The Most Stylish Of The Vans Duct Tape Festival

Everyone’s a winner!

By: Morgan Williamson and Photography by Isaac Zoller

Here’s a glimpse of how surf parties should be. There are a lot of solid brands out there who can throw a good get-down, but the evening/night/early morning at the Vans Duct Tape Festival shindig in Ericeira eats the whole damn pie. Or at the very least, is a refreshing take on the fun that happens when everyone shelves their egos, has a few drinks and enjoys the moment to its fullest.

Surf parties thrown by major companies in recent years have become an awkward cool kids club, featuring good music and venues with far too many people sulking in corners looking melancholy and producing judgment typically reserved for political and religious conversations. Tonight consisted of none of that, thankfully.

Just ask Harry Bryant, who, while flipping his last eight drink tokens (Vans bought out a portion of the bar, gifting out many cute black tokens embedded with their timeless logo) to the bartender around 1am at Lapoint Surf Hotel, said, “This party’s so good. I hate when you go to parties and people aren’t having a good time. It’s like, just have a fucking good time.”

The ringmaster, Joel Tudor.

HAZy Bryant.

Duct Tape runner up, Miss Karina Rozunko.

Lola Mignot in fine form.

Not another 70s porn star, Andy Nieblas.

The days in Portugal are long, the sun rises at six and twilight drones out around 930.

Here's how the day and night went down in three simple steps:

First, finals day at the Duct Tape occurred; Kaniela Stewart and Chloe Calmon won. Second, a barbeque starring a pig on a spit, fish on an, umm... barbie..., and enough food served on toothpicks to keep any hors d'oeuvre monger at bay fed sun-kissed appetites. Third, a Dj named Bonatella Versace played poolside between other DJs – Shit Disco and skate legend John Cardiel – all of whom assisted the party with audible entertainment. Miss Bonatella packed a dance floor twice and played what seemed to be a literal perfect party mix – from Eurythmics to Donna Summer, Rick Ross to LCD Soundsystem to a bass-laden version of "one, two, cha cha cha".

The night befell in honor of a longboard festival put on by Joel Tudor and Vans. The happenings from the festival/contest itself will surface in a day. Originally this story was meant to be a photo gallery of portraits featuring the best dressed and most stylish individuals of the Duct Tape, but it felt unfair to make 10 to 12 selects, because after a party this good, everyone’s a winner!

Continue scrolling south for some portraits and tap the right arrow north for a collection of great dances moves.