Julian Wilson, frontside hurl in Reunion Island

After being battered with the kinda swell that renders all but a few secluded corners unsurfable, the Red Bull x Stab x Surfing team in Reunion Island (starring Julian Wilson, pictured, and Jordy Smith), was treated to a slight drop in swell and favourable wind. “The waves actually started to look like something a mere mortal would want to ride,” says photog Ryan Miller, who’s documenting the whole thing. And as y’could imagine, the presence of two of surfing’s greatest was quite an attraction for the younger local populous. Especially after the run of bad luck the area’s had. “We went from surfing alone to surfing with twenty groms,” continues Ryan. “It was pretty fun cause the groms were that fired-up to surf with the big boys. This place has been hospitality-central. Everyone’s pumped that we’re here. Reunion had a bad run with surfers being attacked by sharks and surf tourism has fallen almost completely off. But having some big names come to town got the local surfing community fired-up after being so down on the shark attack situation.” Reckon the groms were thrilled to see Julian throwing heat like this frontside number? That’s how to spread the love.