Kolohe Andino, Tail-high at New Pier, South Africa

“Everywhere was 100 foot and I was hearing stories of guys not making the paddle out,” says photog Ryan Miller from South Africa. “New Pier was the only place manageable and it was perfect.” Ryan’s currently cruising around Durban for the Mr Price Pro, Ballito – a prime event that kicks off today. The swell has really begun to stomp through and there’s been plenty of reports about how under-gunned many competitors are. During a session at New Pier, the quality of squadron in the water coaxed Ryan into thinking he’d hit the jackpot, but the situation didn’t really prove fruitful: “From the parking lot it looked amazing. Long, open-faced rights running the length of the two piers. But in execution, it wasn’t so amazing. With an all-star crew in the water of Dusty Payne, Granger Larsen, Kolohe Andino (pictured here), Matty Wilko, the Hobgoods, Brett Simpson, the Gudauskas brothers, Jack Freestone and Yadin Nicol, I thought I was going to clean up. But it was quite the opposite. Everyone struggled finding their footing in the waves. Most guys described it as a fat closeout today, not your optimal conditions. This sequence of Kolohe’s one of the only completed manoeuvres of the day.” Luckily, the bitterness of a tough session was short-lived, for Ryan: “Durban has been exceptional to me. I’m staying at Jordy’s brand new palace just outside of town. Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a pool make this place fit for a king. I’ve been eating $5 eggs benedict for breakfast and $12 fillet mignon at the finest restaurants everyday, and also putting down a bottle of red every night.”