Pat Gudauskas and Gabe Kling, Galeão International Airport, Rio De Janeiro

The whole competitive field of both the men and women’s surfing WT’s strode through Galeão International Airport, Rio De Janeiro, at the exact same time. Everyone had just landed and everyone looked hurried. After a failed attempt at taking a break from photography during a trip home, Ryan Miller had decided to head to Brazil to “browse through all the fine implants, eat acai and do a bit of photography on the side.” While he watched male and female pro’s jump into taxis, too scared to drive themselves, Miller, along with Gabe Kling and Pat Gudauskas, rented a “silver hot rod” (pictured here) with 185000km on it. With three boardbags and three grown men, the Chevy struggled outta the airport but eventually made it to their hotel. “We nailed it in the end,” says Miller. “When everyone else was eating dinner at the same hotel restaurant and slapping fives, we were on the road and out on the town.”

The unspoken fear of the world’s best surfers was understandable. As they hurried to their hotels, they undoubtedly tried to shake off the story of Michel Bourez rolling out of a speeding car, dodging bullets while bound and gagged after being kidnapped, or the image of Roy Powers with a firearm pointed firmly at his temple, money being demanded and Jordy Smith’s pops coughing up to save Jords’ O’Neill stablemate. Both of which, happened during previous trips to Brazil.

But there’s nastiness everywhere. And as we said the other day, the favela ain’t all Brazil’s got – the scenery and weather is next-level beautiful, as are the women and the on-beach party vibe. The event kicks off tomorrow and y’can check out the live webcast here.