Matt Meola and Jacob Szekely Explain the Creative Liberties of Swatch Nines

28 surfers, skaters and BMX have descended on the wavepool, which now bears a passing resemblance to an actual skatepark. Crews from Zenga Bros have built various half pipes and ramps around the pool. If a surfer, skater and filmer sync up at the same time, the visuals could be wallpaper-worthy. There’s no live audience, but the highlights will be playing on the Swatch Nines YouTube channel here. A full recap will be out on October 21. 

It’s an exhibition event with flare, literally and stylistically. The idea is to foster an environment where surfers can get as technical as they want or try something creative, fun, or just plain wacky. The early birds are yielding some results. In the mid-afternoon, with air temperature nearing 100 °F Mason Ho boosted off a right onto a 10-foot inflatable ball. The following morning, with many folks nursing their first coffee, Eithan Osborne stomped a 720-stalefish. No surprise that Zeke, a 2024 Stab High Japan finalist, is trying for an audacious combo: jump off a floating dock then land a superman fingerflip on the end section. A flare attached to his tail may also be involved. 

Matt Meola, a fellow Stab High Japan finalist, lauded the wavepool for fast tracking radical surfing. “It’s been the best thing to happen for the profession of surfing, especially for kids,” he said. He noted, however, that he feels there’s only so much technical room left for him in Texas. (Click here to see why). That’s why he’s riding a board with straps, Kai Lenny style, for this event. Flips galore, plus he’s thinking of landing and launching off Mason Ho’s ball. 

“It would be one thing if this happened five years ago when people were landing a bunch of new things here, he said. “But now I think it’s more about having fun.”

“I see this event as the future of action sports,” Zeke said. “It’s kind of a dream event for someone with my skill set and passions. I see so many pro surfers enjoy skateboarding and other sports. I see so many pro skateboarders love surfing. I really think they go hand in hand. My airs never would have gotten this good if I didn’t skate.”

Zeke is interrupted as Noah Beschen, surfing in near total darkness at 10 p.m. with just a spotlight and orange wall lights lands a massive straight air. Zeke continues by elaboration on the format (no elimination, no scoring, hours in the pool) is more like a skating jam session than a traditional surfing contest. 

“Skateboarding and snowboarding has advanced leaps and bounds in the last few years. Surfing is a bit slower to progress, so having a wavepool like this where we can advance to the next level is pretty special. Not only is the prosecution of the event next level, we have so much time in the pool to try new stuff and be creative. It really makes me think this is the future of action sports. I think we’re going to blow minds with the things we think of at this event because we have time to execute it.”