STEPH CAN’T HIDE HER SMILE AS SHE STYLES THROUGH WHAT IS POSSIBLY THE BARREL OF HER LIFE. WAIT A MINUTE... SHE CAN NEVER HIDE HER SMILE!

The opportunities to embrace surfing’s inherent diversity are rare. Most of the time we are content to stick to the cliques which exist within our subculture – shortboarders, longboarders, girl surfer, professional etc. Sometimes we even expend a lot of energy lamenting the presence of, or arguing with, a member of another branch of wave-riders. But then there are those rare moments when you can identify the synergy which exists between all surfers irrespective of craft, creed or sex. Open your mind a little and you realise there are multiple avenues from which to seek inspiration for your own surfing. On a recent trip to Ponapei Island in Micronesia Mick Fanning and Steph Gilmore were joined by former longboarding world champion Beau Young and his mate Taylor Jensen. While on board we got them to interview one another on a range of topics. What you’re about to see and read about are the highlights and major insights drawn from four of the best and most diverse days of surfing I’ve ever seen.

DRAWING DIFFERENT LINES

MICK DRIVES HIS BOARD THROUGH THE P-PASS BOWL.

It was really cool watching Beau and Taylor surf. Everyone draws such different lines. Then jumping on the longboards one morning, even though it was really small, I got so much appreciation for what those guys do on those boards and how they even control the big bastards.

TWISTING STEPH’S ARM

Yeah Steph went nuts. I’ve seen Steph growing up and all that stuff but I’ve never been solely on a trip with her. I was really stoked she came. She was ripping. It was pretty funny. On New Year’s Eve we were both pretty drunk and I was like, ‘you should come to Ponapei’ and she was like, “Oh yeah, yeah how big is it going to be?” And I was like, ‘No you’ll be fine don’t worry.’ And then I sort of didn’t hear from her for a couple of days.

MICK PUSHES THE LIMITS AND COMES OUT ON TOP AFTER AN ARMWRESTLE WITH THE FOAMBALL.