These Are The Top 15 Male Surfers of 2021

For Stab Surfer of the Year 2021, we polled 46 of surfing’s most influential figures. We originally planned on polling 45—leaving the final ten percent to the Stab Premium voters—but Kelly Slater slid into our DMs the night before the Premium vote went live…and, well, we couldn’t look past the 11x World Champ. 

After 10 days of Stab Surfer of the Year, in the Male category, John Florence reigned supreme in a close one against 2021 World Champ, Gabriel Medina. Olympic Gold Medalist, Italo Ferreira, trailed a few points behind. But SSOTY’s not all about the top two or three, plenty of other surfers took top honors in this peer-reviewed poll. For instance, the unsponsored tube pig, Benji Brand, landed himself in the top ten. Someone slap a logo on his nose!

In the old guys rule section, Nate Fletcher and Pete Mel—who are both continuing to surf at the top of their game—made their way into the top 15 while Kelly—who requalified for the CT after surfing only three events last year—was absent. Which may say something about the impact of surfing outside of a singlet. And, it’s worth noting that Mason Ho won the Stab Premi voters’ hearts. All that fun and incessant content go a long way in the armchair surf critic’s world. 

These are the top 15 male surfers of the 2021. Hit play and watch them slip, slide and soar. 

Surfer of the Year: Male (top 15 surfers)

1. John John Florence (108 points)

2. Gabriel Medina (105 points)

3. Italo Ferreira (94 points)

4. Mason Ho (43 points)

T5. Kolohe Andino (25 points)

T5. Jack Robinson (25 points)

7. Griffin Colapinto (22 points)

8. Mikey February (21 points)

9. Nathan Fletcher (18 points)

T10. Benji Brand (17 points)

T10. Craig Anderson (17 points)

12. Ian Crane (16 points)

13. Noa Deane (14 points)

T14. Pete Mel (13 points)

T14. Filipe Toledo (13 points)