Stab Podcast: The Mid-Year Cut Kerfuffle, Explained - Stab Mag

Watch the Surf100 $100k Finale: Wednesday, September 9th (PST)

712 Views
12-year tour vet Owen Wright is on the chopping block. Does this mean the system is broken?

Stab Podcast: The Mid-Year Cut Kerfuffle, Explained

Cry is free. A world tour is not.

stabfm // Apr 15, 2022
Words by Michael Ciaramella
Reading Time: < 1 minute

During a recent live-episode recording of Ain’t That Swell, WSL CEO Erik Logan was invited on stage to discuss all things professional surfing.

According to a source in attendance, Erik was booed by a large majority of the crowd, who took issue either with his perceived impact on professional surfing or his new moon boots. One cannot be sure.

But the jeers didn’t pierce Elo’s thick midwestern skin — he embraced the Aussie banter and even threw it back at them as he exited the stage.

“Where ya goin, Elo?” said an audience member, as Erik was making his way toward the bathroom.

“I’m going to rinse my corn,” he replied, referencing a signature ATS phrase in a very clever way, causing an eruption of laughter in the process.

Corporate and quirky as he may seem, Elo knows how to play the game. He recently rebuked a petition signed by a majority of his League’s stars with a mic-dropping manifesto of his own, stunning surfers and fans around the world.

His primary message? Cry is free. A World Tour is not.

In this week’s episode of The Drop, Buck and I break down the whole mid-year cut kerfuffle, along with a few other newsworthy topics. Here’s a timecoded breakdown of the ep.

– WSL Responds to Surfer Petition (1:30)
– Serial Surf pest (25:00)
– Why You Won’t Get A Deal On Your New Surfboard (32:00)
– Surfing’s first 360 flip?! (36:00)
– Surf sin (43:40)

Listen to Stab Podcasts on Spotify, Soundcloud, or Apple Pods.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Yago Dora Is Undefeated At Lowers — Does That End This Week?

The cut is here, the bubble is stacked, and one Aussie is two L's away…

Sep 10, 2026

The 2026 $100k Surf100 Finale, Presented By Pacifico

Parko, Noa, Dakoda and Dimitri face off in our audience judged, 100-minute surf exhibition.

Sep 9, 2026

Can Parko Beat The Kids For $100k?

Watch our Surf100 warm-ups.

Sep 8, 2026

Nathan Florence On Why The 10,000 Hour Rule Does Not Apply To Surfing

And how tubes cost him $12,000 per minute.

Sep 8, 2026

How To Watch (& Judge) The $100,000 Surf100 Finale

Everything you need to know before September 9 (PST).

Sep 7, 2026

Go To Lakey Peak For Two Weeks, Accidentally Leave With SEOTY Entry

Watch a dozen or so A+ airs in Makana Franzmann's 'Off Axis.'

Sep 5, 2026

How Zeke Lau Became Surfing’s Villain | StabMic Ep. 30

“Am I happy with the way things played out? Not really.”

Sep 5, 2026

How Will This Weekend’s Hurricane Marie Stack Up Against 2014’s?

We asked Surfline's senior forecaster to discern fact from lineup chatter.

Sep 4, 2026

And Our $12k Kandui Resort Giveaway Winner Is…

Hosing down wildfires in Big Sur.

Sep 3, 2026

Watch: Two Underdogs, One Very Expensive Bone

Dakoda and Dimitri’s thoughts on facing Parko and Noa for a $100K payday.

Sep 3, 2026

Cloudbreak Saves Goofs From Challenger Series Horrors

Cole Houshmand and Erin 'Don't-Call-It-A-Title-Run' Brooks win in Fiji.

Sep 3, 2026

Karma Just Sent Kauli Vaast A Lump Sum

Perfect 10s, ankle sprains, and a rising swell in Fiji

Sep 2, 2026

Watch: EAST Starring Harry Bryant, Episode Two

This is not a fin test.

Sep 1, 2026

Fiji Lately: World Champs Out, Bar Tabs Up, Swell Inbound

Eight heats in 96 hours; or the glorious doldrums of Tavarua laydays. 

Aug 31, 2026

Harry Bryant On EAST, Big-Wave Psychology & Fin-Gate | StabMic Ep. 29

"I went off my own judgement thinking that was a thruster, and I was proved…

Aug 30, 2026

Watch: Uncut Gems On Africa’s Forgotten Coast

Eli Beukes stars in 'Rough Diamonds' by Now Now Media.

Aug 29, 2026

Hossegor Beach Cocaine Episode 4: What Goes Up

“Sometimes I’d go and see how much was left and go, ‘Oh god, there’s still…

Aug 28, 2026

Was Surf Film Music Better Back Then?

How to score a film in the '90s versus now, with tour guide Taylor Steele.

Aug 28, 2026
Advertisement