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Owen Wright, backside-gripping at Winkipop, VIC

Owen Wright’s contest surfing is so controlled that he rarely needs to change gears. He often retains the same amount of speed through finners and airs as he does through bottom turns and swerves. It’s a sturdy gawdamn approach and one that sees him into the business end of every WT event. But, when he ain’t in a contest jersey, he knows how to throw more caution into the breeze and fly big. Like in the image y’see above, shot by Ryan Miller at Winkipop. Now remember, Owen’s 6’3″ – the tallest man on tour – so, this air’s bigger than y’think. And, as stylish a backside grab as you’ll likely see. During the Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach, many were calling Owen the new Occy. A compliment, f’sure, but Owen brought the added element of frequently-loosened fins to the formula. Lethal, to say the least.


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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