Stab Magazine | Robbie Maddison rides dirt bike at Teahupoo

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

364 Views

Robbie Maddison rides dirt bike at Teahupoo

Somewhere in the world, at some point in time, a marketing manager decided that it’d be a good idea to have motocrosser Robbie Maddison ride his dirt bike at Teahupoo. How does one even ride a dirt bike on water, let alone at one of the world’s most dangerous waves, which has somehow in recent years become ground zero of stupid fucking ideas in surfing? From which Stab isn’t exempt; We had Bruce Irons surf the Tahitian left in a blindfold, which was either fabulous or ridiculous (funny how closely those two dance), and the jury’s still out. But a dirt bike is a whole ‘nother level. Maybe the wave’s inclusion in the new Point Break film put it on the extreme non-surf radar. Let’s talk logistics for a moment. The bike’s fitted out with planes on each wheel to allow a small portion of tire in the water, the perpetual motion of which works like a miniature, high-speed paddle steamer and shoots the bike forward. Once dear Robbie has sufficiently disturbed some natural Tahitian serenity, he literally rides off The End Of The Road, before upsetting some locals going about their daily canoe sesh, before, obviously, ripping through the Chopesian lineup into a left or two – the second of which puts him in a rather unideal situation. Spoiler: He makes it. To be frank, I’m devastated/surprised that this wasn’t Laird Hamilton. In fairness though, the Good Laird was busy in The Hamptons teaching Lena Dunham to SUP.

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Somewhere in the world, at some point in time, a marketing manager decided that it’d be a good idea to have motocrosser Robbie Maddison ride his dirt bike at Teahupoo. How does one even ride a dirt bike on water, let alone at one of the world’s most dangerous waves, which has somehow in recent years become ground zero of stupid fucking ideas in surfing? From which Stab isn’t exempt; We had Bruce Irons surf the Tahitian left in a blindfold, which was either fabulous or ridiculous (funny how closely those two dance), and the jury’s still out. But a dirt bike is a whole ‘nother level. Maybe the wave’s inclusion in the new Point Break film put it on the extreme non-surf radar.

Let’s talk logistics for a moment. The bike’s fitted out with planes on each wheel to allow a small portion of tire in the water, the perpetual motion of which works like a miniature, high-speed paddle steamer and shoots the bike forward. Once dear Robbie has sufficiently disturbed some natural Tahitian serenity, he literally rides off The End Of The Road, before upsetting some locals going about their daily canoe sesh, before, obviously, ripping through the Chopesian lineup into a left or two – the second of which puts him in a rather unideal situation. Spoiler: He makes it.

To be frank, I’m devastated/surprised that this wasn’t Laird Hamilton. In fairness though, the Good Laird was busy in The Hamptons teaching Lena Dunham to SUP.

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

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025

“I Lost Everything I’ve Ever Owned, But This Board Came Back”

One month after the LA wildfires, a surfboard washed ashore.

Jun 24, 2025
Advertisement