The inaugural Swatch Nines Surf event made waves in Waco, Texas, from October 15-17, bringing together a vibrant community of surfers, skaters, and BMX riders for a creativity-fueled celebration of their communities. Curated by pro surfer Coco Ho, this groundbreaking event marked a significant milestone as the first of its kind and the first Nines event held in the United States, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional competitions.
As the blazing, bright orange sun rose over the Lone Star State, Waco Surf transformed into a fantasy land where passion and creativity reigned supreme. Over three days, more than 42 hours of skate and surf sessions unfolded, showcasing an innovative and collaborative spirit. Surfers including Noah Beschen, Mason Ho, Vaihiti Inso, and Matt Meola, along with skateboarders like Andy Anderson and Greyson Fletcher, took to the Zenga Brothers-designed ramps, seamlessly blending their disciplines in an inspiring atmosphere.
“We did a workshop six months ago to dream up the ramps and features and now it is all coming to life. 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.”
said Coco Ho, pro surfer
Standout moments included breathtaking airs from Noah Beschen,Jacob Szekely, and Victor Bernardo, who were in the water more often than not. Young prodigy Tya Zebrowski (13) made history with the first-ever Women’s Superman air, while Kiara Goold (14) showcased her exceptionaltalent with an impressive air reverse.
“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.”
Skateboarder Greyson Fletcher, the men’s MVP, noted,
As the event progressed, the true essence of the Swatch Nines materialized, with competitors-turned-collaborators pushing each other’s limits.
“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.”
Victor Bernardo, who landed a clean alley-oop indy grab and best air nod from his peers agreed,
Surfers and skaters alike introduced innovative elements to the pool, including a tractor-suspended rail for board slides.
“Combining skating and surfing like this is what you dream about as a kid.”
The collaborative vibe was palpable, as Balaram Stack exclaimed,
The creativity reached new heights as Laura Enever and Mason Ho launched into and over the giant inflatable ball, thrilling the crowd and embodying the adventurous spirit of the event.
“Everyone at the Swatch Nines uplifts each other, and when someone accomplishes a trick they’ve been working on, it feels like a collective win. 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.”
said Enever
“The Swatch Nines Surf event means so much to our brand. Being present here and seeing what’s happening in real life, from the smiles on the faces of the athletes, the production crews, and everyone on-site, brings us a lot of joy.”
Swatch President Alain Villard, joined the event on-site.
While Swatch Nines is not a contest, the event culminated in a Gala night, where athletes celebrated each other’s efforts and milestones:
- 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 (Ally Oop Indy Grab)
- MVP Women: Coco Ho/Kiara GooldCoco graciously handed her award to Kiara Goold
- MVP Men: Greyson Fletcher
Riders List
Surfers: Balaram Stack, Blair Conklin, Coco Ho, Eithan Osborne, Honolua Blomfield, Ian Crane, Jacob Szekely, Juliette Lacome, Kiara Goold, Koa Smith, Laura Enever, Luke Swanson, Makoa Ho, Mason Ho, Matt Meola, Noah Beschen, Tya Zebrowski, Vaihiti Inso, Victor Bernardo, Leon Glatzer, Zoë McDougall
Skaters: Andy Anderson, Clay Kreiner, Evan Mock, Greyson Fletcher, Gustavo Ribeiro, Corey Juneau, Madars Apse, Mami Tezuka
Bikers: Kevin Peraza, Sam Pilgrim, Matthias Dandois
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