Podcast: A Chat With Nazaré Slayer and Miley Cyrus Sprayer, Mason Barnes - Stab Mag
1104 Views
Mason takes a champagne shower after winning "Biggest Tow-in" at the 2022 Red Bull Big Wave Awards.

Podcast: A Chat With Nazaré Slayer and Miley Cyrus Sprayer, Mason Barnes

“You can’t just post clips of yourself going down the line on a 40-footer anymore.”

elsewhere // Feb 18, 2023
Words by Christian Bowcutt
Reading Time: < 1 minute

This week’s podcast episode features Zeke Lau’s battle with the Bermuda Triangle, France’s semi-impending doom, a Paul Evans cameo to discuss Season Two of Make or Break, and more.

In the “more” category, Mikey and Buck bring on Mason Barnes who just got back from Fashion Week, guest stars in Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” music video, and won the award for “Biggest Tow-in” at the Red Bull Big Wave Awards last year.

Mason unveiled to us the roundabouts ways that big-wave surfers make a living — you can’t just be a Nazaré nincompoop anymore.

Mason discusses how the collective attention span is so short these days that big-wave surfers can’t just put out edits of towing into the largest lumps they can find and going straight. They must catch the biggest wave of the day, immediately post it on Instagram, and hope for the best.

In essence they are to us what Spanish bullfighters were in the 1920’s. Symbols of grace under pressure. Of smiling in the face of death. Of seeming to care less about what we fear most, thereby making our fears less credible.

Companies want to capitalize on that image of the “death-beater”. And that’s at least partly the reason non-endemic companies like Tag Heuer, Mercedes-Benz, and GoPro go after big-wave surfers instead of CT superstars.

“Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bullfighters.” wrote Ernest Hemingway.

Pop in the pods and have a listen wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Soundcloud).

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

Dane Reynolds On Shaper Polyamory, Tour Politics + The Aussie Treble | StabMic Episode 8

The OG cast digs into the WSL season opener.

Apr 2, 2026

What Is The CT Riding In 2026? An Exhaustive Equipment Breakdown

Two brands own 40% of the tour, two World Champs refuse to be pinned down.

Apr 2, 2026

Steam On Mirrors, Slater Milked Dry, And Europe Gets It In Every Hole

Surfing’s 2026 Q1 Report

Apr 1, 2026

The Long Year Starts Here

A Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach preview.

Mar 30, 2026

Is The Aussie Treble A Crystal Ball?

An SUV is nice, but the numbers suggest the World Title comes with it too.

Mar 30, 2026

Watch: The Kelly Files Vol. 2

"If your mind isn’t open to discovering new things on different waves, you just get…

Mar 29, 2026

Who’s Gonna Win The 2026 World Title?

Picks from Josh Kerr, Sterling Spencer, Dane Henry, Jimmy Wilson, and more industry heavies.

Mar 27, 2026

The Top 5 Aerialists Of All Time, According To Chippa Wilson | StabMic Episode 07

"The sections he hits are beyond gnarly."

Mar 27, 2026

“People Were Fucking Swimming Out Of Their Homes In The Middle Of The Night”

A North Shore flood report from Nathan Fletcher and lifeguard Kyle Foyle.

Mar 26, 2026

Stab’s 2026 Rookie Class Review Featuring Owen Wright, Doug Silva, And CJ Hobgood

Crisp insights from a 4x CT winner, a supercoach, and a World Champ.

Mar 25, 2026

Could Paul Naudé Buy Rip Curl At A $200 Million Discount?

Corporate lobotomy at Kathmandu.

Mar 25, 2026

Watch: The Kelly Files Vol. 1

Unredacted interviews from Stab in the Dark X + Kelly's boards up for grabs.

Mar 25, 2026

Breaking: Gabriel Medina Has A New Coach For 2026

He's a fellow Brazilian world champ, heat tactician, and dare we say the perfect man…

Mar 25, 2026

Teaching People How To Surf Is Now A Legitimate Career Path

Enter the land of private jets and A-list cliques.

Mar 24, 2026

Robbo’s Back On Track(tors), Medina’s Ménage À Trois, Rip Curl Drops Wright, Tenōre In Turmoil 

Some days you’re the dog, some days you’re the hydrant.

Mar 22, 2026

A 15-Year-Old Snowboard Phenom + A 3-Minute Tube Hunter Walk Into StabMic

“If I didn’t have a GoPro, no one would believe me,” says Koa Smith.

Mar 21, 2026

Stab Interview: Israel’s First CT Surfer

Anat Lelior on military service, online hate, and her unique path to professional surfing.

Mar 19, 2026

Watch: Episode Two Of ‘VELA’ Featuring John John Florence

This time with Nate, Ivan, and another untouched reef pass.

Mar 19, 2026
Advertisement