Watch: Stab High China Presented By Monster Energy, Finals Day
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It all started with a last-minute invite to Stab High Central America. Five years later, Rasta Robb is a 2x champ. Photo: Ryan Heywood
Rasta Robb, Zoey Kaina, Yosuke Iha, And Zoee Bradshaw Win Stab High China x Monster Energy
And the sun shines brightly in Hainan.
Stab High // Nov 14, 2026
Words by Brendan Buckley
Reading Time: 4minutes
It’s therainy season in the South of China.
Yesterday evening, that much was clear. Usually, after you eliminate 30+ people from your event, many of them take to the night to let out some steam — sometimes even roping still-active competitors in with them.
Perhaps it was the fact that walking 50 meters outside would leave you and your clothing soaked, but last night felt more tame. I would have dared to say that felt like a trend across the board, until today rolled around and the ice buckets (not baths) around the pool required constant refilling.
By the time this morning rolled around, the skies barely featured a cloud. Convenient. If you’re going to give $60k away, you might as well do it in the sunshine.
Want the full replay and recap? Yes and yes, here. Or, to see our daily sacrifice to the algorithm gods, head here.
Once again, this tiny little corner of the internet will host the daily recap video and photo gallery of the day’s best moments.
Until next time. We might have something in the works…
Timo Simmers was out for blood. He was fighting off a cold via the ancient medicinal remedy of gigantic fucking airs. Photo: Dasha Nosova
‘That air was… kinda sick?’ Photo: Dasha Nosova
Matt Meola has been landing double spins for over a decade. Now here we are in 2026, and only a handful of surfers have joined the club. He was one of the only people trying to land one at Stab High, and he certainly went down swinging. Photo: Nate Lawrence
At least a dozen people tried to diagnose Matt’s injury in our Instagram comments. Instead of heading out for a proper diagnosis, he wrapped it up and enjoyed the Finals. Photo: Dasha Nosova
Peeta Kenworthy got the memo about big, stylish straight airs being back in favor amongst our judges. Photo: Dasha Nosova
Zoee Bradshaw was one point away from winning the Ladybirds division at Stab High in Virginia Beach. Today, she was tied with Peeta Kenworthy in the final. With a surf-off looming, on the very last wave of the heat, she put down a 46-point roter that must’ve made a few of the Women’s finalists happy they were in the judging booth rather than in a heat against her. Photo: Dasha Nosova
Her orthodontist would, and should, be proud. Photo: Ryan Heywood
Typically, when someone is sponsored by a wave pool that has a sister section and has formerly hosted a Stab High, they’re probably going to fare alright. Not that it makes Yosuke Iha’s win over a stacked international field any less impressive, though. Photo: Dasha Nosova
Zoey Kaina has surfed the Ladybirds division four times, but graduated winless. All good, though, because her $20k win here is the equivalent of four Ladybirds wins. Photo: Ryan Heywood
More excellent work from both the competitor and the orthodontist who stands proudly behind them. Photo: Ryan Heywood
China is home to an estimated 1.4B people. A minuscule percentage of them are getting into surf, but Hainan massively overindexes in that regard. This place has a proper scene of born-and-raised good surfers, and it’s cool to see. Oh, and this is Levi doing what you’d call a large straight air. Photo: Ryan Heywood
Yesterday, Ryji Masuda was tied for the last spot in the Men’s semifinals. Then, he lost a surf-off to Willis Droomer and was sent to the Sudden Death round, where he became acquainted with why we call it that. Ask him if he phased, though. Photo: Ryan Heywood
This image warrants an immediate invite for Curren Caples to come back to the next Stab High. Photo: Nathan Lawrence
They’ll cheer each other on, even if they’re dying a little inside. Photo: Dasha Nosova
Rasta Robb says that he lives for this event, and thinks about it every time he surfs. We’d have to think that was at least true of this particular session. Photo: Dasha Nosova
This isn’t the winning air, but is it the winning air, if that makes sense. Photo: Nate Lawrence
The Bottlerocket bowl, during the Men’s final. Photo: Ryan Heywood
One for the mantle, presumably to be placed next to a preserved alligator head. Photo: Ryan Heywood
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