Episode 1: Vans Stab High, Central America, Presented By Monster Energy

Welcome to Episode 1 of Vans Stab High, Central America, presented by Monster Energy.

We’ve spent the past two months preparing something extra savory from Costa Rica… and we’re not talking about gallo pinto. With 18 of the world’s best male aerialists and six of female surfing’s most progressive superstars spending two weeks in front of a world-class beach break, we had lofty expectations for this iteration of Vans Stab High, Presented By Monster Energy. The guys and gals managed to exceed them on an almost daily basis — a fact for which we are endlessly grateful.

Episode 1 breaks down the basics of what we are trying to achieve with this event, which in short reads: Send a surfer as high as possible into orbit and watch them ride away clean.

This installment also introduces our diverse roster of talent (spanning six continents), dives into the judging format, and explains why we picked Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, as our temporary airbase. The piece also includes a high volume of elite-level aerials, opening with arguably the best air ever done by a female surfer.

We want to take a moment to thank the people of Playa Hermosa as well as the community of Hermosa Palms for accommodating us during our stay:

• The lovely, smiling Tica ladies greeted us with a charming ‘Hola’ and always kept our astronauts well-fed

• Every filmer, photographer, and editor who’s toiled endlessly on this project over the past two months

• All of the surfers for engaging in this concept and working with us to raise surfing’s progressive ceiling

• Last but certainly not least, Vans and Monster Energy for the support of this project since its inception back in 2018.

Without you, none of this would be possible.

Click here to watch Episode 1 of Vans Stab High, Central America, presented by Monster Energy. The following four episodes will be released as follows:

Episode 2- Thursday, July 29th at 7 PM PST

Episode 3- Thursday, August 5th at 7 PM PST

Episode 4- Tuesday, August 10th at 7 PM PST

Episode 5- Thursday, August 12th at 6 PM PST