Stab Magazine | The Red Bull Airborne France Looked Like Legitimate Fun, Like Surfing!

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

233 Views

The Red Bull Airborne France Looked Like Legitimate Fun, Like Surfing!

Yago Dora wins the first non-pay-per-view air event of 2018. 

news // Oct 9, 2018
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Change is in the air here in the Southwest of France. Change and cigarette smoke and a little bit of rain. Two short weeks ago, the sun was shining upon naked bodies and the water was warm like a motel jacuzzi. Then came the snap. It went from boardshorts to 3 mils. Dicks out to scarves on. The joy of summer to the gloom of winter. Change.

Speaking of change, the organization whose judging pretty much rendered airs pointless in competition for the past ten years, the World Surf League, had its first big crack at running an air show.

The inaugural Red Bull Airborne was held at Les Culs Nuls today and you bet the format was nifty.

Eighteen surfers were broken up into six-man heats. Each competitor had two half-hour heats and was tasked with collecting two scores (total, not per heat). The nifty bit? Their best score was doubled, meaning they had the potential to get up to thirty points.

From there, the top six surfers were put into an hour-long final where they needed to find another two scores. The best surfer would win 30k.

So far, the forecast hasn’t been too kind to France for the 2018 Quiksilver and Roxy Pro. It’s nearly a week into the waiting period and there have only been eight heats. With head-high waves that were kind of fun but also really fucking annoying, the Airborne was sent out there today. And, buddy, it was something.

It didn’t feel like the WSL that we all know and love and say bad things about on the internet. There was no priority — gentleman’s rules only — and people were fucking around in the heats, cheering each other on, trying dumb shit, etc. It looked like legitimate fun. Like surfing.

Fifty-eight airs were completed, they say, and the highest three scores of the day came on frontside air reverses. There were plenty of entertaining no-makes, though. Stalefish. Big spins. Mistimed rodeo flips. The six-man format made for non-stop thrills. If the waves were better, it would have been a day to remember instead of faintly recall.

When it came time for the final, Yago sat on the inside bank while everyone else sat outside. Within ten minutes, he had control of the heat and the rest of the finalists realized they were stupid. There were a few moments of glory, but luck played a big part of it. A small French crowd stood in the rain and didn’t clap much. It was awkward and humorous.

Griffin made a last-minute move for the lead, but it wasn’t enough. And that was that for the first ever WSL Red Bull Airborne.

The day ended with rumors of an expanded Airborne tour — possibly with a focus on cities. Seems strange, but bringing surfing to the faces of New York is better than trying to force it onto the screens of Milwaukee, I suppose.

Either way, it’ll be fun to watch where this thing goes.

Red Bull Airborne Final Leaderboard:

1 – Yago Dora (BRA) 18.27

2 – Griffin Colapinto (USA) 17.21

3 – Jack Freestone (AUS) 15.3

4 – Kalani David (HAW) 5.66

5 – Matt Meola (HAW) 5.40

6 – Eithan Osborne (USA) 0.00

Qualifying Round Leaderboard:

1 – Kalani David (HAW) 16.83

2 – Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.29

3 – Yago Dora (BRA) 13.83

4 – Matt Meola (HAW) 12.46

5 – Eithan Osborne (USA) 12.34

6 – Jack Freestone (AUS) 11.26

7 – Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 9.84

8 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.80

9 – Albee Layer (HAW) 9.76

10 – Eric Geiselman (USA) 9.60

11 – Mason Ho (HAW) 9.17

12 – Leif Engstrom (USA) 8.63

13 – Kael Walsh (AUS) 8.36

14 – Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 6.20

15 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 4.96

16 – William Aliotti (FRA) 2.60

17 – Chippa Wilson (AUS) 1.46

18 – Sebastian Williams (MEX) 0.00

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

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

Shock Therapy: World 1 & 2 Eliminated Early In Saquarema

Gabriela Bryan and Caity Simmers fall victim on Day 1 of the Vivo Rio Pro.

Jun 22, 2025
Advertisement