Who should have won the Filipe v Julian Burleigh final? Well, 69% of @stab poll respondents believe the judges got it wrong — that Julian was the rightful winner of last week's Gold Coast Pro. However, when we polled a list of true surfing experts (Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, Jake Paterson, Doug Silva, and Leo Fioravanti), they had a slightly different opinion. 

This week on The Drop, Stace G and Mikey C dissect everything that went down at the Gold Coast Pro, and eventually we're joined by Julian Wilson to hear his thoughts on a heroic return to Championship Tour surfing. 

Julian Wilson Tells Us How He Really Feels About The Burleigh Final

There have been exactly 0 CT events run at the box since Kieren Perrow departed his role as Championship Tour Commissioner. We don't believe that's a coincidence. 

In this ep, Stace G and Mikey C dissect the 2025 Margaret River Pro, including whether or not we're likely to see carnage and glory at Main Break's feral little sister. Also: forecasts, picks, and a detailed analysis of the mid year cut — who's safe and who needs to dust off their CV. 

The Box Is Calling — Will Anybody Answer?

A major announcement from the WSL, and another from Stab.

Mikey and Buck break down everything happening this week in surfing. 

Email him for Mikey's leash — buck@stabmag.com.

The CS Is Going To Pipe?

Fresh off a Newcastle red-eye, Stace G returns to The Drop in hopes of correctly pronouncing the name "Matthew Mc-Gill-i-vray". The boys also chat briefly about the CS and CT. 

Can a wildcard win Lowers? Let's discuss. 

Can A Wildcard Win Lowers?

Stab co-founder Sam McIntosh joins the pod to talk about his recent stint on the Gold Coast filming (or more often, waiting) for Kelly Slater's Stab in the Dark. 

Sam also unearths hidden truths from the last How Surfers Get Paid ep and answers the burning question: is Laird just a handsome asshole?

Before leaving,  Sam reveals the unlikely inspiration behind Stab's latest series, Surf100 presnted by Pacifico. 

How We Got Kelly For Stab In The Dark, ft. Sam McIntosh

Spoiler alert: We will be discussing Surf100 Presented by Pacifico episode one here — including a brief chat with our first challenge winner. If you haven't watched it already, check out the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UANKtsKLW1M&t=2s

Meanwhile, Mikey and Buck get into some controversial news: the WSL canceled a Pro Junior event in the Basque country after local groups promised to protest if Israeli surfers were allowed to compete. Yeah... it's complicated. 

The boys also discuss why Kelly Slater's favorite wave isn't producing CT surfers, Tom Lowe's second near-death incident at Teahupo'o, and the flannel-clad enigma that is Keith Malloy. 

Was The WSL Right To Cancel The Basque Pro Junior?

Four consecutive 17ths don't bode well for the soon-to-be father, who started the year dripping in gold (and yellow!). Now sitting fourth in the world, Italo would be well aware of the fact that Griffin, Jack, Ethan and Filipe are all within one result of his place in the Final 5. Can he hold on through the last three events?

In this ep of The Drop, Stace G and Mikey C dissect the recently departed Trestles CT, including controversial heats between Griff & Fil + Joel & Italo. Later, they make their picks and predictions for the upcoming Brazil CT, but not before dissecting a recent Stab Interview with WSL Tour Prez Graham Stapleberg. 


The Implosion of Italo

This was meant to be a half-hour interview with Caity Simmers about her new film Milk & Honey— it turned into a 90-minute cosmic swirl on surfing, individuality, and life. 

Please enjoy the reigning world champ in her raw, unfiltered film. 

The Stab Interview: Caity Simmers

What surfing's shadow government doesn't want you to know...

Also: Pavones and Lakey Peak are being threatened by development, a WSL insider overshares, and we've got a new film with Caity, Steph, Coco and Frankie!

The 7 Surfing Conspiracies

Somebody did the best air ever in a wavepool this week — but who was it?

Live from Texas, Buck gives us insights from the recent Swatch Nines event that saw Hughie Vaughan and Matt Meola do the (previously) impossible on a surfboard. A judging committee then decided which corked-out stalefish rotation was best and — spoiler alert — they got it woefully wrong. 

...Or did they?

Mikey and Buck also discuss a misunderstood creature trawling our lineups, known as the German surfer, and how Jordy Smith became the world #1 surfer at 37. 

Let's drop in. 

Hughie Or Meola?

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