Photo: Swatch
The meteoric rise of Hughie Vaughan is well underway. The latest step in the young Australian’s surfing journey is being picked up by Swatch to be the newest member of its pro team.
Though Vaughan is just 19, he’s already been in the game for a while. He grew up in North Shelly, on the New South Wales Central Coast, where he first picked up a board at just two years old. He earned his first WSL Pro Junior victory in 2024, and followed it up with another the following year.
Hughie’s big moment, though, was at the 2025 Swatch Nines Surf event. There, he landed the first-ever Stalefish Backflip, a move that grabbed the attention of not only the entire surfing world, but also outsiders and even the Birdman himself, Tony Hawk. Soon after, many rushed to deem the maneuver “best air ever.”
Unsurprisingly, the whole thing got Swatch’s attention, and now the company followed through by adding Vaughan to its sponsorship roster.
Photo: Swatch
“Hughie embodies raw talent, relentless drive, and a fearless competitive spirit,” read an announcement from Swatch. “Hughie’s combination of skill, ambition, and passion makes him a perfect fit for the Swatch Pro Team, and we are looking forward to helping him make waves in the industry.”
