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Jordy Smith and Julian Wilson, grated guts, Reunion Island

Since Stab‘s been in Reunion Island, Jordy Smith and Julian Wilson have been nursing some gut rash after extended hours in the brine. It’s the kinda thing you assume comes with the territory on a surf trip and don’t think too much of. But turns out, whether its the consistent nature of the spots or something in the water, Reunion has a knack for lighting up stomachs. The nature of this trip, in which both Surfing and Red Bull also have a hand, is to capture Jordy and Jules turning it on at the righthander from Modern Collective and pushing innovation levels. Which is hard when you’re in pain.  

“I’m not sure what it is over here,” says Miller. “But after a few days in the water, the boys are looking like ground beef. I guess your body can only take so many multiple-hour sessions per day for days on end. Julian has taken to wearing a short sleeve fullsuit in the tropics to still be able to surf. Jordy just grinds it out and comes in bloody after every session.”

While Jules sweats, Jordy burns. You can call that commitment.

Photographer profile

Ryan Miller

Ryan Miller, 33 years old, does not know how to write a bad email. Your pals at Stab have learnt to live vicariously through Miller’s red wine-fuelled letters from the road. His travels take him to some dreamy locales and, in those places, he scores all-time photos: “My favourite photo I’ve shot was of Benny Bourgeois in the Caribbean, with a fisheye. Often I just take photos, but rarely do I get to make one.” In an age of tail-highs and released fins, Ryan still most likes to shoot someone who can lay-down a big backside turn. Namely: Jordy Smith, Dane Reynolds, Gabe Kling, Kekoa Bacalso, Damien Hobgood and Peter Mendia. Like most photogs, Miller misses Scott Aichner’s work. But, as far as contemporary inspiration? “Trying to see things through my daughter’s eyes. It’s wild to think about someone experiencing something totally new on almost a daily basis when, as adults, we rarely get to experience something truly new.”

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