Nearly Half Of Us Think This Shaper Will Win Ethan’s SITD
We asked, you answered, here are the results.
Presented by Billabobng.
Seventy-nine days ago, we collectively feasted our eyes on the ‘90 kg meat axe’ catching 13 waves on 13 different blue-railed surfboards in Indonesian waves that would make most of us feel indebted to some cosmic entity.
And he was fucking ripping.
Sam McIntosh, generally not one for hyperbole, said it was some of the best surfing he’s seen in person. Four episodes deep, is anyone gonna say that they don’t believe him?
In a matter of hours, the series will reach its conclusion, and the vital question will be answered: Who will win Ethan Ewing’s Stab In The Dark?
Whoever it is will join the following list:
2015, Julian Wilson: Darren Handley
2016, Dane Reynolds: Jon Pyzel
2017, Jordy Smith: Jon Pyzel
2019, Mick Fanning: Britt Merrick
2019, All-Stars — Dane Reynolds / Jordy Smith / Mick Fanning: Matt Biolos
2021, Taj Burrow: Marcio Zouvi
2022, Jack Robinson: Britt Merrick
2023, Italo Ferreira: Britt Merrick
2024, Kolohe Andino: Darren Handley
2026, SITD X, Kelly Slater: Dan Mann
We asked our Premium Members (the only people who could have possibly watched every episode) who they think will win. Now, we’ll break it down — from least likely to most likely.
JS: 7%
JS’s Finals strike rate is becoming absurd. However, for the fifth time, the consensus suggests that he won’t take it home. If 93% of us are wrong, then it’d surely make for some good banter, particularly around the 13km stretch from D’bah to Burleigh.
DHD: 9%
The board reveal. You saw the smirk. I saw the smirk. And now roughly 1-in-10 of us feel as though something is imminent that will pull EE away from the DH that feels like home — whether it’s a new sensation on a different design or an intervention from our beloved TB.
If not, and the test pilot’s shaper wins two straight Stab In The Darks, only months apart, then we will duly expect a gathering of pitchforks outside our Oceanside and Byron Bay HQs.
Dan Mann: 13%
Jon Pyzel and Dan Mann were probably the two most anticipated shapers of this year’s Stab In The Dark, both due to how far their boards could be pushed. For Pyzel, it was how far his design could be pushed on rail while maintaining warp speed. And, for Dan Mann, it was to see how much a certain 11x Champ may have pushed his design in the previous edition.
But now that Ethan tapped him as a finalist, there’s no doubting the Mann’s ability to sculpt magic into a buoyant concoction of chemicals.
Can he be the third shaper to go back-to-back?
HaydenShapes: 23%
The funniest board review in Stab In The Dark history? That’s gotta be from Jordy Smith. “I never knew it was possible to bog two rails at once… what a waste of a grip,” he said of the HaydenShapes in 2017.
Neglecting the amount of time, knowledge, and skilled labor to shape the board, as well as the logistics required to get it to Indo, and instead worrying about never being able to re-use an EVA foam sticker…brutal, hilarious.
Lest we forget, though, that this man shaped the boards behind some of the most influential surfing of our time (hello, Craig and Dion). And that our host, Taj, who could ring any shaper in the world and improve the quality of their day simply by ordering a batch, has been in vintage form on them.
It’s hard to call it a comeback story when you’re dealing with the man who shaped the best-selling hard board of all time, but what a Stab In The Dark redemption it would be.
Channel Islands: 48%
Britt Merrick’s board was the very first one Ethan tested. He came in about as excited as he’s been all series, and sent the board straight to the final. Has anything looked that good since?
Soon, we shall see if Britt creates a little more separation between himself (3x SITD titles) and his Gold Coast frenemy, DH (2x champ) and Santa Barbara bonafide Pyzel (2x as well).
In the meantime, we leave you with this update from the winningest shapers in our series’ history. It pertains to the DH from SITDX, which Britt recently won fair and square in a game of trivia (best explained by Sm Mc here).
Have fun.
Love surfing. Love surfboards. Love people.
Don’t take anything too seriously.
We’re live tonight at 9 pm PST.
