On Style

Bryce Young commands the high branches at Winkipop, providing a case study in line. A viewer might wonder if there’s artificial intelligence at play. Salient questions include: Where did that face spray come from? Why the Pickle Fork? How did he maintain velo when that top-turn decision should have placed him at stall speed? What breath put him here?

TSJ Photo Editor Grant Ellis broke it down for us. Says it’s a combination of speed mastery and reading Winki’s imperfect nature. Young is playing cash-money backgammon, turning the doubling cube to 64. Being the offspring of Nat, his genetics are fully capable of cashing in on such wagers. Coming out of an up turn faster than—or at least as fast as—he entered it? 

Directly into a high-line fang? He’s telling a story. The CliffsNotes: There’s no reason why an elite-level surfer on a shortboard can’t honor the gods by being explosive and easy on the eyes.

[Photo by Steve Ryan]