Latest news with #StabHigh
Sydney Morning Herald
13-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Aerial surfing is coming to Sydney, and Hughie Vaughan will be in full flight
The World Surf League's cooler, younger sibling is coming to Sydney, and all eyes will be on an 18-year-old local who pulled off the 'best aerial ever done' earlier this year. Stab High, a surf contest 'focused on flight', will take place at Sydney's Urbnsurf park in October. While traditional surf competitions, like those contested by the pros in the World Surf League, focus on perfect technique, Stab High is all about landing one 'explosive aerial manoeuvre'. Hughie Vaughan did just that at an event in Waco, Texas in June, performing a trick that drew the praise of legends of surfing – and skateboarding – alike. Hailing from the Central Coast, Vaughan comes from a family of surfers (his brother Joel competes in the WSL). The trick he performed, the 'stale fish backflip' – using one hand to hold his board in place as he backflipped through the air, landing perfectly on top of the wave – originated in skating. Vaughan's attempt may be the first time it has been pulled off on a surfboard. A video of the trick posted by surf photographer Rob Henson – captioned the 'BEST AIR ever done' – went viral, racking up more than 7000 likes. 'Wowsers' was former Australian world champion Mick Fanning's reaction. 'Had to watch it 50 times just to figure out what happened. Amazing,' Fanning commented on Instagram.
The Age
13-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Aerial surfing is coming to Sydney, and Hughie Vaughan will be in full flight
The World Surf League's cooler, younger sibling is coming to Sydney, and all eyes will be on an 18-year-old local who pulled off the 'best aerial ever done' earlier this year. Stab High, a surf contest 'focused on flight', will take place at Sydney's Urbnsurf park in October. While traditional surf competitions, like those contested by the pros in the World Surf League, focus on perfect technique, Stab High is all about landing one 'explosive aerial maneuver'. Hughie Vaughan did just that at an event in Waco, Texas in June, performing a trick that drew the praise of legends of surfing – and skateboarding – alike. Hailing from the Central Coast, Vaughan comes from a family of surfers (his brother Joel competes in the WSL). The trick he performed, the 'stale fish backflip' – using one hand to hold his board in place as he backflipped through the air, landing perfectly on top of the wave – originated in skating. Vaughan's attempt may be the first time it has been pulled off on a surfboard. A video of the trick posted by surf photographer Rob Henson – captioned the 'BEST AIR ever done' – went viral, racking up more than 7000 likes. 'Wowsers' was former Australian world champion Mick Fanning's reaction. 'Had to watch it 50 times just to figure out what happened. Amazing,' Fanning commented on Instagram.
