The Drop

The WSL regular season goes out with a full fireworks display... or is that just Jordy Maree's apartment after another blackjack win? It was a strange but enthralling week of surfing — let's discuss with Mikey, Stace, Buck and special guest Snake Paterson.

MEGA POD ALERT! Stace Galbraith joins us from the Teahupo'o channel with a cameo from Eimeo Czermak and analysis of the top CTers warming up for the 2025 Tahiti Pro. Later, we hear from Tom De Souza on the ground in Bali, where the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang just concluded in spectacular fashion (just ask the local acai lady). Finally, Mikey and Buck break down the most exciting surf event of the week (year), the US Open of Surfing, where Jadson Andre placed a respectable yet contentious 17th. PS, here's a little look at our Final 5 math, in case you want to impress the prettiest girl in the lineup (she totally cares!): https://stabmag.com/news/so-whos-gonna-make-the-final-five/

Is Matt Biolos about to become the richest man in surfing? That's a question for a California federal court, which is currently processing a lawsuit he's submitted over Lady Gaga's use of 'Mayhem' on her global tour merch. We got a hold of this leaked document and dissected its arguments — to our eye, the case seems rather strong. And if Lost wins the suit, they could be in for a substantial payday. In other news, crocodiles are taking over Indonesian surf breaks, the Balinese government is tearing down decades-old local businesses in front of marquee surf breaks, there's a new Octo film, an episode of How Surfers Get Paid, and Buck broke his leash. Let's drop in!

Against all things holy, the last men standing at Jeffrey's rode with their right foot forward. How did it happen, and what does it mean for the world title? Mikey and Buck break it all down, including the new WSL Finals rules and our best betonline.ag dog of the season. Then the boys delve into the news: a fantastic new surf law in the Philippines, a youth film that shattered pro surfer dreams, and why Florence (the brand) is attracting so many big-name investors in the surf industry. Finally, to quell the masses, the boys release the Epokhe files.

This week we hear from Teva Dexter, the man behind the enigmatic yet engaging Blak Bear Surf Club — including the origin of the name and where his traction cult is heading. We also discuss the best edit of the year (and some existential questions) from LOB, why Dane's surfboard got roasted on Surf100 presented by Pacifico, and the best 16-year-old surfer on earth according to Craig Anderson.

Judging a subjective sport is objectively impossible. Humans are always gonna get it wrong — at least in somebody's eyes. But what if there was a *slightly* better way to approach surf judging than they way we've done the past 30 years... would we even entertain an alternative? In this episode of The Drop, Mikey C proposes a subtle amendment to the current system, while Stace G thinks we should napalm the whole thing and start from scratch. Meanwhile, the 9th CT event of the season kicks off at Jeffrey's Bay this weekend, and the forecast is mouth-watering. Picks and predictions inside — place your bets on betonline.ag.

This week's headline: Big Dick Power Surfing goes golfing. Also in this ep, Mikey and Stace chat Brazil results and Final-5 implications. Then Buck joins to chat Laird, wavepools, eye trauma and swing tips.

Somebody did the best air ever in a wavepool this week — but who was it? Live from Texas, Buck gives us insights from the recent Swatch Nines event that saw Hughie Vaughan and Matt Meola do the (previously) impossible on a surfboard. A judging committee then decided which corked-out stalefish rotation was best and — spoiler alert — they got it woefully wrong. ...Or did they? Mikey and Buck also discuss a misunderstood creature trawling our lineups, known as the German surfer, and how Jordy Smith became the world #1 surfer at 37. Let's drop in.

This was meant to be a half-hour interview with Caity Simmers about her new film Milk & Honey— it turned into a 90-minute cosmic swirl on surfing, individuality, and life. Please enjoy the reigning world champ in her raw, unfiltered film.

What surfing's shadow government doesn't want you to know... Also: Pavones and Lakey Peak are being threatened by development, a WSL insider overshares, and we've got a new film with Caity, Steph, Coco and Frankie!

Four consecutive 17ths don't bode well for the soon-to-be father, who started the year dripping in gold (and yellow!). Now sitting fourth in the world, Italo would be well aware of the fact that Griffin, Jack, Ethan and Filipe are all within one result of his place in the Final 5. Can he hold on through the last three events? In this ep of The Drop, Stace G and Mikey C dissect the recently departed Trestles CT, including controversial heats between Griff & Fil + Joel & Italo. Later, they make their picks and predictions for the upcoming Brazil CT, but not before dissecting a recent Stab Interview with WSL Tour Prez Graham Stapleberg.

Spoiler alert: We will be discussing Surf100 Presented by Pacifico episode one here — including a brief chat with our first challenge winner. If you haven't watched it already, check out the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UANKtsKLW1M&t=2s Meanwhile, Mikey and Buck get into some controversial news: the WSL canceled a Pro Junior event in the Basque country after local groups promised to protest if Israeli surfers were allowed to compete. Yeah... it's complicated. The boys also discuss why Kelly Slater's favorite wave isn't producing CT surfers, Tom Lowe's second near-death incident at Teahupo'o, and the flannel-clad enigma that is Keith Malloy.

Stab co-founder Sam McIntosh joins the pod to talk about his recent stint on the Gold Coast filming (or more often, waiting) for Kelly Slater's Stab in the Dark. Sam also unearths hidden truths from the last How Surfers Get Paid ep and answers the burning question: is Laird just a handsome asshole? Before leaving, Sam reveals the unlikely inspiration behind Stab's latest series, Surf100 presnted by Pacifico.

Fresh off a Newcastle red-eye, Stace G returns to The Drop in hopes of correctly pronouncing the name "Matthew Mc-Gill-i-vray". The boys also chat briefly about the CS and CT. Can a wildcard win Lowers? Let's discuss.

A major announcement from the WSL, and another from Stab. Mikey and Buck break down everything happening this week in surfing. Email him for Mikey's leash — buck@stabmag.com.

Stace G and Mikey dissect a hedonistic stint at Stab High Japan presented by Monster Energy, including winners, losers, Monster Airs, wife-swapping, judging discrepancies and more. Also, a brief chat about the recently-concluded Margaret River Pro, where the big fella Jordy Smith just became the best surfer in the world at 37.

Stab High Japan presented by Monster Energy is finally here! The event will be broadcast live on stabmag.com and the Stab Premium app at 5 pm on May 23rd and 24th (PDT), or 10 am on May 24th and 25th (AEST). In this ep, Stace, Mikey and Buck dissect everything they've seen, heard, and felt in Japan on the eve of Stab High qualifiers day.

There have been exactly 0 CT events run at the box since Kieren Perrow departed his role as Championship Tour Commissioner. We don't believe that's a coincidence. In this ep, Stace G and Mikey C dissect the 2025 Margaret River Pro, including whether or not we're likely to see carnage and glory at Main Break's feral little sister. Also: forecasts, picks, and a detailed analysis of the mid year cut — who's safe and who needs to dust off their CV.

Who should have won the Filipe v Julian Burleigh final? Well, 69% of @stab poll respondents believe the judges got it wrong — that Julian was the rightful winner of last week's Gold Coast Pro. However, when we polled a list of true surfing experts (Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, Jake Paterson, Doug Silva, and Leo Fioravanti), they had a slightly different opinion. This week on The Drop, Stace G and Mikey C dissect everything that went down at the Gold Coast Pro, and eventually we're joined by Julian Wilson to hear his thoughts on a heroic return to Championship Tour surfing.

Stace G and Mikey C meet in a dark, dank Gold Coast parking garage to trade betting tips in the lead-up to the Men's Round of 32 and Women's Round of 16 at Burleigh Heads. Caity v Steph, Jules v Italo — who are the boys taking?