then run towards each other.
What you could do: Pick a side and match yourself with someone across from you that is much smaller—basically the same way you would aim for the weakest link in a red rover chain.
What you should do: Craft an excuse to check out the balcony.
If it’s that terrifying on YouTube, imagine being in the middle of the action: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9175303374032281392
Skanking
• With roots in Jamaican dance halls, skanking made its way into mosh pits via the British mods and skinheads, and hardcore punk rockers made it their own by adding a more aggressive flailing of clenched fists.
What you should do: Don’t choke on your own blood, son.
Learn how to skank: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1303768620034082641&q=skanking&total=5057&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
Crowd Surfing
• People put their hands up and pass others around over their heads. The perils of crowd surfing vary—from getting kicked in the eye to being dropped on your head. In the wake of the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, crowd surfing is now illegal at most shows in Europe.
What you should do: Hands up. Don’t squeeze anything too long.
For the visually inclined: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7397362064062795807&q=crowd+surfing&total=1842&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=9
