It’s Alive!
A Place In The Sun
We welcome you to A Place In The Sun, Stab’s contest to find a perfect pair of surfing’s everlasting commodity, trunks!
We’ve set a hook in the best designers of fundamental surf wear and asked them to construct their ultimate boardshort, free from trend or any commercial imperative.
Here’s who threw their keys in this year’s punch bowl: Billabong, Highline, Hurley, In Minds Eye, O’Neill, Stacey, RVCA and The Critical Slide Society.
We’ve had the above nine brands stitch us up a unique pair and a clip to introduce them. You can vote for each brand below on our interactive page. Trunks will be judged upon three divisions: Designer vote (our selected, influential designer chooses their fave boardies), the director’s vote (our influential auteur choose their fave clip), and a performance vote (our influential surfer/fashion guru chooses their fave). We break it down into quarters and by the end of the three weeks a winner will be crowned.
Voting is now open and closes August 31st.
Let’s celebrate life’s greatest pleasure, surfing in boardshorts!
Above: They’re heavy, constructed from canvas, have a built in key latch. They’re not designed for the ocean, but can cross over; regardless, they’re a navy blue handcrafted piece of art. This short was directed by John Paul Olson with the creative direction of Andrew Atkinson, narrated by Craig Stecyck III, who succinctly puts, “Digital manipulation… No, the only digits that matter are the ones on your fingers and toes, all the rest of that stuff is masturbation.”
The Judges
Meet the Panel
Stab stamp of approval
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@farmtactics
Design: Kyle Ng
Kyle Ng from Braindead is our resident design critic for Place in the Sun 2017. The Braindead collective does contemporary anti-establishment better than anyone else right now.
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@luke.stedman
Performance: Luke Stedman
In his nine years on tour, he was a beacon of style and overachieving flamboyance. Over Athlete judge for A Place In The Sun 2017.. The handsome always smiling Sted’s own label is aptly named, In Sted We Smile, but now rolls by IWS.
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@jakesterb
Film: Jake Burghart
Jake Burghart is VICE’s Directory of Photography. He’s been to North Korea twice, The White House with Barry O, and has been with the news outlet for the past 13 years.
The Contenders
Make your choice. 8 Brands, 8 Trunks, 1 Winner
@blackanchorsociety / @Hurley
Hurley “Gunwale”
By: Andrew Atkinson
Hurley, the pinnacle of high-performance have presented a boardshort that’s more poolside mojitos than full-rotations as narrated by Craig Stecyck III
@allkinebueno / @stacey_mfg
Stacey “Ride To Death Valley”
By: GBO Tennberg
Guns, cigs, booze and death. Cut ‘em 18”, add a draw string, velcro fly and skid out straight into the grave screaming, “Wow, what a ride!”
@highlinesurfco / @Anonymous
Highline “The Black Short”
By: Highline
Black says, “I don’t bother you, you don’t bother me.” Let’s get understated with stretch, a B&W colour palate, draw strings, a velcro fly and a casual 18” cut – go ahead, fly incognito.
@ridgewoodmfg / @oneillusa
O’Neill “1st Brigade”
By: Sean Barnhart / Rachael Hill
These are O’Neill’s “Charlie Does Surf” trunks. Military green, patched with the stars and stripes peace sign.
@lank79 / @billabongusa
Billabong “Good Day Mr Sunshine”
By: Brad Lancaster
We’re burning up inside. It’s hot, the water’s warm and the four eye’d sun is searing through our waistbands. Bong presents the only button waist and velcro fly of the bunch.
@jamiestenning_ / @rvcasurf
RVCA “Alex Knost”
By: Jamie Stenning
A throwback, these are the shortest of the batch, a saucy 15” cut. For skinny legs only. 100 percent Polymide, all black with a draw string velcro combo
@inmindseye / @inmindseye
In Minds Eye “Mosh Pit Trunks”
By: Jock Dredge
Trunks fit with front pockets, a denim back flap, draw strings, a button fly and cut at 18”. It’s a post surf depression. Come get high with us!
@matt__waters / @TCSS
TCSS “Couch Surfer”
By: Matt Waters
Trunks are best suited in the ocean? No, they’re even better mindlessly changing the channel and wondering where your next drink is. TCSS’s trunks have dual pockets, front and back, drawstrings and button fly and television remote is included!
