Words by Jed Smith

It was the wave of the 2015 Pipe Masters. Mason Ho's round four perfect 10, on a genuine 10-footer, saw him positioned impeccably on the take off, scoop into an impossibly deep pit, and emerge with an explosion of spit. World Surf League commentator Martin Potter called the replay as he saw it: "He said he wants to his dad proud, well have a look at this guys." And then it appeared. The claim.

Mason says the hand movement over his crutch is a mix of all his favourite claims: "The famous fingers snap claim, while at the same time doing one of those fist pump things, mixed in with the Andy Irons shotgun claim at Teahupoo," he told Stab.

The video of the perfect 10, featuring the claim, has since been deleted by the World Surf League and Mason has been issued with a please-explain by the governing body. This was his reply to the WSL's lawyers:

"That was the best barrel of my life. When you get that barelled at pipeline there is a split second after you come out where your mind is so blown with happiness that you do something to express yourself and that feeling. What happened in that pic was me trying to do the famous finger snap claim while at the same time try clinch my fist to do the fist pump thing and also the Andy Irons shotgun claim at Teahupoo all mixed into one. I'm very VERY sorry if it came off as a violation. That is the last thing I'd ever want, I work everyday of my life for the World Surf League."

The perfect 10 remains missing from the WSL's website. The World Surf League did not respond to Stab's request for comment.