Creed McTaggart, summer rubber slob, CA

Creed McTaggart, lover of coffee and cigarettes, is currently in California, US-and-A doing what he does best. Surfing. A lot. On the day this photo was taken, he had spent three hours shooting at Lowers with photog Quinn Matthews. But with an 80-strong lineup, near-maxing swell, sweeping current and 15-wave sets, the trio sought greener pastures elsewhere. Joined by Pete Taras, the gents headed north in the afternoon and discovered an empty, cliff-bordered right with a killer end section for Creed to light up, which he did (well). According to Quinn, Creed stomped this well-gripped and boned-out slob shortly before the tide inflated too high and the wave disappeared again. Be prepared to see a lot more of Creed in the future. His surfing speaks for itself, and his Bowie-esque appeal ain’t going unnoticed. Check out Stab Issue 66, on sale now (right here), for insights into Creed’s view on life, love, nicotine, cashola and, of course, surfing. – Rupert Partridge