How Do You Recreate A Particular Strand Of Madness?  - Stab Mag

Dakoda Walters wins Surf100 presented by Pacifico.

1591 Views
If you can dream it, the Swatch Nines crew can prob find a way to make it happen.

How Do You Recreate A Particular Strand Of Madness? 

Inside the creative workshop that spawned the 2025 Swatch Nines surf event.

news // Jun 2, 2025
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Presented by Swatch

The first-ever Swatch Nines surf event was perhaps the most surreal thing we witnessed in 2024. 

There was a floating orb. Flares. A rail to boardslide. Greyson Fletcher skating around, going huge on everything at all times.

We’d never seen anything quite like it. 

“It was real fun,” said Noah Beschen. “Nobody felt the pressure of a contest. We had a ton of time in the pool, and it felt like you could try whatever you wanted. Even just hanging with everybody outside the water was sick.” 

But how would you one-up it? 

Create an inspiring environment. Get the right people in the room. And have some fun. 

Choose your fighter.

In February, Swatch took over a house in Encinitas and tasked them with reinventing the Nines surf concept for Waco in 2025. Noah and Zoey McDougal were there, along with Swatch skaters Andy Anderson and Gustavo Ribeiro and a handful of other big brains. Let’s toss it back to Noah.

“Everybody was staying in this house, and we’d surf and cruise together all day. Then we’d have sit-down workshops in the morning and at night. Nico [The Nines founder] had a few presentations for us to check out, and everyone would chip in with their ideas. It was a full brainstorm session.”

So, what can we expect this year? 

What if…

“We’re going to bring more rails and objects to hit,” Noah added. “That happened spontaneously last year, but they’re going to build some proper stuff out for us this year. There’s going to be more bike and skate stuff for those guys, too. It’s going to be insane.” 

The event will run from June 23 – 25 back at Waco Surf. More to come. 

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

The Poor Get Poorer: Does The WSL’s Format Conspire Against Its Losers?

+ How Oscar popped his Berry.

Sep 13, 2026

Surf100 Winner Now Wealthy Enough To Think About Interest Rates

Dakoda Walters enters the next phase of adulthood, while 2500 Pacificos get drained at pace.

Sep 11, 2026

Yago Dora Is Undefeated At Lowers — Does That End This Week?

The cut is here, the bubble is stacked, and one Aussie is two L's away…

Sep 10, 2026

The 2026 $100k Surf100 Finale, Presented By Pacifico

Parko, Noa, Dakoda and Dimitri face off in our audience judged, 100-minute surf exhibition.

Sep 9, 2026

Can Parko Beat The Kids For $100k?

Watch our Surf100 warm-ups.

Sep 8, 2026

Nathan Florence On Why The 10,000 Hour Rule Does Not Apply To Surfing

And how tubes cost him $12,000 per minute.

Sep 8, 2026

How To Watch (& Judge) The $100,000 Surf100 Finale

Everything you need to know before September 9 (PST).

Sep 7, 2026

Go To Lakey Peak For Two Weeks, Accidentally Leave With SEOTY Entry

Watch a dozen or so A+ airs in Makana Franzmann's 'Off Axis.'

Sep 5, 2026

How Zeke Lau Became Surfing’s Villain | StabMic Ep. 30

“Am I happy with the way things played out? Not really.”

Sep 5, 2026

How Will This Weekend’s Hurricane Marie Stack Up Against 2014’s?

We asked Surfline's senior forecaster to discern fact from lineup chatter.

Sep 4, 2026

And Our $12k Kandui Resort Giveaway Winner Is…

Hosing down wildfires in Big Sur.

Sep 3, 2026

Watch: Two Underdogs, One Very Expensive Bone

Dakoda and Dimitri’s thoughts on facing Parko and Noa for a $100K payday.

Sep 3, 2026

Cloudbreak Saves Goofs From Challenger Series Horrors

Cole Houshmand and Erin 'Don't-Call-It-A-Title-Run' Brooks win in Fiji.

Sep 3, 2026

Karma Just Sent Kauli Vaast A Lump Sum

Perfect 10s, ankle sprains, and a rising swell in Fiji

Sep 2, 2026

Watch: EAST Starring Harry Bryant, Episode Two

This is not a fin test.

Sep 1, 2026

Fiji Lately: World Champs Out, Bar Tabs Up, Swell Inbound

Eight heats in 96 hours; or the glorious doldrums of Tavarua laydays. 

Aug 31, 2026

Harry Bryant On EAST, Big-Wave Psychology & Fin-Gate | StabMic Ep. 29

"I went off my own judgement thinking that was a thruster, and I was proved…

Aug 30, 2026

Watch: Uncut Gems On Africa’s Forgotten Coast

Eli Beukes stars in 'Rough Diamonds' by Now Now Media.

Aug 29, 2026
Advertisement