Send Your Macbook Through The Ceiling, Kai Barger Is Back On Ultimate Surfer - Stab Mag
528 Views

Send Your Macbook Through The Ceiling, Kai Barger Is Back On Ultimate Surfer

Everyone deserves a second chance.

news // Sep 7, 2021
Words by The Ultimate Surf Fan
Reading Time: 4 minutes

The first reality TV show aired in 1948, and didn’t stop production until 2014. 

It was called “Candid Camera” and captured the responses of unsuspecting prank victims. The hijinks included everything from driving into an auto shop in a car without a motor to making silly phone calls.

As time went on, the boundaries of reality TV radically expanded. In 1989, watching people get DUIs on Cops became a new form of entertainment. By the early 2000s, our intellectual stimulants came in the form of Survivor and MTV’s True Life. Eventually, we found ourselves drooling over inflatable asses, Jersey party boys, and pregnant 16-year-olds.

Reality TV offers a safe space where we can remove our brains from our skulls and fill our heads with Reddi-whip. In reference to our obsession with reality TV, Dr. Tobias-Webb said “The physiological arousal from drama is exciting; increasing our heart rate, visceral arousal and leading to the release of endorphins in the brain which are pain-suppressing and pleasure-inducing, not much different than the effect of some drug addictions.”

There you have it, we’re all on drugs. A doctor said that, so it’s for reals.

Come hither, a syringe full of Episode 5 is waiting for you:

Koa is making a smoothie and having fantasies about explicit speak from the Ultimate Surfer’s host, big daddy Jesse. Also, my laptop raises a quarter-inch, thinking about the hypothetical experience of direct eye contact with Jesse.

Jesse now steps into frame, and my laptop flings upward. My MacBook (I’m so fucking rich) is now lodged in my popcorn ceiling. I don’t have a popcorn ceiling. I don’t know why I lied about that — weird thing to lie about.

Parked in the picnic area of the surf ranch are two tiny pop-up trailers, which Jesse explains will be part of the grand prizes for our two Ultimate Surfers. $100k, 3 WCT wildcards, and now a tiny home. Wow. Seriously. Can’t believable.

Wait a minute. Those trailers aren’t empty! All previously eliminated contestants are waiting in the trailers! It’s crammed, is there AC in there? Who pooted? Does this napkin smell like chloroform?

Anastasia vibes out the lineup and serves up looks to the ladies who aren’t Malia. Our surfers go tubing and have an “epic” party day on lake.

The gang digs into some steak and lobster while Malia and Anastasia chat on the boat. When they arrive back on land, they’re upset. The others started eating, WITHOUT US!

Hunk man sexy face returns to end the dinner, and brings a special announcement.

All the eliminated surfers are getting a chance to surf themselves back into the competition. Today.

The previously eliminated surfers will form teams, which will be picked by the six surfers still kickin.

New Teams:

Bruna and Austin

Juli and Mason

Kayla and Luke

Anastasia and Kai

Kelly Vision is back! Woot woot, he doesn’t really say what the challenge is, but you should try to win it.

Kayla is team Tia, and says that Malia can “suck it.” Now this show has truly won my heart.

The two highest scoring teams will advance to a surf off. One male and one female will earn a spot back on the show.

Luke bobs and weaves with a clean run.

Duuuuuuuuval, Kayla connects 5 million turns, and the Durden/Davis combo identifies themselves as a threat.

Bruna stalls for the tube, then the camera switches to Zeke, who is saying “OHHHHH!”

Now it’s commercial time. When we come back, I assume we’ll find out that Bruna fell in the tube. Let’s wait and see.

An alcohol ad features underwater shots of someone surfing a reef break. I learn that all surf photographers and filmers are millionaires with alcohol brand deals.

We’re back, and I was right. Bruna gets violently clipped by the lip.

“OHHHHH!”

Austin has a promising start but gets swallowed by the tube (“OHHHHH!”). Juli puts together a decent line and gets bonus points for riding a Slater designs. 

Mason plays it safe with a simple route.

Anastasia, who won a national title in the ’90s, falls early into her ride.

Kai, who was a World Junior champion, but is no longer a junior, throws the fuck down. Big boy style. Put the team on his fucking back, Greg Jennings style.

The two highest-scoring teams will advance to a surf-off. One male and one female will earn a spot back on the show.

Kayla and Luke take the first spot with a 7.78.

Anastasia and Kai take the second with a 5.75.

Surf off time. Joel and Erica get us jazzed up.

Luke Davis is alive! Shwack after shwack, Mr. ‘Insane Morroco edit now playing exclusively on Stab Premium’ sits too deep and gets washed away in the tube. “OHHHHH!”

Kai puts together another flawless run.

Kayla does another 5 million turns, and neglects the barrel section for the sake of bashing lips.

Anastasia starts off hot, but falls near the finish.

Kai has officially been revived, as well as Kayla.

Jesse is blown away. Koa is scared of the high scores.

Malia = not happy. Uh oh.

See y’all tomorrow, unless I find a way to get fired by then. Open to suggestions.

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

What Happens When The Best Surfer On Earth Leaves The Tour?

The second order effect of John John's departure.

Feb 4, 2026

Velvet Pipeline And Nine Point Faceplants

A CT qualification update from the North Shore.

Feb 3, 2026

“It’s Louder Than An Atomic Bomb. If You Were Anywhere Near It, Your Head Would Explode.”

The Southern Ocean is now open for international pillaging.

Feb 2, 2026

“They Don’t Call It The Challenger Series For Nothing”

Local excellence and universal beatdowns on Day Two of the Pipe Challenger.

Feb 1, 2026

How Billy Kemper Convinced The WSL (And The Mayor) To Have Locals In The Pipe Challenger

And more musings from the ground here on the North Shore.

Jan 31, 2026

Exclusive Interview: Why John Florence Put The CT On Indefinite Pause

"The tour has a cap. I want to find a space where everything grows bigger."

Jan 29, 2026

Is Firing Pipeline Too Much To Ask For?

The inaugural Pipeline Challenger event starts in 24 hours. And we're en route.

Jan 28, 2026

Watch: Episode 02 of Stab In The Dark X Starring Kelly Slater

Are we all ordering five fin setups now?

Jan 28, 2026

Breaking: John John Florence Will NOT Be Surfing On The 2026 Championship Tour

Is this it?

Jan 27, 2026

Why William Aliotti Picked Up The Bong

Europe's premier freesurfer on leaving Volcom after 15 years and joining Billabong.

Jan 26, 2026

Here’s Why We Included A Wildcard In Stab In The Dark X 

The Mann among men.

Jan 23, 2026

Watch: Only The Best Waves From EAST With Mikey February

11 minutes of star-studded velvet.

Jan 23, 2026

Rumor: Is The CT Quitting J Bay In 2026?

And where it might be heading instead...

Jan 23, 2026

Parker Coffin + Dane Reynolds Saddle Up In Ch11’s ‘This Is Where I Am.’

Long-form storytelling refuses to die.

Jan 21, 2026

Watch: Episode 01 of Stab In The Dark X Starring Kelly Slater

Who will the greatest surfer of all time crown the shaper of the decade?

Jan 21, 2026

On Junior Surfers, Baby Turtles, And Surfing’s Hope Imperative

Dane Henry and Isla Huppatz won World Junior Titles. What does it mean?

Jan 21, 2026

Night Will Never Fall On The Rising Sun

Peep Billabong's new Andy Irons Collection, help kids in need.

Jan 20, 2026

SEOTY: Brody Mulik Stars In ‘fourteen.’

Homeschooled at The Box and Tombies, the fifteen-year-old might be Western Australia's best student.

Jan 19, 2026
Advertisement