The Swatch Nines Surf event concluded at Waco Surf following three days of multidisciplinary action. Organizers said the venue was used to showcase creativity in aerial surfing and cross-sport collaboration across surfing, skateboarding, BMX, and mountain biking.
The Waco-based surf park was outfitted with custom-built features, including a self-controlled Motowinch and a suspended “Swatch Flying O.” The Flying O was supported by a 225-ton crane and flanked by rotating wallride elements configured with interchangeable rails.
“The Nines gives us the platform to dream as big as we want and have goals, and they help us execute them,” said Zoe McDougall. “Whether it’s building something crazy or working on a specific trick, pretty much they tell us, ‘Dream big’ and then ask ‘what do you want to do?’ and they help you make it happen. And all of us are gonna have fun while we’re doing it!”
Highlights from the Texas Wave Pool Event
Australian surfer Hughie Vaughan landed a fully rotated stalefish backflip early in the event, which organizers called a world first. He later performed a clean lean grab backflip on the same setup.
Zoe McDougall described Vaughan’s move as a defining moment for aerial surfing.
“We saw Hughie land one of the craziest airs I’ve ever seen, if not the craziest I’ve ever seen. So I think that was a special moment for, like, everyone here to see him complete that and celebrate with him. And I think that definitely took, like, aerial surfing to a new level this morning.”
Surfer Mason Ho offered a similar reaction to the Waco Surf wave pool event.
“Some of the highest quality surfing I’ve ever seen in my life… it almost looked like snowboarding, it looked fake, but he wasn’t strapped in, and he was just surfing. I was like, ‘Whoa, I think this is what this is all about,’” he said.
More World-Firsts and Aerial Attempts
On the final day, Matt Meola completed a stalefish alley-oop rodeo 540. He described the pressure to land it during his pool session.
“I was so nervous because I didn’t want to let everyone down, and they’re like, giving their pool time away for me to do this thing… But I was able to stomp it, and it was just like a weight was lifted. It was crazy cool,” Meola said.
The landing prompted debate among fellow riders on what to name the trick. Greyson Fletcher joined the conversation.
“I don’t know what you call it in surfing, but when I post it on my Instagram, I’m going to call it ‘SICK!’ That was wild.”
Riders on-site began calling the trick the “Meola Flip.”
Additional Standouts and Style
Other athletes also contributed to the event’s progression-focused environment. Noah Beschen used the new rail system to perform a switch-to-forward spin, building on tricks he had landed in previous editions.
“I went on the rail and then came off it backwards and spun around, which was just more than just doing the rail and making it,” said Beschen. “Last year I did the rail and made it, so this year… doing something off of it would just be like the next step of this fun rail thing.”
Skai Suitt landed a Madonna air and a Superman on consecutive days, drawing crowd reactions. Jacob “Zeke” Szekely executed a Superman with a reverse spin, while Lyon Farrell attempted a double backflip using the Motowinch.
Cross-Sport Integration Highlighted
The Texas wave pool event featured integrated sessions with athletes from multiple disciplines. BMX rider Kevin Peraza noted the rare opportunity.
“Swatch Nines brings us all together—surfing, BMX, skateboarding, and even mountain biking together in one place to create and collaborate on ideas and to showcase action sports and the purity of it—is so special,” Peraza said. “Just the fact that I could be on a hanging ramp above a wave pool doing my tricks and showcasing BMX to the world with a surfer grinding a wall ride feature that’s never been done…it’s a one in a million opportunity.”
