Watch: Impeccable Rail Work From Mateus Herdy And Tomas Hermes

The first time I heard of Mateus Herdy was when he boosted his way to the top of the Stab High Central America leaderboard with a massive straight air. 

Several months later, he backed up his antics with consistently punchy surfing as a wildcard in the 2021 Corona Open at Barra de la Cruz, highlighted by an unruly air reverse that got him a win over Italo Ferreira in the quarterfinals. 

Which is to day, the 22-year-old from Florianópolis, Brazil, has made a name for himself with his remarkable above-the-lip ability, but he’s also no slouch on the rail — a product of the powerful rights in his hometown. Above, Mateus puts his JS through a series of clinical frontside carves on a delightfully fun-looking sandbar.

Not to be outdone, Tomas Hermes looks scintillating on his CI Twin Pin. It’s an interesting comparison watching the two go back and forth. Mateus appears to have more control with his thruster, but the two-fin combo gives Tomas the edge on speed.

If you had their two boards in your quiver, which one would you grab for waves like this?