Back in February, Balaram Stack, Luke Davis, Jake Kelley, Oliver Kurtz, Nicola Lugo and Layne Stratton saw a swell with all-time potential festering off the coast of Caribbean Panama. They booked tickets with the hope of scoring Panama’s beachies and even Silverbacks – the mystic right slab. The crew arrived on the island of Bocas Del Toro after a half-dozen exchanges between planes, boats and taxis. It became quickly apparent that this swell might be too big for the beachbreaks because Kurtz snapped both his shortboards early in the trip. So out came the step-ups, which allowed for some slab scouting. “This swell was different from a lot of past trips, the beachbreak was way too big the entire time, but we got to see a bunch of reefs light up that normally don’t break. It felt like a mini Indo because the swell direction was so perfect,” says filmer Stratton. Luke Davis brought a quiver of smaller boards – 5’5’s and 5’7’s – and focused his talent on the punchy beachbreaks. Kelley and Stack feasted on a slabby left that is seldom surfed, where they both locked into multiple gems. What was supposed to be a five-day strike turned into a ten-day score because of the firing surf. Even though the crew didn’t score Silverbacks, most of them extended their tickets, which made for an amazing opening edit for Surfer’s new series “Wish You Were Here.” Enjoy! More SURFER content The 10 Best Surf Cities in the World A Garbage Patch in the Ocean Is Growing Faster Than Expected Words of Wisdom from Iconic Surfer Joel Tudor
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
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Back in February, Balaram Stack, Luke Davis, Jake Kelley, Oliver Kurtz, Nicola Lugo and Layne Stratton saw a swell with all-time potential festering off the coast of Caribbean Panama. They booked tickets with the hope of scoring Panama’s beachies and even Silverbacks – the mystic right slab.
The crew arrived on the island of Bocas Del Toro after a half-dozen exchanges between planes, boats and taxis. It became quickly apparent that this swell might be too big for the beachbreaks because Kurtz snapped both his shortboards early in the trip. So out came the step-ups, which allowed for some slab scouting.
“This swell was different from a lot of past trips, the beachbreak was way too big the entire time, but we got to see a bunch of reefs light up that normally don’t break. It felt like a mini Indo because the swell direction was so perfect,” says filmer Stratton.
Luke Davis brought a quiver of smaller boards – 5’5’s and 5’7’s – and focused his talent on the punchy beachbreaks. Kelley and Stack feasted on a slabby left that is seldom surfed, where they both locked into multiple gems.
What was supposed to be a five-day strike turned into a ten-day score because of the firing surf. Even though the crew didn’t score Silverbacks, most of them extended their tickets, which made for an amazing opening edit for Surfer’s new series “Wish You Were Here.” Enjoy!
More SURFER content
The 10 Best Surf Cities in the World
A Garbage Patch in the Ocean Is Growing Faster Than Expected
Words of Wisdom from Iconic Surfer Joel Tudor
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
More News
Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall
Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait
10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round
The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program
Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition
Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
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The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
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Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait
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Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition
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The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program
Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition
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Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
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