Watch: Vans Stab High Indonesia, Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 2

The “spin-to-win” maxim is about as worn out as the first-gen FCS Mark Occhilupo signature model fins that are still tucked away somewhere deep inside your parents’ garage. 

It is, of course, a reference to surfing’s most popular flight path: the air reverse. Hated by some, loved by others, landed by thousands, the air rev can be considered the hallmark of semi-good surfing at any beach worldwide. At Vans Stab High Indonesia, Presented by Monster Energy we made them (temporarily) illegal. 

As explained in Episode 1, we’ve got a new format this year that pushes surfers to do different maneuvers during different rounds throughout the event. Round 1 is all about straight airs. You can spin if you want, but you won’t get scored. For what it’s worth, the rotation that led to some of surfing’s highest-ever airs — the alley-oop — was also banned. 

We get to watch a full Round 1 of Ladybirds, then get into the men’s side of competition. Some competitors still opted for illegal spins, ‘cause you can’t tell an air surfer how to live their lives. As the swell pumps, we also see some accidental tubes — how inconvenient, when you’re trying to get to an air section and the wave keeps trying to encapsulate you. Ugh. 

Vans Stab High is a contest disguised as a video series, but it might as well be a summit on air surfing. Nuance is explored in depth and with candor. We get to learn how the best air surfers in the world really feel about airs. 

Episode 3 of Vans Stab High Indonesia, presented by Monster Energy, drops Thursday, November 10 at 6pm PT. You can watch Episode 1 of Vans Stab High Indonesia , presented by Monster Energy HERE. .