A single, inspired punt has catapulted Pete Kavanagh into the Sydney, Stab High event. It was around 1am (a few days ago) when the schoolteacher landed the highly technical air at Sydney’s Urbnsurf. A clip of the after-midnight-move quickly gained traction on the gram and almost overnight Pete had a good case for a wild-card into the Stab High event which runs at Sydney’s Urbnsurf this Friday and Saturday.
Around Sydney’s eastern beaches, Pete is known as an underground ripper with a rep for tossing lofty airs and slugging the lip like a lightweight prize fighter. His completion rate on both counts is pretty solid.
When Pete is not furnishing young minds with the skills and knowledge they need to make their way in the world, he also likes to hit the pool. The Bondi surfer frequently drops pool clips that make you shudder at how hard he hurls his whippet’s frame above the concrete shallows. Below he provides some insights into how a humble schoolteacher joined the class of high-flyers for Stab High.
How did it all go down when you landed the air?
I went out with Grayson Hinrichs (already in the event) and his partner and filmer, Holly. The guys from Urbnsurf invited him last minute to test some different settings in preparation for the event. I had no real expectation of surfing but thought I’d bring a wetty in case someone got hurt while testing or for the slight chance I could scab a wave or two. Grayson didn’t get much info of other surfers he would be surfing with prior, apart from him having to be at the pool at 10pm. It turned out to be only Grayson and Julian Wilson testing ramps until the early hours of the morning (bit of a pinch yourself moment for him I reckon). Julian came with Oscar Salt who rides for his company, and he had the same idea in mind as me. Julian ended up getting out of the pool early at about 1:00am as he had to drive back to Newcastle that same night and me and Oscar managed to sweet talk the crew into letting us have a few waves as they had to run the machine until 1:30am.
I ended up getting about 5 waves in total and only landing that one air as the timing is very tricky. Oscar stomped a crazy full rotation and obviously Grayson was going massive. That wave I landed was the last wave of the whole night just before the machine was put to bed, so I was pretty stoked considering the circumstances. I also was borrowing Grayson’s two-year old board, which has been creased and repaired about 3 times, that I had never surfed, which was also pretty funny.
What exactly was the air?
I think it was a shuv-it with a lien grab pulling the board around.
Who was watching?
Grayson, Holly, Oscar Salt, Ryan Bailey from Urbnsurf and the International two wave engineers. Julian bailed (I would’ve been so chuffed to stomp it front of him ha-ha)
Your reaction on completion?
I was kind of shocked when I stomped it just because the board rotation felt so slow. I kind of started cracking-up laughing when I spun around due to the nature of it being the last wave of the night and me not landing anything prior. Grayson was blowing up; I think he was more excited than me!
How did it lead to the wildcard?
I had a few good mates who were just tagging me in their promotional Instagrams trying to get me into the comp as a local wildcard, but it felt more like a joke as the invited surfers are all of such a high calibre and are legit pro surfers (which I am definitely not).
After I posted that air it gained some traction thanks to some of my mates revving me up, the crew at Surfculture and the guys from Stretch Surfboards Australia. Some people pulled some strings and a pro pulled out of the comp and that’s how the spot fell into my lap. I am taking Albee Layer’s spot, so I guess I have some pretty big shoes to fill.
I was supposed to fly to WA yesterday and ended up cancelling my flight as the forecast looked pretty awful and for the slight chance of the wildcard, so guess it worked out.
Stoke factor on the call up?
I don’t even know if it was stoked, I kind of went mute for a bit. I honestly felt like I was going to throw up! I can’t tell you how many laps around my sitting room I’ve done – wish I put my Strava on.
How often have you been hitting the pool?
I was going lots in winter as the sessions have been pretty uncrowded. I did a surf trip in 2019 to Ireland and have had a 6mm wetty sitting around that I have revived for the pool, which makes the 10-degree water manageable. It’s such a good asset to combat the Bondi crowds.
How much has your dad been hitting the pool?
Ha. He’s a pig. He’s a full-on Homebush local. He goes about three times a week and only goes advanced rights. He’s hitting 67 and reckons he’s surfing better (and getting more tubed) than when he was 40. He reckons he has done over 100 sessions since it’s been open and knows every square inch of concrete in that basin. Retirement’s been good to him.
What kind of teacher are you?
I studied a Bachelor or Primary education specialising in English and Literacy but currently working in a moderate to high special needs only school on a high school class. So totally out of my depth but I absolutely love it and can’t see myself going back to mainstream.
Expectations for Stab High?
Have to throw back to local lad Grayson Hinrichs.
