Stabcast: Should Anyone With Cash And The “Cajones” Surf Nazaré? - Stab Mag

SHARK WEEK! The Great Debate is coming... July 26 (PST)

484 Views
Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. The first recorded people to summit Everest. But would they have grabbed the tow rope? Photo: National Geographic

Stabcast: Should Anyone With Cash And The “Cajones” Surf Nazaré?

Not if we’ve learned anything from Mount Everest.

elsewhere // Nov 27, 2022
Words by Christian Bowcutt
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In 1953 a brave Brit and wise Sherpa summited Mount Everest for the first time (on record). 

Since then, 310 people have died trying to reach the top. That’s roughly four fatalities a year. The majority of fatalities are thought to come from bad decisions that lead to falls and other accidents. The brain, fatigued and without enough oxygen, often makes miscalculations — some fatal. 

A leading theory is that too many people attempt the climb without the proper training or respect for the danger. It appears some believe if they can afford contracting a Sherpa and the best equipment then a safe Everest summit is assured. But what does this have to do with surfing?

Nazaré is surfing’s Mount Everest — thanks to a few unique blessings from Mother Nature. On this week’s pod Mikey and Buck take a closer look at a piece released on Stab Premium this week entitled “The Uber Driver Turned Crypto Millionaire Who Denounced His U.S. Citizenship And Whips Into XXL Nazaré”

Toby “Trouble”, the ex-Uber chauffeur, is described as a “very average surfer” but nonetheless has the funds and phallic endowment necessary to summit Nazaré. Surfers with the means these days can contract a Sherpa (local with knowledge and jetski) and the best equipment (inflatable vest and gun) to make the climb, but should they? 

Plus, the pod goes over Rasta Rob’s unlikely rise from stoner to stardom, Quiksilver’s early aughties revival, what surfing has to do with the World Cup, and a surf sin featuring one of the worst surf-work-life balance negotiations we’ve seen. 

We’ve also got a double feature this week. Here, you’ll find a bonus episode with Mikey and Stace breaking down who is on the cusp of qualification and what they need to do to qualify at Haleiwa, the last stop on the Challenger Series. Find it wherever you get your sound waves (Spotify, Apple, 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

Rasta’s Shark Theory

Return to your animal, trust your instincts.

Jul 25, 2026

How To Shark-Proof Your Next Surf*

Shark policy aside, what tech, gadgets and gear can actually keep you safe?

Jul 25, 2026

Good Luck Killing The US Open

A preview of the 2026 US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.

Jul 24, 2026

Mateus Herdy Heads Home

A profile on the Florianopolin CT rookie, his rich orbit of influences, and Yago Dora’s…

Jul 24, 2026

Response: A Shark Cull Won’t Make Our Beaches Safer

Science over sensationalism.

Jul 23, 2026

Op-ed: Why Australia Needs More Shark Nets

An unapologetic take on the need for safer lineups.

Jul 23, 2026

How Reunion Island Survived Shark Purgatory

With more shark attacks per capita than anywhere else on Earth, it's taken millions to…

Jul 22, 2026

Introducing EAST’s First Goofyfoot Test Pilot: Harry Bryant

“My life’s already a board test.”

Jul 22, 2026

The Trauma Gap: Surviving vs Seeing Shark Attacks

Three witnesses recall the incidents that changed them.

Jul 21, 2026

Are There More Great Whites In California Than Ever Before?

A firsthand shark attack story, a conversation with two researchers, and how to avoid becoming…

Jul 20, 2026

Australian Oil & Gas Co. Wants To Destroy A World-Class Reef

Does that make you mad? Good. Here's how you can save Scott Reef:

Jul 20, 2026

Welcome To Stab’s Shark Week

An editorial week dedicated to the large cartilaginous fish we share lineups with.

Jul 20, 2026

What, You Haven’t Heard Of Weslley ‘King’ Dantas?

The 28-year-old has beaten loan sharks, empty bank accounts, and unmet potential to stage his…

Jul 19, 2026

Kinda Pumping: Cole Houshmand And Teresa Bonvalot Win ‘Plan B’ Ballito Pro

The sorting hat for the 2027 CT season begins its dirty work in South Africa.

Jul 18, 2026

How To A.I.-Proof Your Life With Skip McCullough

“Fences? Laundry? It’s not sexy. But it makes money. That’s the bottom line.”

Jul 17, 2026

How Surfers Spend Their Money

We asked 7,500 surfers where their next paycheck is going.

Jul 16, 2026

How Do You Score Ethan Ewing (Musically)?

The three musicians who soundtracked Ethan Ewing’s SITD drop their playlists and surf-music wisdom.

Jul 16, 2026

Joyride: The AI Exacta Pro ’97 By Lost Surfboards

Are glass-ons back?

Jul 14, 2026
Advertisement