Yadin Nicol above the spectre, WA

Things are really heating up in the West of Australia. Trials today and main event waiting period tomorrow, with possible heats at The Box? Yes, please. Yadin Nicol, pictured here, is in the trials. He’s from West Oz, grew up there, and while he now lives on a different west coast (California) with his fam, Yades is still heart and soul WA.

This angle, shot by Ryan Miller, affords us the perspective of WA’s raw coastline. This place is nature. And nature can be dangerous.

“Had a little sniff yesterday and was thinking the waves were cleaning up a bit but ended up not being that good,” says Ryan. “I jumped in the water for a swim and was having a pleasant time til Yadin saw a big dark school bus pass by underwater and cleared the whole lineup. First shark encounter down and everyone made it out with all their limbs. Good start.”

But, there’s always light on the horizon. “Looks onshore into the rights for today and a bit more swell. I’m getting excited!”