Stab Podcast: The World’s Best Surfer is Back - Stab Mag

Watch Now: Micky Clarke's Octo Part 'Circuit Bender'

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Punta Roca isn't too dissimilar to Lowers right, is it? Photo by WSL/Aaron Hughes

Stab Podcast: The World’s Best Surfer is Back

John-John clinches final 5 berth, Yago guzzles sacred milk of the Baird’s Tapir, and Stace Galbraith makes a strong case for knowing thy enemy.

elsewhere // Jun 12, 2024
Words by Jack O'Neill Paterson
Reading Time: 2 minutes

El Salvador’s sophomore year on the CT suggests that President Nayib Bukele may be a sensible dreamer. The 170 million dollars he has pledged to invest to promote surf tourism in his country appears to be paying off swimmingly. The waves pumped, the country feels safe and, most importantly, the comp has given us a hell of a lot to talk about.

In this week’s episode of The Drop, Mikey and Stace probe for reason, burrow for truth, and comb out all entanglements from the curious happenings on the beach of Punta Roca.

Stace, who has obviously been reading the Art of War, makes a strong case for studying your foe. If you know the enemy and yourself, says the ancient Chinese military text, then you needn’t fear the result of the battle. 

Stace reckons that Griff, who has clearly done the time traversing the plains of his inner-self, would benefit from focusing his energy outward and learning his competition. The now infamous interference call on Griff, which was heavily manufactured by João, was merely a matter of underestimating an opponent with a known history of employing tenacious competitive tactics. 

“You’ve gotta profile your competitors,” Says Stace. “If Griffen didn’t think João Chianca would do that, then he misread João Chianca.”

The boys then attempt to solve a series of arduous riddles. Can John actually win a Title at gutless Trestles? What concoction of dizzying witch-dust allowed Yago to enter aerial glitch mode? Was the momentum of the 2024 women’s revolt slowed in El Salvador? Will Molly Pickles keep her spot in the final five? Will the public be forced to choose between Stab High Japan and The VIVO Rio Pro?

If you’re burning for answers, allow the voices of Stace and Mikey C to lead you into the light. Listen to the fellas talk shop, here. 

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