The recent Stab High event at URBNSURF Sydney was a resounding success. Widely hailed by surfers, media, and fans as one of the most spectacular aerial surfing showcases to date, the event was a powerful demonstration of what happens when elite talent meets cutting-edge technology.
The weekend of October 10–11, URBNSURF Sydney transformed into the epicenter of aerial innovation in surfing with the arrival of Stab High 2025. The event brought together 36 of the world’s top surfers alongside rising talents and skate legends.
So why the buzz? Because for the first time, an aerial event truly delivered on its promise.
As surf journalist Jed Smith noted, “when you see constantly failed airs, you get bored quickly.” The challenge has always been the inconsistency of the “ramp,” even in wave pools.
The Stab High at URBNSURF Sydney was the definitive antidote. More airs were completed than in any Stab High in history, transforming the event from a “hit-or-miss” spectacle into a thrilling showcase of progression.
At Wavegarden, we are incredibly proud, as this success was not accidental. It was the direct result of targeted innovation from our Surf Operations and CFD teams, working in close collaboration with our partners at URBNSURF to engineer the perfect wave for the occasion.
For an event of this caliber, “good” waves weren’t good enough. The goal was to provide the “perfect ramp” that would allow the world’s best aerialists to perform at their absolute peak. Attendees described it as “the best Stab High ever” Stab Mag.
Some of our Surf Operations team and members of the CFD department traveled to Australia. Leveraging insights from our R&D headquarters in the Basque Country, they developed and programmed a new, bespoke air section specifically for the Stab High competition. This new setting was designed to be a faster, more powerful, and perfectly consistent ramp, giving surfers the precise speed and projection needed to push the limits of aerial surfing. The consistency of the wave created a new dynamic, providing a perfect arena, we allowed the athletes to focus purely on execution.
The results spoke for themselves. The surfers’ feedback was exceptional, and the performance level was unprecedented, highlighted by explosive maneuvers and Joel Vaughan’s finals-winning backflip, a trick landed on a wave profile that simply didn’t exist a few weeks prior. From practice sessions to the finals, the atmosphere was unique—more festival-like than competitive—creating a truly unique experience (Wavepool Mag).
Stab High Sydney demonstrated the dual advantages of Wavegarden Cove technology: event reliability and performance consistency.
First, our technology eliminates the “waiting periods” that plague ocean-based events. This reliability is critical for broadcasters, sponsors, and global fan engagement—the event runs on schedule, guaranteed.
But the true story here was the quality of the action. By providing a 100% reliable ramp, we gave the world’s best aerialists the confidence to attempt, and land, their biggest maneuvers, over and over. This is the new benchmark for aerial surfing.
This reliability makes the Wavegarden Cove the industry-leading platform for the present and future of professional surfing events.
This success is a testament to our model of continuous collaboration, a core component of our after sales service, Maintenance and License Agreements (MLA), with our clients.
Our clients do not just receive a wave generator; they gain a long-term technology partner. Our Surf Operations team constantly innovates and works hand-in-hand with our global facilities to refine and deploy new wave settings, lagoon designs and technological innovations, ensuring every Wavegarden Cove remains at the forefront of performance.
The innovation that made Stab High a massive hit is not staying confined to Sydney. As part of our commitment to all of our facilities, we are already working to make these new high-performance settings available to all Wavegarden Coves around the world.
We are proud to have provided the platform for such an incredible event and extend our congratulations to the surfers and the entire URBNSURF team. Stab High Sydney has set a new standard, and we are already looking forward to powering the next one.
