Over 30 surfers, skaters, and BMX riders participated in the inaugural Swatch Nines Surf in Waco, Texas.
The unorthodox event, curated by Coco Ho, aimed to offer a creativity-fueled alternative to traditional extreme sports competitions.
It invites athletes to try, test, and change their sports paradigm. It's an arena where anything is possible, including getting injured in the process.
"We did a workshop six months ago to dream up the ramps and features, and now it is all coming to life," explained Coco Ho.
"Everyone is investing so much energy and doing things that have never been done before; it's just endless laughs."
"I think we're all a little bit out of breath and out of voice because we're sprinting around and laughing so much."
Standout moments included breathtaking airs from Noah Beschen, Jacob Szekely, and Victor Bernardo, who were in the water more often than not.
In the early hours of daylight, Noah Beschen set the bar high, landing back-to-back backflips and a side flip into a double grab flip.
"It feels like fantasy land here," noted Beschen.
"For surfers and skaters to come together for an event without competition makes it focused entirely on passion and fun."
It's been an insane day, and I'm having so much fun."
Noah also expressed hope for some favorable winds to assist with the air sections.
With more than 16 hours of skate and surf sessions scheduled, surfers including Coco and Mason Ho, Matt Meola, and Laura Enever kicked off their warm-up sessions, while skateboarders like Andy Anderson, Greyson Fletcher, and Mami Tezuka got accustomed to the new Zenga Brothers-designed ramps that stretch from the deck into the water.
By midday, the creative energy was palpable.
Young prodigy Tya Zebrowski, 13, made history with the first-ever women's superman air, while Kiara Goold, 14, showcased her exceptional talent with an impressive air reverse.
Surfers introduced innovative elements such as an inflatable dock for mid-pool step-offs, colorful flares, and even a massive inflatable human hamster ball.
Meanwhile, a tractor-suspended wall ride rotated between the pool and a skate ramp.
"I'm grateful for how the surf and skate worlds have welcomed us with open arms, brimming with creativity and a hunger to try new things in their sports," said Nico Zacek.
"Today, witnessing skaters and surfers inspire and cheer each other on while collaborating was a standout moment for me."
Winds of Creativity
On day two, the wind riders were hoping for the air section to arrive.
Pulling on wetsuits, riders hopped in for another massive day of pool time from sunrise to well after dark.
The true essence of the Swatch Nines materialized as riders who had competed against each other for years and started working together in new, creative ways.
Hopping out from an absolutely ripping set with Vahiti Inso, Coco Ho, Laura Enever, and Honolua Blomfield, Zoe McDougall said, "We have the freedom to be super creative, and there's just no pressure."
"We are encouraged to dream up new ideas and have a lot of fun, which is very different than normal surf events. There's nothing on the line; the Nines just want us to make our dreams come true."
As the creative juices started flowing, the surfers suspended a rail into the water for board slides.
Jacob "Zeke" Szekely, Mason Ho, Balaram Stack, Eithan Osborne, and Noah Beschen launched to slide across a tractor-suspended rail as hoots and hollers lit up the pool decks.
"The rail worked better than anyone thought it would. It was awesome. Combining skating and surfing like this is what you dream about as a kid," said Balaram Stack.
"In last night's skate session, Grayson [Fletcher] rode out of a massive nose grind and a crooked grind on the top part of the ramp."
"It took him a while, and everyone got so hyped when he finally stuck it."
"That's the vibe here. Wanting to see everyone succeed and be inspired by each other."
Greyson Fletcher, the men's MVP, was beyond stoked.
"Once I saw the setup drawings, I knew the skate side of the event would be legit."
"The quarter pipe with a water gap was challenging because of its steep vert, but that made it all the more fun to skate. There were no ego trips; everyone was just pushing for the best in each other."
Victor Bernardo landed a clean alley-oop indy grab and best air nod from his peers.
"In contests, if somebody else does something good, there's always like a negative transmission to that person because you're like, 'Oh, f**k, he's good.'"
"Swatch Nines is so unusual because everyone's sending good energy to that person, like, 'I hope he makes it, or I hope he clears the dock.' You can hear us cheering everyone else on."
The creativity levels went through the roof as Laura Enever and Mason Ho launched into and over the giant inflatable ball.
"Everyone here uplifts each other, and when someone accomplishes a trick they've been working on, it feels like a collective win," said Enever.
"It's about friendship, creativity, and having fun - like when I dove into the inflatable hamster ball and rode a wave; it was a classic moment that made me want to rethink how I approach surfing."
The Swatch Nines culminated in a gala night, where athletes celebrated each other's madness and out-of-the-box attempts.
2024 Swatch Nines | Final Results
It's a Trip - Surf Vibes: Mason Ho;
It's a Trip - Skate Vibes: Greyson Fletcher;
Stab Grab: Balaram Stack;
GoPro High Vibes Winner: Koa Smith;
Best Air Women: Tya Zebrowski (first-ever women's superman);
2nd Place: Kiara Goold (air reverse);
Best Air Men: Victor Bernardo (alley-oop indy grab)
MVP Women: Coco Ho/Kiara Goold
MVP Men: Greyson Fletcher
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