Prior To Knee Surgery, Wyatt McHale Stomped This Haunting Oop In Indo

“I’m going in for knee surgery later today,” Wyatt McHale told Stab, after submitting this equatorial clip.

“Pretty bummed that I’ll be out for the beginning part of this winter, but I’ve been surfing with knee pain for the last couple years, so I’m also pretty stoked to get that fixed!”

And such is the reality for modern-day surfers—especially those who, like Wyatt, have long, gangly limbs.

Joints simply can’t withstand the repetitive impact from airs, turns, and pear-shaped tubes, which is why Wyatt, like his tall, Oahuan neighbor John John Florence, has had to go under the knife to repair accumulated damage.

“It’s actually kind of a weird one,” Wyatt said, in reference to his injury. “There is a portion of the bone in my knee that is missing so they need to go in and replace the part that is missing with new home.

“It was definitely just and accumulation of surfing on it so much. It always kind of hurt but it was never too bad until recently it got too bad to surf on. So I’ve got to get it fixed.”

Wyatt will miss the first half of the Hawaiian winter, which is naturally upsetting. At least he got this Indo trip in first!