Who’s Going To Win Stab High Japan Presented By Monster Energy?

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The first powered flight in Japan was conducted on December 19, 1910, by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa in Tokyo. In 1911, Japan’s first domestically engineered and manufactured airplane, the “Kai-shiki No. 1,” made its first successful flight at Tokorozawa Airfield. 

Now, over a century later, we’re hosting our own Japanese spectacle of flight — featuring 60 professional surfers and a mechanically augmented wave the likes of which would have melted the imagination of an engineer from the early 20th century. 

We’re less than 47 hours from the start of Stab High Japan presented by Monster Energy, and the practice sessions have officially begun. Early standouts include Jacob Szekely, Dane Henry, and Loci Cullen.

“Almost everyone you guys picked has the talent to win the event, and that’s making it so exciting,” said Logan Dulien this week. “I know I’m going to be fucking glued to the TV watching this thing.”

As more surfers arrive, we’ll have more intel on who’s looking sharp and whose wings look like they’ve been clipped. 

In the meantime, we decided to take a temperature check on who the surf industry is expecting to take home top honors here in Shizunami.

For a full list of invitees, click here.

Liam O’Brien:

For the men’s I’m gonna go with Mason to win, just because it’s hard not to have fun watching him surf. 

For the women I’ve seen Milla [Coco Brown] do some nuts airs in her video parts. I reckon she’ll be pretty dangerous at the wavepool.

I’ve also seen Leihani do some crazy punts in clips. Be cool to see her approach in the pool.

As for the Bottle Rockets, I was just surfing with Brody [Mulik] over here in WA the other day and he’s a weapon. I can see him doing some pretty mental stuff in the pool.

At the end of the day I’ve got no idea what I’m talking about when it comes to airs though [laughs].

Luke Cederman:

For the men, I think it’s between Zeke and Chris Wilson. I think Zeke has a good chance, he does crazy stuff in pools, the only thing that can stop him is if he trips up on those 3/4 length pants that he surfs in. Or Chris, not just because he’s a past champ and one of the most progressive surfers of all time, but because he has a head of hair and actually chooses to be bald. Legend. 

For the women, I’m going Milla, because she’s good at doing airs on a surfboard.

Ladybirds I’ll pick Kiara Goold. I assume she’s even better at surfing since last year, when she won, so that’s a pretty good indication that she’ll win again.

And for the Bottle Rockets, if that Cruz Dinofa kid can nail one of those front flips I think he’ll get it, if not, Loci Cullen — he’s been gifted with those great surfing genes from his grandad, 3x world champ, Tom Cullen. 

Yago Dora:

For the men I’m going with Mateus and women I’ll pick Sky Brown. I actually don’t really know any of the Ladybirds yet but for the Bottle Rockets I’ll pick Cruz Dinofa.

Rio Waida

I’m gonna go for Mateus Herdy. He’s the most consistent, has style, he’s able to do any airs — backflip, alley oop —  and he’ll do any grabs.

Josh Kerr:

​​Chippa Wilson, Zeke, Dane Henry.

Damien Fahrenfort:

For the men, it’s hard to look past Zeke — his range and make rate in the pool are borderline ridiculous. Finger flips, backside indys and everything in between. If he can tune out the noise, dodge the drama, and take things just slightly more seriously, I think he’s the guy to beat. Robbie McCormick and Mateus are lethal, no doubt — but I’m not sure they’ve got enough variety to keep it fresh through the final.

Honestly, the women’s division might be the most exciting division of the whole comp. I haven’t seen a ton of recent clips from Sierra, but she’s clearly on a tear — confident, stylish, and loves to win. My money’s on a Milla vs. Sierra showdown in the final, with both going full throttle.

Patti the Baddy is coming into the Ladybirds with something to prove — and easily the best vibe in or out of the water. I’m not gonna pretend I know the whole roster here, but that new air section on the left is a goofy-footer’s playground. Keep an eye on who figures it out first.

Bottle Rockets, I’m picking Ryji or Cruz Dinofa. Either of these guys could (and probably should) be in the pro division. It’s going to come down to the judges choosing what they’re scoring higher, technical vs height — flips vs monster Japan air. Neither of them competes a ton, so pressure could be a factor. Either way, both are capable of landing something that could steal the whole show.

Coco Ho:

For the men, it’s criminal for me to not say Mason but I’m gonna go with Shion as a dark horse. For the women, I’m gonna pick Milla cause she’s on a heater, and then for the Ladybirds, Kiara impressed the shit out of me in Waco last year so I’m picking her with Patti in the final. 

And then, Bottle Rockets, Ryji is such a talent! He has a lot going in his favor. 

Kaipo Guerrero:

For the men I’ll go with Pedro Barros because I like skateboarding or Shion Crawford because he likes karaage chicken. For the women I’m picking Sky Brown because she’s gnarly, Ladybirds I’ll go with Skai Suitt, and Bottle Rockets I’m picking Ryji Masuda because he’s the guy out there. 

Curren Caples:

I mean, Chippa is just the best. But then, Harry is an animal, Shane [Borland]’s got really underrated style, Creed has the best style, and Julian’s has probably done the most technical airs of all time. For the women, Sky Brown is really sick. I don’t really know the Ladybirds, but for the Bottle Rockets I like the tweaks that Ryji is doing.

Caroline Marks:

Men’s I’ll pick Ian Crane or Dane Henry, women’s I’ll go Nanaho Tsuzuki, Ladybirds I think I’ll pick Leihanai Zoric, and Bottle Rockets I’m going Arthur Vilar.

Jake Marshall:

I’m psyched for the comp. I definitely have to back Zeke, he’s a beast in the pool and has a good combo of consistency and innovation. Could see him taking it out this year for sure. Ian Crane and Chippa are also two of my favorites to watch and they probably have the most variety of anyone in the comp so I’m psyched to see what they end up going for.

Toby Cregan:

For the men, Pedro [Barros] has already proven he can hit this type of ramp. Also maybe Chippa, I spoke to him the other day and he sounded dialed in and ready to fuck shit up. Also probably Zeke or Mikey Wright [laughs]. 

And then for the women I’m gonna go with Milla Coco Brown or Sky Brown, and then I just rocked up to the pool and saw Ryji land a pretty sick air. It seems like he’s had the most practice in Japan for sure. 

Logan Dulien

For the men, I’m pretty biased, but I obviously gotta go with Mason. I’ve been talking with him and I know he’s definitely got his game plan. And then obviously Rasta Rob is just a fucking weapon, whether he’s in the ocean or in pools, he’s got to be one of the most consistent aerialists in the world. And then Ian Crane is coming hot into Japan. He’s been super consistent at Stab High, he’s won it before and made a bunch of finals. 

I also think Mateus Herdy could be doing some wild shit. He’s always a standout at these pools. He surfs those ones in Brazil a lot, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him do really well. I know I’m picking a lot of people, but Matt Meola is always a force to be reckoned with, and then Zeke is my last pick. He calls himself the king of the pool for a reason.

Ryji has obviously spent a lot of time in that pool, more than probably any surfer, and from the videos you can see what he’s going to be bringing to the pool.

Another of my Bottle Rocket picks is that Caden Francis kid from Oz. I spent some time with him in Hawaii and he’s in Snapt5 too. And then Cruz Dinofa actually has one of the gnarliest airs in the new Snapt5, even compared with all the A-listers.

And then obviously we know that the Arthur Vilar kid is a weapon in the pool. Those guys from Brazil, they get a lot of pool time. 

For the Ladybirds, Patti Zhou is like a machine or something. I know Mason was helping coach her a bit last year. They had some warmup sessions together, and he told me she hadn’t surfed in six months, but within a few waves she was landing crazy airs. She’s just a God given talent.

My other Ladybird pick is Kiara Gold, who’s also in the Snapt5 girl section, fuck. She’s ripping. She definitely should be a favorite at that pool in that division for sure. 

Final Tally:

Mens:
Zeke — 6
Chippa — 5
Mateus — 4
Ian Crane — 3
Dane Henry — 2
Mason — 2
Rasta Robb — 2
Pedro Barros — 2
Shion Crawford — 1
Harry Bryant — 1
Shane Borland — 1
Creed McTaggart — 1
Julian Wilson — 1
Matt Meola — 1

Womens:
Milla Coco Brown — 4
Sky Brown — 2
Sierra Kerr — 1
Nanaho Tsuzuki — 1

Ladybirds:
Kiara Goold – 3 
Leihani Zoric – 2
Patti Zhou – 2 
Skai Suitt – 1

Bottle Rockets:
Ryji Masuda – 6
Cruz Dinofa – 4
Arthur Vilar – 2
Brody Mulik – 1
Loci Cullen – 1
Caden Francis – 1