Mitch Coleborn and his box of matches, WA

This is Mr Mitch Coleborn, in Western Australia, at Margaret River, with his minivan, and quiver of surfboards. Chilli models, most of them, but there’s also some Tokoros, and since Margies ain’t the kinda wave you ride a small board at, they’re all a shade bigger than his normal short boards. Surf photographer Ryan Miller, who shot this, accompanies the image with some wondering: “How fucking weird is it to lose in these comps by 0.33?” he  asks rhetorically. “I watched Coleborn’s heat today and he lost by that amount to Aritz Aranburu. It’s so strange to have all the build-up to these comps with getting boards, training, flying out, getting up early then to lose by 0.33, it must be the most strange fucking feeling.” Yes! Indeed! But, this is the life of a competitive surfer!