Courtney Conlogue, Nude For ESPN’s Body Issue: The Gallery

The world’s switched on by our purest, most vulnerable form. ESPN knows this and have an uncanny ability to present the world’s most famous athletes without a hint of sexualisation. As they’ve featured the likes of our dearest surfers in past issues: Kelly Slater, Coco Ho, Steph Gilmore, they’ve opted for the world number one in the women’s category this time around. There are some words from Courtney below but we figure you’re already looking at the pictures.

“I like that I’ve made my body for a purpose. For me, there was a long time when I was a little self-conscious because I was an athlete. I was in track and field at the time and I was super bulky and built up — just thinking to myself that I don’t look like your basic model. I had huge thighs because I was weight training and doing all of these dead lifts with resistance and squats. I didn’t look like what I thought you needed to look like for surfing.”

“Shooting Courtney in Tahiti for the 2016 ESPN Body Issue was about as amazing as it could get,” says lensman Steven Lippman. “The beautiful landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and powerful surf were a perfect setting to make this shoot top notch. Courtney was a true rockstar on this shoot; her attitude and openness to the concepts is what really made it a success.”

“With any type of shoot, there are always going to be challenges to overcome,” continues Mr Lippman. “We experienced a few those with rain, bad winds, and a lack of surf. However, the entire crew rallied together to overcome all obstacles that were presented. It’s crucial to travel and work with people who have positive attitudes. That can really make or break a shoot, and I feel like everyones positivity really made this a success.”