One of YouTube's first stars was a surfer. His name was Micah Peasley, and he became famous for an unusual and hilarious interview live on Fox News.

Soon after the birth of the online video platform, the California "Surfer Dude" became one of the earliest viral stars of the internet.

But what's really interesting about this curious surf culture moment is that he wasn't really trying to become famous.

In 2002, a major swell hit Southern California.

Peasley, then 20 years old, went surfing at The Wedge. When he came out of the water - with a broken surfboard - Fox 11 was reporting on the big waves and put a microphone in front of him.

Asked about the surf, Peasley launched into an extraordinarily animated description of getting barreled:

"You just drop in, smack the lip... waapah!"

He then described pulling into the barrel and getting "pitted, so pitted."

The combination of surfer slang, sound effects, exaggerated hand gestures, and his completely committed delivery was unforgettable.

Live surf acting at its best

Micah later admitted that much of the performance that reminded us of Jeff Spicoli was deliberate.

In a 2017 interview, Peasley explained that he knew an ordinary surfer interview wouldn't attract much attention, so he decided to play up a character.

His words were essentially: "I was seriously faking it."

Interestingly, the interview happened before YouTube existed. Once YouTube launched in 2005, however, the clip found a second life.

It was repeatedly uploaded, viewed millions of times, and turned into musical remixes. Peasley became an unlikely internet celebrity and was even invited onto Comedy Central's Tosh.0.

What's interesting is that the clip became bigger than Peasley himself.

"So pitted" entered surf culture as a piece of slang and an affectionate parody of the stereotypical hyper-stoked California surfer.

Peasley didn't turn into a professional surfer or pursue celebrity full-time.

By 2015, he was living in Huntington Beach, working in construction and teaching surfing through Get Pitted Surf Lessons.

By 2017, he was married, had become a father, and was running Get Pitted Surf & Snow, combining his surfing and snowboarding interests with his accidental internet fame.

Later, he worked as an instructor at Learn to Surf Huntington Beach.

And there's a new chapter in 2026

The funny thing is that we now have a sequel that has somehow put Micah Peasley in the news again.

On September 8, 2026, Hurricane Marie's swell brought big surf to Southern California and prompted a local bodyboarder to recreate Peasley's famous 2002 interview, including the gestures and the legendary "whoopah" sound.

And again, live, this time for KTLA.

This time, Ethan, wearing a helmet and carrying a "gallon" of water in a small bottle, told the reporter, who didn't seem to get the recreation, that he spends "six to 20 hours" in the water each day.

"It's kinda my livelihood," the young bodyboarder explained.

So, 24 years later, the joke still works. The "so pitted" "whoopah" legacy lives.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Have you ever wondered how a free fall from a big wave into the flats compares to a similar fall on terra firma? We did the math and assessed the impact on the human body.

An old idea suggests that falling on water feels similar to falling on land. But how true and correct is that assumption?

To get started, let's lay out the variables in our equation.

Let's assume a surfer falling from a 16.5-foot (five-meter) wave. There is no dramatic launch from the lip.

The board simply drops away; the surfer loses balance and falls almost vertically, landing flat on the water. It's the nearly inevitable and almost unavoidable wipeout.

At the moment of impact, the surfer is traveling at roughly 22.4 miles per hour (around 36 kilometers per hour).

Here's an important note: that number is easy to underestimate.

Twenty-two miles per hour sounds like city traffic. It does not sound like a particularly violent speed when the surface underneath you is water.

But the important question is not only how fast you are traveling. It is how quickly you stop.

That is where water and solid ground begin to behave very differently.

Sixteen feet gives you about 22 miles per hour

A human falling freely from 16 feet reaches approximately 33 feet per second, or about 10 meters per second, just before reaching the surface.

The calculation comes directly from basic gravitational physics.

The fall also gives the body roughly 75 joules of kinetic energy for every kilogram of body mass at impact.

For a 75-kilogram (165-pound) person, that is about 5,600 joules.

All of that energy has to go somewhere.

On land, the body and whatever it hits have to absorb it over a very short distance.

In water, the body can continue moving into the water while pushing and accelerating water out of the way.

Now, that difference is fundamental.

Concrete does not give you much room to stop

Suppose the same surfer somehow fell 16 feet and landed flat on concrete.

The impact speed would still be about 22.4 miles per hour. Gravity has given the surfer the same speed regardless of what is waiting below.

The problem is what happens next.

Concrete does not move out of the way. The body can deform, and so can clothing and some of the surrounding material, but the stopping distance is extremely short.

The resulting deceleration can therefore become enormous.

And this is why simply comparing impact speeds can be misleading.

The injury risk is strongly affected by the distance and time over which the body loses its velocity.

A useful physics estimate is:

Average deceleration = (impact speed × impact speed) ÷ (2 × stopping distance)

For a 16-foot fall, that gives approximately:

Please remember that these numbers are illustrations, not measurements of a wipeout. They show why stopping distance matters so much.

They also show why it would be misleading to say that "a 16-foot fall produces 50 G." It doesn't. You only get roughly 50 G in this simplified calculation if the body stops over about four inches (10 centimeters).

Water is softer, but it is not soft

Now let's put our surfer back in the lineup. Sorry for the painful experiments, mate.

The surfer still reaches roughly 22.4 miles per hour. But there's a major difference: water can move.

The body begins to penetrate the surface and displace water. The water is accelerated around the body, while the body itself continues moving downward.

That gives the surfer more distance over which to lose speed than a collision with a rigid surface would normally provide.

So, this is why a 16-foot fall into water cannot simply be treated as the equivalent of a 16-foot fall onto concrete.

Nevertheless, there is an important catch.

The first instant of water impact can be extremely abrupt - scientists call this phenomenon slamming.

When a body hits the water at speed, the force can rise very quickly as the body begins to penetrate the surface.

The shape and orientation of the body make a major difference.

Research on human water entry has found that relatively flat surfaces can produce particularly sharp force peaks because the area contacting the water increases very quickly.

That is precisely why a belly flop hurts.

The belly flop is a bad way to enter water

A diver who enters the water vertically presents a relatively small area to the surface - the feet, mostly. The water can close around the body progressively.

A surfer falling flat presents a much larger surface.

The chest, stomach, thighs, and perhaps the arms can meet the surface almost together. Instead of smoothly piercing the water, the body suddenly has to move a large amount of water.

The research literature on water entry describes this rapid increase in force as an impulsive event.

And such short-duration forces are particularly difficult for muscles and soft tissues to absorb.

There is another interesting detail that is worth mentioning.

Experiments with flat plates have found that aerated water can reduce peak impact forces compared with pure water.

And this is particularly relevant and applicable in surfing because breaking waves contain plenty of bubbles and turbulent water.

So even "water" is not one consistent impact surface.

A calm swimming pool and the whitewater of a breaking wave can produce different loading.

So how many Gs does the surfer experience?

Caution here.

We can calculate the G forces that would occur for different stopping distances. We cannot legitimately take those calculations and announce that a 16-foot belly flop produces, say, 20 G.

The available research shows that water-entry forces depend strongly on body shape, entry angle, speed, and the area contacting the water.

Studies of diving have used experiments, high-speed cameras, and accelerometers precisely because the force-time history is complicated.

For our hypothetical surfer, therefore, the useful picture is this:

16.5 feet fall > about 22.4 miles per hour > very rapid water-entry deceleration > potentially large transient forces

The precise peak G remains unknown without measuring that particular impact.

For comparison, research on high diving shows how quickly water entry becomes a serious engineering problem as speed rises.

Competitive high divers enter the water at around 53 miles per hour (around 85 kilometers per hour) from around 90 feet (roughly 27 meters), and the research literature identifies violent water entry as a major source of injury risk.

Our hypothetical surfer is traveling at less than half that speed. That does not make the impact trivial. It shows how quickly the physics changes as height increases.

What could actually get hurt?

A flat 16-foot water impact does not automatically mean a serious injury.

The outcome depends on the exact impact, the surfer's position, the part of the body that hits first, and what happens immediately afterward.

But water-entry research gives us a good idea of the vulnerable areas.

Diving studies identify the neck, back, shoulders, arms, and wrists among areas that can experience substantial loading during water entry.

A recent review of diving injuries also identifies the lumbar spine, shoulder, and wrist as important injury-prevention concerns.

A surfer who lands flat can also suffer straightforward soft-tissue trauma.

The chest and abdomen take the initial blow, while the sudden deceleration can transmit forces through the spine and limbs.

And then surfing adds something that a controlled dive does not.

The impact may not be the end of the event.

A breaking wave can push the surfer underwater, rotate the body, and cause another collision with the water, the seabed, or the surfboard.

Those subsequent events are specific to the surfing environment and cannot be captured by the simple 16-foot free-fall calculation.

The strange part: the water can be both forgiving and violent

Now, here's what makes the physics of a wipeout so interesting.

The surfer falling 16 feet into water arrives at essentially the same speed as someone falling 16 feet onto land. Gravity does not care what surface is waiting below.

But the surfaces deal with that energy in very different ways.

Concrete has almost no useful stopping distance. Water allows the body to penetrate and displace a moving fluid, which generally spreads the deceleration over a longer period.

At the same time, water can produce a sharp slamming load at the instant of entry, particularly when a relatively flat surface hits it at speed.

Researchers studying human and animal diving have measured rapid force increases during this phase and linked water-entry loads to injury risk.

So the best mental model for our hypothetical surfer is not that water becomes as hard as concrete.

It is that water becomes a very fast deceleration system.

At 16 feet, the surfer arrives at about 22 miles per hour. A clean, controlled entry can manage that speed remarkably well; a flat entry is a very different mechanical event.

And that distinction is probably more useful to you than any single G number.

In other words, water cushions a fall because it can move and deform as the body enters it. Solid ground cannot.

But water is not soft in the way a foam mat is soft.

When a flat body hits the surface at high speed, it must rapidly accelerate a large amount of water, producing a sharp impact force before the body continues into the water.

If you're into these figures, you might also take a look at the weight of a wave.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Most surf watches have traditionally had one job: tell you what the tide is doing. The new Casio G-Shock GBX-H5600 takes that idea somewhere else.

It still has the tide graph, moon information, and sunrise and sunset data that surfers expect from a G-LIDE, the Japanese watchmaker's line for surfing.

But it also adds an optical heart rate sensor, sleep tracking, blood oxygen measurement, training analysis, and recovery data powered by Polar.

It is the first G-LIDE model with a built-in heart rate monitor.

Casio has effectively brought two parts of its watch range together in one case: the surf functions of G-LIDE and the health and training features previously associated with models such as the DW-H5600.

The line is evolving.

The result is a watch that makes sense on a surf trip, a regular home break session, and even when there are no waves.

We at SurferToday.com have worn it, tested it, and taken a few notes.

A G-Shock built around the tide

The GBX-H5600 remains recognizably a G-LIDE, a Casio model/sub-brand for water and surf-related sports.

Its most useful surf feature is the tide graph. On the watch, surfers can select from 50 preset tide locations around the world.

The setting can be updated through the Casio Watches smartphone app, which expands the database to approximately 3,300 locations worldwide.

If you're an active surfer, you'll know that matters the most because the tide is often the first piece of information you'll check before deciding whether it is worth getting in the car.

The app also provides location-specific information covering tides, moon phases, and sunrise and sunset times.

The watch itself has an almanac for sunrise, sunset, and moon age, so the information is not limited to the phone.

There is an important detail here. The watch does not have a built-in GPS system for locating surf breaks.

Instead, the Casio Watches app uses the smartphone connection to configure locations and can use the phone's GPS to correct activity distance measurements.

For a surfer, that is a sensible division of labor. The watch stays on the wrist while the phone handles the heavier location work.

The only downside is that it doesn't track your waves, something only more expensive surf watches will do, even though not always perfectly.

The GBX-H5600 also has 20 bar water resistance and G-Shock's famous shock-resistant construction. Casio lists a mineral glass crystal and a band designed to fit wrists between 145 and 215 millimeters.

In other words, it has the basic credentials you would expect from a G-Shock designed for life around the ocean.

The first G-LIDE with a heart rate monitor

The bigger change is underneath the case.

The GBX-H5600 uses an optical heart rate sensor and a three-axis accelerometer.

The heart rate sensor can measure between 30 and 220 beats per minute, while the accelerometer is used for functions such as step counting and activity measurement.

The watch supports four activity modes: running, walking, gym workouts, and interval training. Surfing is not listed as a dedicated activity mode, though.

That distinction is worth making because the watch is clearly designed with surfers in mind, but its training tools are not specifically built around wave riding.

You can wear it while surfing, check the tide and other information, and use it as an everyday fitness watch, but Casio does not claim that it counts waves, measures wave speed, or records individual rides.

It would be cool to have that function in upcoming models, in a way similar to the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Surf Edition, still the world's best surf watch.

Nevertheless, for a surfer who also runs, walks, lifts weights, or follows a structured training program, that may be more useful than another specialized surf gadget.

Fair enough.

During activity measurement, the watch can display information such as distance, elapsed time, and pace.

Automatic and manual lap functions are available, as is automatic pause. When paired with the phone, smartphone GPS can be used to improve distance calibration.

The activity log can store up to 100 runs, with up to 200 laps for each run.

Recorded information can include distance, pace, calories, heart rate, maximum heart rate, cardio load, intensity, and other training data.

The watch can also divide heart rate into five training zones - Zone 1 starts at 50 percent of maximum heart rate, and Zone 5 reaches 90 to 100 percent.

The idea is simple: instead of looking only at how long you trained, you can also see how hard your body was working.

That is particularly relevant to surfers who use land-based training to prepare for long sessions, paddling fitness, or general conditioning.

And the number of surfers doing these crossover activities is increasingly large.

Polar moves into the lineup

The GBX-H5600 uses Polar technology for several of its training and recovery functions.

One of the more interesting features is Cardio Load Status, which is designed to help track training load. The watch also includes Running Index, energy expenditure, and Nightly Recharge.

Nightly Recharge is more interesting than it sounds.

The watch can be worn while sleeping to measure sleep and recovery.

According to the manual, it needs at least three recorded sleep measurements within the previous 28 days before sleep measurement results can be displayed.

Detailed sleep analysis is available through the Casio Watches app.

Polar describes Nightly Recharge as a recovery measurement based on two elements: sleep charge and autonomic nervous system charge.

The latter uses heart rate, heart rate variability, and breathing rate during the early part of the night and compares the results with the user's usual levels over a 28-day period.

We'd say it's an interesting connection between the night before a session and the session itself.

A surfer who spends Saturday afternoon paddling hard, then sleeps with the watch on, can look at recovery information before deciding how ambitious Sunday morning should be.

The watch cannot tell you how many waves you've ridden, but it can provide another piece of information about how your body has been responding to recent activity.

The watch also includes a guided breathing exercise.

The exercise is designed to promote slow, stable breathing, with the optimal zone reached at six breaths per minute.

There is also blood oxygen measurement, a feature that is intended for general health management and is not a medical device for diagnosing specific conditions.

Please remember that. All these numbers are useful as general reference data, not as a substitute for medical equipment.

A lighter G-LIDE

The GBX-H5600 measures 51.1 by 44.5 by 17.3 millimeters and weighs 47 grams.

The case and bezel use bio-based materials, while the band is made from bio-based resin. A carbon fiber-reinforced resin case structure helps reduce weight.

We liked the feel as much as we loved the translucent bezel and the solid blue band of the GBX-H5600-2 model. It is the obvious ocean choice with a beach-oriented appearance.

Casio says the new construction makes the watch about 12 grams lighter than previous DW-H5600 models with heart rate monitoring.

The display is another significant change.

Casio uses a high-definition, high-contrast MIP LCD with a wide viewing angle. The full dot display can show both numbers and graphics, which is particularly useful for the tide graph and training information.

The watch also has a full automatic Super Illuminator LED backlight. The illumination duration can be set to either 1.5 or five seconds.

You'll need a bit of time getting used to Casio's traditional waterproof "hidden" buttons, as they are a bit buried into the bezel/case.

Charging is still part of the equation

The GBX-H5600 combines USB charging with solar-assisted charging.

The supplied charging cable is used for the rechargeable battery, and Casio specifies a USB Type A power source.

The manual says a completely blank display takes about 3.2 hours to reach a full charge under the stated charging conditions.

The solar system works differently. The solar panel is integrated into the LCD, and exposure to light generates power.

Solar charging can keep the basic time display operating even when the battery is low, but it is an auxiliary system rather than a replacement for USB charging.

Battery figures depend heavily on how the watch is used.

Casio rates the watch for approximately 35 hours when activity functions with heart rate measurement are being used.

With heart rate measurement switched off in normal watch mode, the figure is approximately one month.

Power saving can extend that to approximately 11 months. These figures are given without solar power and vary with the environment and settings.

That 35-hour figure is probably the number worth remembering for surfers who intend to use the watch as a training device.

It is not a claim of 35 days of activity tracking but a maximum operating figure for activity use with heart rate measurement.

The phone is part of the watch

The GBX-H5600 is designed to work with the Casio Watches app.

Pairing requires the app, a Casio ID, Bluetooth, and location services on the phone. Once paired, the watch can automatically connect with the phone and synchronize information.

The app handles automatic time adjustment, watch settings, world time, notifications, activity data, sleep analysis, tide settings, and phone finding.

It also provides access to approximately 3,300 tide locations around the world - not bad, right?

The watch itself offers world time for 38 cities and UTC. The app expands the selectable world time database to about 300 cities.

There is one practical limitation that is easy to overlook.

The watch stores up to three days of Life Log data, so Casio recommends connecting it to the smartphone at least once every three days to transfer that information.

The connection also allows notifications for incoming calls, emails, social media posts, calendar notifications, and reminders.

For someone sitting in a wetsuit beside the car, that may be less interesting than the tide graph. But it makes the watch considerably more useful when it leaves the beach.

What a surfer actually gets

The GBX-H5600 is an unusual member of the G-LIDE family because its surf credentials are mostly about information, while its new technology is mostly about the person wearing it.

The tide graph remains the centerpiece. The phone connection opens access to around 3,300 locations, while the watch provides moon information and sunrise and sunset times.

The 20 bar water resistance and shock-resistant construction give it the physical protection expected of a G-Shock.

Then there is everything happening between surf sessions.

You can track a run, measure a gym workout, monitor heart rate, count steps, follow interval training, record sleep, and check recovery.

The watch can also guide breathing exercises and measure blood oxygen levels. Much of the deeper analysis happens through the Casio Watches app and Polar-powered functions.

The manual also makes an important point that is easy to miss in a specification sheet.

Casio says the watch is not a special-purpose measuring instrument and that sensor readings are intended for general reference.

The company also recommends creating a personal profile before measuring heart rate or activity data, because profile information helps produce more accurate displayed values.

The profile includes weight, height, date of birth, sex, wrist position, training background, maximum heart rate, resting heart rate, and VO2MAX.

The watch can automatically calculate or update several of these values, while some can be entered manually.

That makes the GBX-H5600 less like the old idea of a surf watch and more like a training watch that happens to understand tides.

For surfers who spend most of their time thinking about the next swell, that may sound like an unnecessary complication.

For those who want the same watch on the wrist during a dawn surf, a lunchtime run, an evening workout, and a night's sleep, it is probably the most interesting part of the GBX-H5600.

The US price for the GBX-H5600-1 and GBX-H5600-2 is $330. In Europe, you'll get it for around €290.

The two models share the same core functions, with the main visual difference being the black or blue band and corresponding translucent bezel design.

Will it make our list of the world's best surf watches? Definitely. And we're not doing Casio any favors.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Picture this very simple image: a wave is coming.

You can see it building on the horizon, and you know it is going to get bigger. The crest is building and getting closer.

What are the options? You could turn and paddle away. You could try to stop it.

Or you could do what surfers do: get into position, paddle for it, pop up, take off, and ride.

That, more or less, is also the idea behind urge surfing, a concept you have probably never heard about.

Urge surfing is a mindfulness technique in which a person learns to experience a craving, impulse, or unwanted urge without automatically acting on it.

Sounds interesting, right?

So, instead of fighting the feeling or obeying it, you watch it rise, reach its peak, and eventually subside.

Now, here's the curious part: in this case, the ocean metaphor is really more than a catchy piece of psychology.

The birth of the technique came from an actual surfer.

We at SurferToday.com got curious and decided to learn more about it. Here's how urge surfing became a reality.

A psychologist, a smoker and a wave

Urge surfing is closely associated with G. Alan Marlatt (1941-2011), the American psychologist whose work helped establish modern relapse-prevention treatment for addictive behaviors.

Marlatt and Judith Gordon published "Relapse Prevention: Maintenance Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors" in 1985.

Their approach treated relapse not simply as a failure of willpower, but as a process involving situations, thoughts, emotions, expectations, and urges.

But Marlatt later explained that the wave metaphor had a more personal beginning.

In an interview, he recalled working with a man who was trying to stop smoking. The man described his urges as becoming stronger and stronger until he felt he had to smoke.

Marlatt explained that an urge could be thought of like an ocean wave: it grows, reaches a crest, and then comes down or breaks near the shore.

Here's the rather ironic part of the story. There was a useful coincidence - the man was actually a surfer.

So, Marlatt suggested that his patient could use his breathing like a surfboard and ride the urge rather than being wiped out by it.

The story gives the technique an unusually fitting origin.

Someone who understands surfing already knows something that can be difficult to accept when a craving arrives: you don't control the ocean by arguing with it.

You read the wave, you adjust, you stay with it, and eventually, it loses its energy.

So, what exactly is an urge?

An urge is a strong impulse to do something; a craving is closely related, although the two terms are not identical.

In Marlatt's relapse-prevention model, an urge can be understood as a relatively sudden impulse to engage in a particular behavior, while craving refers more specifically to the subjective desire for the experience or consequences associated with it.

The important point is that an urge is an experience, not an instruction.

Your brain can produce the thought: "I want a cigarette." It can produce the sensation: "I need a drink." It can produce the impulse: "Check your phone."

However, none of those thoughts or sensations requires an immediate response.

Urge surfing creates a small gap between the feeling and the action, and that gap is where the surfing happens.

Don't fight the wave

Imagine paddling directly into a powerful wave and trying to push it backward with your hands.

That is roughly what fighting an urge can feel like.

Urge surfing takes a different approach. You deliberately pay attention to the craving rather than trying to suppress it.

You observe what is happening in your body, describe the sensations without judging them, and allow the experience to change on its own.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes urges as waves that start small, grow toward a peak, break and gradually fade.

Its clinical instructions ask people to locate the craving in the body, notice sensations such as tension, heat or tingling, and observe how those sensations change.

Here's where the surfing metaphor becomes particularly useful.

A surfer doesn't need to eliminate the wave. The surfer needs to remain on the board while the wave moves underneath them.

Likewise, the objective of urge surfing is not necessarily to make the craving disappear. In fact, the VA explicitly warns that making the craving disappear is not the purpose of the exercise.

The purpose is to experience the craving differently and learn that it can be tolerated without automatically acting on it.

It's a subtle yet critical distinction that matters.

If you sit down and think, "I must make this craving disappear in three minutes," you have created another battle.

If you think, "Let's see what this wave does," you have become an observer.

How to surf an urge

The urge surfing technique is surprisingly simple.

First, stop. Give yourself a moment before doing whatever the urge is telling you to do.

Then breathe. You don't need an elaborate meditation. Simply bring your attention to the physical act of breathing.

Next, find the urge in your body.

Is it a tightness in your chest? A restless feeling in your legs? A dry mouth? Tension in your jaw? A knot in your stomach?

Don't try to change it - just notice it. Then become curious.

Does the sensation have a size or shape? Is it hot or cold? Tight or loose? Moving or still? Is it getting stronger? Has it changed since you first noticed it?

And keep watching.

Like a surfer looking down the line, you are paying attention to what the wave is actually doing rather than what you fear it might do.

Eventually, the intensity changes. The crest passes.

The urge may weaken considerably, or it may return in another wave. Either way, you have learned something important: you experienced the urge without having to obey it.

What happens in the brain?

Now, here's where it is worth avoiding exaggerated claims.

Urge surfing is not a magic trick, and researchers do not have evidence that every craving will reliably disappear after a few minutes.

In a 2009 study, Sarah Bowen and Alan Marlatt tested a brief mindfulness intervention based on urge surfing with 123 college smokers.

The mindfulness group did not report significantly weaker smoking urges than the control group. But over the following seven days, participants in the mindfulness group smoked significantly fewer cigarettes.

And that is a finding that is particularly revealing.

So, in other words, the technique may not necessarily remove the wave. It may change what you do while the wave is happening.

Broader research also supports the importance of cravings in addictive behavior.

A large systematic review and meta-analysis covering 237 studies and more than 51,000 participants found that drug cues and craving were significantly associated with subsequent drug use and relapse.

Urge surfing therefore fits into a larger therapeutic idea: learning to recognize an internal trigger without automatically following it.

From addiction treatment to everyday life

Urge surfing was developed in the context of addiction and relapse prevention.

It has since become part of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, an approach combining mindfulness practices with cognitive-behavioral relapse-prevention strategies.

The surfing metaphor, however, is easy to understand outside a treatment room.

The urge might be to reach for another cigarette, check social media, or an unwanted eating impulse, an angry reaction, or another habitual behavior you are trying to change.

The important caveat is that the strongest clinical evidence concerns addictive behaviors and related treatment settings.

It would be misleading to suggest that research has established urge surfing as a universal treatment for every kind of impulse.

But the underlying skill is remarkably transferable: notice, accept, wait, and choose.

The surfer's advantage

Surfers may have an intuitive advantage when learning the metaphor.

They already understand that a wave has a life cycle: it forms, builds, steepens, peaks, breaks, and then dissipates.

And another one comes.

A surfer who panics every time a wave or set gets bigger will probably be caught inside and get pounded; a surfer who understands the wave's mechanics can work with it.

Urge surfing asks for something similar internally.

Don't confuse the urge with yourself; don't assume that because the feeling is powerful, it will last forever.

Don't waste all your energy trying to defeat it.

Instead, feel where the wave is, watch what it does, keep your breathing steady, and give it time.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

When Haakon VIII became King of Norway on August 28, 2026, the world learned more about the man behind the crown.

Former Crown Prince Haakon is a sailor, skier, outdoor enthusiast, and, perhaps most surprisingly for a European monarch, a committed surfer.

Nevertheless, he's not the first. Charles III, King of England, has surfed before, as have previous British royals.

But let's focus on the newly crowned Norwegian king who has already spent years chasing waves.

Haakon surfed in California while studying at the University of California, Berkeley, and later returned to the water in Norway with his family.

The Nordic royal helped bring the European Surfing Championships (Eurosurf) to Norway and watched his daughter compete in the sport.

Then, in a 2023 interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, he revealed how serious his surfing ambitions might once have been.

Are you curious already? Let's see how surfing conquered Haakon VIII.

A royal discovers surfing in California

Haakon's connection with surfing goes back to his student years.

The royal member studied at the University of California, Berkeley, in the 1990s. Norwegian accounts of his time in the United States say that he wanted to study somewhere where he could enjoy outdoor life and surf.

California offered both.

The future king also valued the relative freedom he could find there. Away from Norway, he could experience university life with more privacy than would have been possible at home.

Surfing became part of that experience.

The connection between Haakon and California later continued through family trips.

A 2017 profile in Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv described the royal family's outdoor holidays and their interest in surfing.

The family had traveled along the California coast in a motorhome and had also spent time surfing in Denmark.

Surfing had become part of Haakon's idea of a good holiday.

That is a revealing detail about someone whose official life is usually built around schedules, ceremonies and public duties.

"If absolutely everything goes wrong, I can always just surf"

One of the best descriptions of Haakon's relationship with surfing appeared in Dagens Næringsliv in 2017.

The headline of the article translated into English is essentially: "If absolutely everything goes wrong, I can always just surf."

But Haakon does not appear to see surfing only as a sport.

In the Dagens Næringsliv interview, surfing was used as a way of talking about much bigger subjects, including crisis management and the challenges of public life.

The ocean seems to offer an escape when things become complicated, something that is rightfully in line with what peasant surfers feel, right?

The article also described Haakon's family searching for an environmentally friendly surfboard.

Their surfing holidays could involve a trip to Hoddevik on Norway's west coast, a stay in Klitmøller in Denmark or a journey along California's coastline.

For a man who would eventually inherit the Norwegian throne, surfing offered something remarkably ordinary and simple.

It was a water sport he could do with his family.

Surfing in Norway

Haakon has not limited his surfing to warm-water destinations.

The Norwegian Royal House has documented several occasions when he surfed in Norway.

In October 2016, Haakon was photographed surfing off Sunnmøre.

A year later, he returned to Hoddevik with Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

The Royal House described Haakon as an avid surfer and noted that the rest of the family also shared an interest in surfing.

Hoddevik is a fitting place for the royal family to surf.

The beach sits on Norway's rugged western coast, where cold water, exposed coastline and changing weather are part of the experience.

For Haakon, however, surfing in Norway appears to have been about more than finding the easiest possible conditions.

In a separate interview about outdoor life, he described summer days by the coast in terms of looking for waves, wind for kitesurfing or places to sail.

The ocean was clearly part of his wider relationship with the outdoors.

Haakon helped bring Eurosurf to Norway

Haakon's interest in surfing also reached beyond his own time in the water.

In 2017, Norway hosted the European Surfing Championships at Borestranda on the Jæren coast. Haakon was involved with the event's main organizing committee.

The event gave Norway an important moment on the European surfing calendar and put the country's own coastline in front of international surfers.

Suddenly, Haakon was somehow involved in an unusual combination of royal duties and personal interest.

He attended an event because it was part of the royal calendar, but he was also involved in a major surfing competition in a country where he himself surfed.

His connection with Eurosurf also helped show that his interest in the sport was not a passing hobby.

By then, he had already been surfing for many years.

Family surfing tradition

The royal family's relationship with surfing did not stop with Haakon. His eldest child, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, became a competitive surfer.

In 2020, she won the Norwegian junior women's surfing championship at Borestranda on Jæren.

Her result gave Norwegian surfing an unusual new storyline.

The daughter of the future king was competing in a sport that her father had loved for decades.

The family had already been photographed surfing together at Hoddevik. Haakon's involvement in Norwegian surfing also meant that Ingrid Alexandra was growing up with the sport as part of family life.

More than a curious royal footnote, she was competing in her own right.

The World Tour dream

The most striking chapter in Haakon's surfing story came in 2023.

As he approached his 50th birthday, NRK asked him what he might have done if he had not been Crown Prince.

His answer was direct.

"I would have been a professional surfer on the World Tour."

He immediately softened the fantasy with a reference to his age, saying he might already have been an ex-professional because he was nearly 50.

The comment quickly attracted attention in Norway. Dagbladet reported that the answer had also caused a stir outside the country.

International surf publications then picked up the story, and Reuters included the same detail in its profile of the new Norwegian king after the death of Harald V.

The comment is particularly striking because Haakon did not describe surfing as something he might have enjoyed professionally.

He chose the World Tour, and that's bold.

The Nordic royal imagined himself competing and was speaking about an alternative life he might have chosen, showing that surfing has been a serious and enduring interest.

"Surfing has fascinated me since I was a little kid"

Haakon has also spoken about why surfing appeals to him.

In connection with the 2017 European Surfing Championships, he described surfing as something that had fascinated him since childhood.

He spoke about the simplicity of being with a board in the waves and connected the sport with his experience of nature and the elements.

That idea fits closely with his other comments about outdoor life.

Surfing removes much of the structure that surrounds a royal, and that may help explain why the sport has remained attractive to him.

As Haakon himself put it in the 2017 interview, if everything else goes wrong, he can always surf.

By the way, do you know how to say "Surf's up" in Norwegian? If our Norwegian isn't wrong, it should be something like this: Det er surf!

The pro surfing circus is in town, for the first time. I wish it weren't. But I decided to take a look. Could I be surprised or entertained?

I never quite understood if soul surfing and soul surfers were a real thing.

In over 35 years of surfing, I read, I watched, I observed, I learned, I witnessed, and I felt nearly everything the sport could give me.

Despite having a small corner of my heart that wished I had pursued a pro surfing career, I never really felt the impulse to compete.

I guess it's something that you must really want or, at least, have the curiosity of a cat to figure out if it's something that clicks or not.

And that doesn't mean I am not a competitive person. I am. But usually with just myself.

From a young age, I have always been able to mind surf myself in a heat, and the feeling is not great.

Instead, I can only sense tension and stress and negative vibes.

My idea of surfing is the opposite of what competition embodies.

It's about having fun, improving my mental health, sharing waves with friends, being in sync with the ocean and the beach, and getting my body in shape.

I like the idea of choosing the waves I want to ride based on my instinct and chilled read of it rather than on the need to score points.

Competitive surfing is amazing - don't get me wrong. It's exciting, pushes the sport forward, and is sometimes great to watch.

But I don't want to carry the feeling of victory or defeat as I come in and walk up the beach. I don't want to be in the water with the sole goal of beating an opponent.

The freedom of the free

And then, this is very important: I profoundly believe I surf way better by myself (ideally without fellow surfers around) than I would if I were in a heat with limited time to perform.

Freedom really is one of the first words that come to my mind when I think about surfing and what it allows me to access.

I always remember an early morning session when I caught a wave with a long, clean, unbroken line ahead, closed my eyes, and felt the sun's golden rays on my face as I let my body guide the board along the way.

It's for those days that we embrace the search. Surfing is a constant search in which, sometimes, we even find ourselves or part of who we are.

I don't define myself as a soul surfer, but I do feel like surfing feeds my soul.

Back to the pro surfing circus and the tents, and the two-story shipping containers that set the stage for a contest.

As I looked around to inspect the site, which had taken a considerable part of the public boardwalk, my eyes drove toward the lineup.

My punchy homebreak was pumping spectacular summer A-frames, and the lineup was packed.

There were two days left to the start of the surf competition. The pros are in the water, getting used to the temperament of the beach break.

And the first thing that is immediately clear is how carefree and relaxed they are, despite attacking the lips and getting to the air as no elite surfer does in a Championship Tour event.

I see huge walls, a 300-degree arc of water displaced at each cutback, power turn, or off-the-lip. The guys are literally killing it.

"I have never seen that when they're with a jersey on..." I thought to myself.

I decide to give them 15 more minutes to show me what they've got.

But their surf only gets better and better. They are landing 360 airs and closeout reentries in super powerful waves like they're having a latte.

Again, I ask myself: "How can they be surfing better than their fellow CT surfers?... This is just a QS 6,000..."

We surf better in free surfing mode

I start to develop a theory that could give meaning to the gap in performance between training and competing.

Don't we all perform better when we're free to unleash our surf? Isn't the 35-minute heat guided by the speed-power-flow formula a strangling constraint?

Why do we tend to surf better in free surf mode?

Doesn't it have to do with connecting with the essence of surfing versus surfing for what a panel of judges wants to see?

Maybe it has.

Meanwhile, as I walk back home, I take a second glance at that beautiful lineup where A-frame train cars arrive nonstop.

The training/warm-up session continues.

And at a distance, I can still see the pros throwing massive buckets and launching themselves high up in the bluest of skies.

For a moment, I felt proud of my free surfing "career" choices. We surf better when we're free to display our water dance instinctively.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

The wave pool era created new business and competitive opportunities. The Wavepool Surf Tour (WPST) is one of them.

Some might say that artificial wave surfing is a completely new sport.

It takes place in controlled environments, in fresh water, and does not rely on ocean swells and tides.

Whatever you think riding waves in a surf park is, there will always be the surfboard and moving walls of water.

The newly-launched Wavepool Surf Tour is a competitive format that blends the submission of digital video clips and live performance at events.

It is comprised of two special events, eight digital contests, regional finals, and a world final.

Interestingly, the digital format in water sports is not new.

In late 2014, a group of bodyboarders created a competition that ran parallel to the world tour.

It was called the Free Surf World Tour (FSWT) and invited riders to submit their best footage, which fans then judged.

Hawaiian bodyboarding maestro Jeff Hubbard eventually won the inaugural season.

The Wavepool Surf Tour will feature several divisions:

• Open Men & Women (elite, high-performance competitors);
• Masters Men & Women (athletes aged 40+);
• Legends Men & Women (athletes aged 50+);
• Juniors Men & Women (under 18 athletes);
• Groms Boys & Girls (under 14 young talent);
• Longboard Men & Women (graceful, flow-focused traditional surfing);
• Bodyboard Men & Women (innovative, versatile wave-riding styles);
• Adaptive Surfing (inclusivity for all surfers);

Mixing digital and live performance

For the online events, surfers can submit their best two waves - two lefts and two rights or one of each - using the surf park host's AI video technology.

The first two specialty events kick off in 2026 and include Alaïa Surf Challenge (August/October) and Ride The Future (November/December).

Then, the real deal starts. The digital contests will take place in 2027 at the following venues:

• Asia/Pacific (February/March);
• Surftown MUC in Munich (March/April);
• Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach (April/May);
• Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh (May/June);
• Surfers Cove in Óbidos, Portugal (June/July);
• Americas (July/August);
• China (August/September);
• Middle East (September/October);

The 176 top-ranked local and regional surfers will then qualify for the annual World Final in November/December 2027.

The way WPST was designed ensures local surfers who win their home events qualify for the finals.

The specialty awards will include best air, best turn, best barrel, and the golden fin.

Competitors may take advantage of the different wave technologies to ride and submit their best waves.

You don't need to be a pro to register at the inaugural WPST. You may only give it a go and see how your waves rank against your fellow wave pool surfers and friends.

The judging criteria will focus on three main pillars: commitment, creativity and control.

The WPST was founded by South African surfer Mark Fessler and has a $20,000 prize pool.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Endless Surf and Flowstate are joining forces to bring artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, and programmable wave technology closer together with a new system that could change how surfers share a session.

The wave pool industry is changing the way we engage with surfing.

The two companies have announced a strategic partnership designed to create a more connected technology platform for surf park operators and a more personalized experience for surfers.

The collaboration combines Endless Surf's customizable wave technology with Flowstate's AI-powered computer vision, automated video and analytics platform.

Flowstate will integrate with Endless Surf's existing software ecosystem, including Surf Concierge, Swell Studio and Wave Doctor.

The technology will also be incorporated into future Endless Surf lagoons, helping determine camera positions and optimize media capture.

But the companies say the partnership goes beyond video.

They plan to develop new applications covering personalized wave delivery, immersive media, coaching and progression, and operational analytics.

The Mixtape: A wave for every surfer

The first major product resulting from the partnership is called The Mixtape.

The system has been in development for nearly two years and is designed to solve a familiar problem in surf parks: friends and family members often have different abilities and want to ride different waves.

Instead of forcing everyone into the same type of session, The Mixtape allows each surfer to choose their preferred waves before entering the water.

Flowstate's computer vision then identifies individual surfers in real time as they move through the lineup.

That information is connected to Endless Surf's Swell Studio software, which controls the characteristics of the waves being generated.

The result is a shared session in which every surfer can receive a different type of wave.

An advanced surfer, for example, could receive a high-performance wave, while a less experienced friend receives an intermediate wave.

Another member of the group could choose a slower, more approachable wave.

The surfers remain together in the same session.

There are no wearables, RFID tags, or manual controls involved. Surfers simply paddle into position, and the system handles the rest.

Personalized waves in a shared session

Surf park sessions have traditionally been organized around broad categories such as ability level and wave type.

The Mixtape shifts the focus from the group to the individual. What happens? Before paddling out, surfers select the waves they want to ride.

Flowstate's computer vision identifies them as they approach the takeoff area, while Endless Surf adjusts the wave characteristics accordingly.

That combination of real-time surfer identification and programmable wave generation is what makes the system possible.

"The Mixtape brings together the two most advanced technologies in their respective fields to make an already unique Endless Surf experience even more personalized," said Paul Chutter, president of Endless Surf.

"Surfers can share long rides with their friends and family while each getting the wave they want, and operators gain an entirely new session product they can offer their guests," Chutter added.

"After nearly two years of development, The Mixtape is the first example of what we can create by bringing these technologies together."

Flowstate CEO Luke Wallace said the technology addresses a common limitation of surfing with friends and family.

"Surfing with friends or family usually means everyone needs to want the same type of wave, or you end up surfing separate sessions," Wallace said.

"The Mixtape changes that."

According to Wallace, surfers select their preferred waves, Flowstate identifies them as they paddle into position, and Endless Surf delivers the corresponding wave.

"No tapping in, no wearables and no RFID required," he said. "The whole process happens seamlessly in the background, wave after wave."

Beyond wave selection

The partnership is not limited to personalized waves.

Flowstate's integration with Endless Surf is also expected to enable automated multi-angle video capture.

Endless Surf lagoons feature multiple surfing zones and clear lines of sight, creating opportunities for cameras to capture rides from different positions.

The companies are also working on AI-powered coaching and progression tools that could help surfers analyze their performance and track improvement.

For surf park operators, the technology could provide another layer of intelligence by connecting surfing, guest and operational data.

That could help operators understand how different areas of a lagoon are being used, how guests interact with the facility and how sessions perform.

The Mixtape is the first product to emerge from the Endless Surf-Flowstate partnership.

More broadly, the collaboration reflects a growing shift toward technology that does more than simply generate waves.

AI, computer vision, automated media, and data analytics are increasingly becoming part of the surf park experience, both in the water and behind the scenes.

It's easy to spot which is which at a glance, but can you really tell the difference between zinc and regular sunscreen?

If you spend hours in the water, you're also subjecting yourself to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Simultaneously, saltwater, sweat, wind, and repeated wiping can quickly turn a good layer of sunscreen into virtually nothing.

So, should surfers use zinc sunscreen or regular sunscreen?

The answer depends on what you value most, from water resistance and skin coverage to how often you want to reapply.

Although both types can provide effective UV protection, they work in different ways and behave differently in the water.

Shall we take a look at what separates them?

What is zinc sunscreen?

Zinc sunscreen typically uses zinc oxide as its active UV-filtering ingredient.

Zinc oxide is a mineral sunscreen ingredient that provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB radiation.

Rather than relying primarily on organic UV filters that absorb UV radiation, zinc oxide acts as a mineral UV filter that absorbs and scatters UV radiation at the skin's surface.

Its most obvious characteristic is its appearance.

Traditional zinc products can leave a noticeable white layer on the skin, which is why surfers have long been associated with white noses and cheeks.

Or in some other fancier versions of this product, colored faces.

Modern mineral sunscreens can use finely dispersed zinc oxide particles and may be much less visible, although the trade-off is often less of that classic thick zinc appearance.

In other words, it's like a physical barrier that protects your skin from UV radiation.

What is regular sunscreen?

"Regular sunscreen" usually refers to sunscreen based primarily on organic UV filters, sometimes called chemical filters.

We're talking about ingredients that absorb UV radiation and convert it into lower-energy forms before it can damage the skin.

They can offer excellent broad-spectrum protection and tend to spread more easily than traditional zinc products.

They are also generally less visible on the skin. And for surfers, that can be an advantage.

A sunscreen that feels light and disappears into the skin is less likely to interfere with wearing a wetsuit, rubbing against a surfboard, or simply walking around town after a session.

But the label matters more than whether a sunscreen is mineral or organic.

A surfer should look for broad-spectrum protection and strong water resistance, regardless of the type of UV filters used.

We've picked our favorite surfer skin protection shields already here on SurferToday.com.

Because whatever they'll tell you, not even tanning is healthy, let alone a sunburn.

Which lasts longer in the water?

Now, here's where things get more complicated.

Neither zinc nor regular sunscreen should be considered permanently waterproof.

Water-resistant sunscreen eventually loses effectiveness, particularly after prolonged time in the ocean, heavy sweating, towel drying, or repeated contact with a surfboard.

Some zinc-based formulas are thick and adhere well to the skin, which can make them feel particularly suited to surfing. But a thick layer does not automatically mean better or longer-lasting protection.

If you're a surfer, the most important factor is the product's stated water-resistance time and how consistently it is reapplied.

If you're paddling out for a long session, don't assume that one application before leaving home will protect you for the entire morning.

It won't. So take care.

Zinc has one major advantage for surfers

Zinc oxide can be particularly useful when you want targeted, high-visibility protection.

Think of the areas that receive the most punishment: the nose, cheekbones, lips and tops of the ears.

Applying a thicker layer of zinc to these high-exposure areas makes it easier to see where you've applied protection and where the layer has worn away.

That visibility can be useful in the ocean.

A surfer may not notice that a transparent sunscreen has disappeared from the nose until the skin starts turning red.

With traditional zinc, the protective layer is much easier to see.

Regular sunscreen has its own advantages

For everyday surfing, a modern regular sunscreen can be more convenient.

It generally spreads easily, leaves less visible residue, and can be more comfortable when applied over larger areas of the face, neck, and exposed body.

And this is something that matters because the best sunscreen is ultimately the one you will apply generously and reapply when necessary.

And we cannot stress this enough: please, do reapply.

A sunscreen that feels unpleasant, leaves an unwanted residue, or makes your eyes sting may encourage you to use less of it.

That defeats the purpose of choosing a theoretically excellent product.

What about sensitive skin?

But there is another area where individual skin response matters.

Some people find mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide more comfortable, while others prefer organic-filter formulas.

Neither category is automatically suitable for every sensitive skin type.

If a sunscreen causes irritation, burning, or persistent discomfort, switch products rather than simply applying less.

And remember that the eyes are particularly vulnerable during surfing.

Sunscreen running into your eyes while duck-diving under a wave is not only uncomfortable; it can temporarily affect your vision when you need it most.

So, which should surfers choose?

There is no universal winner.

Choose zinc if you want highly visible protection on vulnerable areas, prefer a mineral UV filter, or like a thicker formula for the nose, cheeks, and other high-exposure spots.

Choose regular sunscreen if you prefer a lighter, less visible formula that spreads easily over larger areas and feels comfortable during everyday use.

Actually, for many surfers, the smartest approach may be using both: a comfortable broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen over larger exposed areas, combined with zinc on the nose, cheekbones, lips, or other areas that need extra attention.

Whatever formula you choose, application matters more than the label.

Apply it before paddling out, use enough to adequately cover exposed skin, and reapply according to the product's instructions, especially after prolonged water exposure or towel drying.

The best sunscreen for surfing isn't necessarily the thickest, most expensive, or whitest one.

It's the sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection, stays on reasonably well in the water, and that you'll actually use properly every time you surf.

Please consider that. You're doing your skin and yourself a huge favor.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Sixteen-year-old Australian Lucy Darragh and Indonesian tube specialist Rajo "Barrel" Saputra have won the 2026 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang after a spectacular day of surf at one of Bali's most famous waves.

The event, now in its 23rd year, waited until August 20 for the kind of conditions it was built around.

Padang Padang finally delivered a day of clean, powerful barrels, with 24 invited surfers competing on Bali's Bukit Peninsula.

The Rip Curl Cup has a one-month waiting period, running from August 1 to 31, during Indonesia's prime swell season.

The format is designed around a simple idea: wait for the right swell, then run the entire contest in a single day.

The limited field also means surfers have only 48 hours to reach Bali once the event receives the green light.

That patience paid off.

Padang Padang finally turns on

There had been an earlier chance to run the main event on August 11, but the waves did not have enough size and consistency.

A stronger Indian Ocean system then began to build, putting the competitors back on alert for August 20.

This time, the call was right. The 24 invitees arrived at Padang Padang for a full day of tube riding.

The field combined some of the world's best barrel riders with leading Indonesian talent, continuing the event's long-standing role as a meeting point for international stars and local surfers.

The competition used a Leaderboard format.

Every surfer surfed two non-elimination heats, with their two best scores counting toward their combined total. The four highest totals advanced to a winner-takes-all Final.

Men's Round 1 began with 16-year-old Australian Ocean Lancaster setting the early standard with the first excellent score of the day.

The following heat was much harder, leaving Varun Tandjung, Tommy Sobry, Taj Burrow and Bruce Irons with few opportunities to show their full potential.

Then came Rajo Saputra.

The Lakey Peak local posted an 8.17 and an 8.57 in his opening heat. It was an early warning that he was going to be a serious problem for the rest of the field.

Padang Padang became more active again in Round 2. Tosh Tudor moved up the leaderboard with a 9.50, but the standout heat came next.

Saputra and Dylan Wilcoxen both scored perfect 10s.

First alternate Makana Pang, who had received a late call-up after Craig Anderson withdrew, added two nine-point rides of his own.

The channel was filling with spectators and the atmosphere grew louder as the afternoon went on.

Before the Final, Pang led the standings with 19.26 points.

Saputra was second with 18.83, defending champion Westen Hirst had 18.20, and Tudor sat on 17.50.

Rajo Saputra wins with a 19.73

The men's Final quickly became one of those heats in which the scoring starts to look almost ridiculous.

All four finalists found waves in the excellent range. Each posted at least one nine-point ride.

Watching the action, Mason Ho summed up the difficulty of judging the scores when he said, "I don't even know how to tell the difference between the nines anymore."

Saputra eventually found the wave that separated him from the field.

He scored his second perfect 10 of the contest and followed it with a 9.73. His combined 19.73 out of a possible 20 points gave him the victory.

Hirst, Saputra's childhood friend and the defending champion, pushed hard and finished with a 9.50 and a 9.23. His 18.73 total was enough for second place, ahead of Tudor and Pang.

Saputra could barely speak after returning to the channel.

"I can't even talk right now, I'm so happy," he said.

"I had a dream last night that I was going to win the comp. It's crazy. My dad got second in this contest in 2006, so I'm so stoked to win it this year and bring it back home for him. I hope he is happy right now at home."

The result adds another chapter to the history of a contest that began in 2004.

The inaugural Rip Curl Cup was held at Uluwatu, while the 2005 edition produced six-foot Padang Padang surf and was won by Made "Bol" Adi Putra.

Since 2007, the event has brought leading international tube riders together with the best surfers from Padang and Bali.

Lucy Darragh controls the women's event

Darragh was just as convincing on the women's side.

The Australian teenager established herself immediately in Round 1, scoring an 8.13 and a near-perfect 9.93.

Defending champion Jasmine Studer answered with a 9.00 and an 8.50, while Hawaii's Vaihitimahana Inso posted an 8.07 and a 7.17.

Ruby Berry produced the only perfect 10 of the women's competition in the other opening-round heat. She found a long, hollow barrel that ran from the middle section all the way through the end of the wave.

Kailani Johnson also found a standout wave, earning an 8.17.

The second round was slightly slower, although Studer continued her form with another 8.50.

When the opening rounds were complete, Darragh led the women's leaderboard with 18.06 points. Studer had 17.50, Berry 17.17 and Inso 15.24.

Those four surfers advanced to the Final.

Berry started strongly. She won the first exchange with an 8.17 against Darragh's 7.50. But she could not find the second score she needed.

Darragh waited for her opportunity and then found it.

Her 9.00 ride secured the title, giving her a 16.50 final total. Berry finished with 12.74, Inso with 12.10, and Studer with 5.34.

"This is such a sick comp. I've been watching it for years, since I was a grom. I just can't believe I've won it," Darragh said.

"There's honestly no better feeling than just standing in a massive Padang tube. I'm so stoked."

Darragh's victory comes only two years after the Rip Curl Cup introduced a dedicated women's division.

The 2024 edition was the first time women had their own competition at the event.

The decision followed the 2022 appearance of 15-year-old Erin Brooks, who competed against the men and reached the Final, finishing fourth.

The 2026 field featured 24 invited surfers, split between 12 Indonesian surfers and 12 international competitors.

The event continues to present itself as Indonesia's longest-running surfing competition and one of the world's most exclusive tube-riding contests.