Article written by Curtis “Peter Pan” Hedges
Date: February 29th, 2024
How the OBS Group Rescued the Air Flare: A David and Goliath story
In the world of sports, few events hold as much prestige and honor as the Olympic Games. Athletes train tirelessly for years, striving for that elusive gold medal and the chance to etch their names into sports history. However, behind the scenes, there are often battles fought not on the field of play, but with the collective power of the people’s voice. One such battle, largely unknown to the general public, was the struggle to preserve the integrity of a beloved Breakdance move – the Air Flare.
Within the broad domain of sports, branding encompasses more than just logos and slogans; it also involves identity and heritage. The amazing technique known as the Air Flare, which originated in the Breakdance culture, is a good example of the critical impact that branding plays in sports. In an unlikely victory over the International Gymnastics Federation (IGF) and the International Olympic Committee’s confusing decision to call the Air Flare the “Haminator” in honor of Morgan Hamm who first performed the move at the Visa Championships on May 24th, 2008, the OBS Group ultimately came out on top on behalf of the Breakdance community worldwide. This piece explores the complex story of how the OBS Group prevented a branding disaster for the Air Flare, cementing its civic leadership as a voice for the Breakdance community in both the Gymnastics, Olympic and Breakdance community forever.
The Birth of the Air Flare
Before delving into the gripping rescue mission, let’s revisit the origins of the Air Flare. From the perspective of the Breakdance culture, the Air Flare originated from a different move known as an Air Track or Critical. Although the two moves are very similar in being a 360 degree rotation with the body from a starting point, the Air Track or Critical is more of a barrel roll effect in which you rotate while your legs are closer to your body upon release. The distinction with an Air Flare is that the legs are typically spread wide, and the 360 degree release is done at a higher shoulder angle, closer to that of a walking handstand in a circular traversing motion.
The earliest version of an Air Flare captured on film as it is done by today’s standards was performed by pioneering Breakdancer Paulo Nunes in 1989 out of Rotterdam, Netherlands. It wasn’t until the mid-90s that the Air Flare name, also called a Star Track by some dancers who were trying to coin it on their own, became a byword for the move. By the late 1990s, performing an Air Flare gave you an advantage over rivals in Breakdance competitions, allowing you to leave an unforgettable impression. After Bboy Ivan on November 17, 1997 performed an Air Flare into a Windmill four times in a row which was captured on film, the idea of continuous Air Flares was quickly becoming a reality. Ideally, most Breakers felt at the time that being able to do two or three Air Flares continuously was considered humanly impossible until it was first captured on film being performed by Lui Guerrero of the United Nation Breakers out of Dallas, Texas, on March 21, 1998 at an event called Elements.
Several months later, another breaker named Pablo Flores (RIP) from the Climax / Soul Control Breakers out of Fresno, California would be the second person on film to execute the continuous Air Flare on October 2nd, 1998 and later on November 20th, 1998.
Lui Guerrero (UNB)
Dallas, Texas – March 21, 1998
“Oldest Continuous Air Flare on Film to Date”
Pablo Flores (Climax / Soul Control)
San Diego, California – October 2nd & November 20th, 1998
The Threat of Rebranding: The Haminator Debacle
According to an IGF regulation, the gymnast who debuts a novel technique or maneuver at a world championship competition sanctioned by them gets to name the move. If you are familiar with Kurt Thomas, you will see that he is the name of various moves debuted by him, the most notable of which being the Thomas Flare that Breakers do themselves. Though it is rumored that the Thomas Flare as we know it was done first by the Chinese team at an open gymnastics event years earlier, the IGF recognizes the Thomas Flare as its official name.
In a shocking turn of events, the IGF proposed renaming the Air Flare to the “Haminator” in honor of Morgan Hamm who first debuted the move. Although designating a widely famous move that was practiced for more than ten years in another discipline—breakdancing—after a person from outside the Hip Hop community may have lessened the move’s historical relevance and essential qualities, Hamm unquestionably made an enduring impact on the sport of Gymnastics. Though fortunately for the Breakdance culture, Morgan Hamm was vociferous against having the move named after him, claiming in interviews that it was actually invented by breakdancers first. However, when it comes to the IGF, rules are rules. The proposed rebranding sparked widespread outrage amongst the Breakdance community sparking a social media outcry. Amidst the uproar, the OBS Group emerged as a beacon of hope. This clandestine organization vowed to protect the integrity of the Air Flare and its origins. Armed with a vision and unwavering determination, Curtis “Peter Pan” Hedges (OBS Co-Founder) embarked on a mission to thwart the IFG’s misguided endeavor which changed Breakdancing forever.
Mobilizing Public Support
Persuasion is the cornerstone of great branding, as the OBS Group recognized. Curtis laboriously created a counter-narrative on Changed.org, featuring Charles “Bboy Goku” of Climax / Soul Control on film, to introduce Pablo Flores’ contributions with the Air Flare, even though it was later discovered that Lui Guerrero was technically the first to perform a continuous Air Flare on film. This was because Pablo Flores’ footage was easily accessible, dated, and verified. Understanding the strength of grassroots movements, the OBS Group gathered support from the public by launching social media campaigns and a Change.org petition aimed at important IGF and IOC managers. This sparked a movement against the proposed rebranding among Breakdance fans, athletes, and influencers around the world. The amount of assistance that was shown demonstrated that the Breakers were the source of the Air Flare and deserved to be recognized for their merits. As the petition surpassed certain milestones of signatures, this inspired IOC officials—who had been disgraced by Change.org updates—to look at breakdancing in a different light.
The Triumph of Tradition and Integrity
In a momentous victory for tradition and integrity, the IOC relented, abandoning the ill-conceived “Haminator” rebranding by publicly stating over an NBC broadcast during the 2016 Rio Olympics that the Air Flare originated from the Breakdance culture. The Air Flare emerged unscathed, reaffirming its status as a symbol of excellence in both gymnastics and breakdancing. The OBS Group’s tenacity and strategic prowess had not only saved a name but preserved a legacy for generations to come.
Conclusion
The saga of the Air Flare stands as a testament to the enduring power of branding in sports. Through strategic intervention and unwavering determination, the OBS Group thwarted the IGF’s and IOC’s misguided attempt to rename this iconic maneuver. In doing so, they reaffirmed the importance of tradition, integrity, and public sentiment in shaping the narrative of sports branding. As the Air Flare continues to inspire awe and admiration, its triumph over the “Haminator” debacle serves as a poignant reminder of the indomitable spirit of the Breakdance community.
