Cory Lopez, The Box, WA

“This guy flew all the way to WA then lost first heat in the comp,” says photog Ryan Miller of Cory Lopez, pictured here. “You’d think that would be a huge bummer, but it was quite the god-send for Cory. He surfed an air bowl left the other day with only five guys out for just under seven hours straight. That was one of the longest sessions I’ve ever seen, and I was nearly shrivelled up and dead on the beach just shooting.”

Y’can call that recompense. But, it gets better for Cory! “Then it was his birthday today and, with no contest obligations and The Box going loony, he was straight out there,” continues Miller. “He put in five hours today at The Box (pictured) and ended up nabbing the wave of the day (not this photo). What a hell of a birthday present for a hell cat that wants nothing more than to stuff himself in the biggest tube he can find.”