Swatch Nines Surf & Skate wrapped up three days of experimentation and progression at Waco Surf, bringing surfers, skateboarders and BMX riders together on a course designed to push the boundaries of each sport. New features, unexpected lines and creative installations gave athletes room to try tricks they had never landed before, while the wave pool became a canvas for a reimagined surf and skate experience.
Skate and BMX: A Course Built for Flow
Swatch Nines Surf & Skate brought its biggest skate presence yet to Waco, with the main skate feature evolving from a pipe in year one into a full, flowing course built over the water. Spines, quarters, hips, and rollers connected into a continuous layout, giving riders room to link sections and find their own lines. The Flying O also returned, while the mirror feature offered a different challenge, with skateboarders and BMXers testing flat-ground tricks against its reflection, while people surfed below.
Blair Alley
Dalton Dern landed a 540 on Thursday before airing out into the pool’s shallow area and riding away. Adam Hopkins also landed a 540 on the vert quarterpipe, while Yurin Fujii kickflipped Indy over the roller. Shane Borland stood out with his ramp lines, Gustavo Ribeiro linked a line through the reception area. Alex Midler landed a kickflip backside tailslide over the steps, while Nines newcomers Curren Caples and Brandon Valjalo added to the depth of skill in the skate lineup.
“The Waco setup is insane. There’s nothing like surfing and skating all in one zone,” said Midler. “Having the best in the world at each sport in one place pushes what’s possible. Seeing people try new tricks and do things they didn’t think were possible is a recipe for innovation.”
Ideas developed during the Creative Cabin workshop last winter were brought to life by the Zenga Bros, whose builds connected athlete concepts with the realities of the course. The result was a shared playground shaped by rider input, where surf, skate and BMX could influence one another and creativity could lead the way.
More than 300 fans joined the event on the Waco Surf beach Saturday afternoon for Swatch Nines Surf & Skate Public Day. Their arrival brought a fresh shot of energy to the final stretch of the event. Spectators got a closer look at the custom builds and watched the athletes put them to use, and met the dozens of riders in town for the event. A few guests even got in on the action, joining riders from the Nines on Waco’s new Shredmill.
While the Nines are decidedly not contests, on the final night riders gathered to recognize standout performances and creative contributions across the event.
2026 Swatch Nines Surf & Skate Award Winners
- New Nine: Makana Franzmann
- Best Skater – Female: Yurin Fujii
- Best Trick Skate – Male: Clay Kreiner
- Special Skate Award: Andy Anderson
- Best Trick Surf – Female: Milla Coco Brown
- Best Trick Surf – Male: Noah Beschen
- MVP – Female: Yurin Fujii
- MVP – Male: Shane Borland
Catch all the Swatch Nines action on YouTube.com/@SwatchNines, with a full highlight video out early this week, and follow the journey at @thenines.cc on Instagram. The Couch Surfing Show broadcast October 8 and 9 on their YouTube and you can rewatch more of the event there with rider commentary.
