Stab Magazine | Mark Mathews And The Joy Of Fear, Featuring Sally Fitzgibbons (Part 1)

EAST with Harry Bryant is here

930 Views

Mark Mathews And The Joy Of Fear, Featuring Sally Fitzgibbons (Part 1)

Friendly conversation about the spectre of terror, featuring two people who scare themselves professionally.

cinema // Oct 11, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Is there joy in everyday fear? The type of fear that you bring upon yourself? Perhaps! If nothing else, it reminds us we’re here. And, like, without the dark there can be no light. Self-elected fear is a complex emotion; As a surfer, it’s likely you know what it is to paddle over a lump and see a feathering lip on the horizon, and feel that wonderful drop in your gut. But, what about those who take the bizarre activity of surfing to its wildest limits? How do they wrestle the high-voltage fear they regularly encounter? This greatly interests us.

We like Mark Mathews because he has a penchant for swinging on big, black walls of water and putting himself in situations that most of us can’t comprehend (see also: the belly of a bomb at WA’s The Right). Since Mark has such an intimate relationship with fear in his day to day, we asked him to host a series in which he opens the passenger door of his Land Rover to other professional athletes we like, to clock some clicks and discuss the mysterious phenomenon of fear, in its many strange forms.

In this ep, we roll with Miss Sally Fitzgibbons, a perennial World Tour top five from the South-Coast, who’s bright wrappings hide a very gritty competitor. Let’s drop some eaves on their conversation…

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

2026 Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico, Episode 07

One right, one left, and an air decide our fourth finalist.

Aug 24, 2026

The Makings Of ‘Hossegor Beach Cocaine’ | StabMic Ep. 28 | Paul Evans

“Oh, by the way… did you happen to find 11kgs of the cartel’s cocaine on…

Aug 24, 2026

Rain… With A Chance Of Thunder?

Your 2026 Fiji Pro Preview, beamed direct from Tavarua.

Aug 23, 2026

Hossegor Beach Cocaine Episode 3: Peaking

“It’s all very easy being the man when you’ve got the best cocaine known to…

Aug 22, 2026

Watch BLACKBALL: The Hardcore World of Wedge Bodysurfing

"I've spent my whole life hating rules. This is the only time I actually back…

Aug 21, 2026

Padang’s New Management: Gen Z

Rajo Barrel and Lucy Darragh can’t legally drink beer, but they can whip some of…

Aug 21, 2026

Why British Surfing Is Shit(e)

The Great British sewage problem.

Aug 21, 2026

We Brought In Two Proper Heavyweights For Our Surf100 Finale

A World Champion and freesurfing’s reigning MVP join the final four, with $100,000 on the…

Aug 20, 2026

Replay: Rip Curl Cup Padang 2026

Quite the show.

Aug 19, 2026

Watch: EAST Starring Harry Bryant, Episode One

10 non-conforming surfboards vs your favorite blonde mop.

Aug 18, 2026

We Will Never Run A Live Surf Event In The Ocean

Mother Nature remains undefeated.

Aug 18, 2026

Kolohe Andino Is Sick Of Watching Surfers Eat Breakfast | StabMic Ep. 27

"We need to make surfers look cool again."

Aug 17, 2026

Want A Free Trip To Kandui With Some Custom Boards In The Mix?

Benji Brand can vouch for goofy season on Karangmajat island. 

Aug 17, 2026

Why There’s “No Free Ride Anymore”In Pro Surfing

Ian Crane on modern Surfenomics, bigger airs, and why creativity still matters

Aug 16, 2026

Hossegor Beach Cocaine Episode 2: The White Tide

What happens when a sleepy surf town is flooded with sniffly white powder?

Aug 14, 2026

Shaper Reveal: EAST With Harry Bryant

10 shapers, hand-picked and delivered blindly to our first goofy-footed test pilot.

Aug 14, 2026

The Underdogs Shall Inherit The Earth

Low seeds reign on Teahupo'o finals day.

Aug 14, 2026

How To Have A Tits Out Summer On Your Terms

Stab's 2026 swimwear review.

Aug 13, 2026
Advertisement