Australian teen Hughie Vaughan lands “stalefish flipper” backflip in Texas wave pool
Eighteen-year-old surfer Hughie Vaughan stunned the extreme sports world this week with a new aerial move dubbed the “stalefish flipper.” Vaughan pulled off the trick at The Nines competition in a wave park in Waco, Texas. The feat has already racked up millions of views on social media.
Vaughan launched into a backflip on a right wave break, gripping his board with his right hand midair and landing smoothly atop the wave. Organizers called it a “stalefish backflip,” blending skateboarding style with surfing skill. 
The event included rails over the water for grind tricks and night surfing through illuminated rings, pushing boundaries for competitors. Surf photographer Rob Henson caught the moment and shared it on Instagram, where it’s been liked over 7,000 times.
Tony Hawk reposted the clip, calling it the “stalefish flipper” to his nearly 10 million followers. DJ Diplo jokingly asked if the move was created by AI.
Vaughan’s wave pool trick earned praise from surfing legends. Olympic gold medalist Ítalo Ferreira called it “insane.” Aussie surf icon Mick Fanning said:
“Wowsers. Had to watch it 50 times just to figure out what happened. Amazing.”
Championship Tour pro Jesse Mendes called it:
“Has to be the best air ever done,”
while fellow pro Julian Wilson declared it:
“A new standard.”
The breakthrough blends surfing and skateboarding with technical aerials, setting a fresh benchmark for progression in wave pool and ocean surfing alike.
Watch Vaughan’s “stalefish flipper” on Instagram.
