SEAN TINER

(Event Venue (C) Tiner ) The 2008 ASP Boost Mobile Pro is creating waves this week at Trestles, CA. The contest features the top 44 surfers in the world, including Kelly Slater , Mick Fanning and Taj Burrow.

(Ben Dunn, Photograph (C) Tiner). (Taylor Knox, photograph sequence (C) Tiner).

(Bebe Durbidge (C) Tiner ) In 2006, after Durbidge upset Slater in the men's ASP Trestles final, I created this stylized portrait of him with images that I captured at the event. This was the first stylized portrait that I created. I wanted the composition to reflect Durbidge's athleticism and vibrant personality. At 6'1," Durbidge is one of the tallest pro surfers on the tour and is an inspiration to me as I take my 6'5" body out on a quiver . While Durbidge was in his home country of Australia, I was able to show him the portrait via Myspace.

(Patacchia rippin' Rocky Point Beach, Oahu (C) Tiner) I'm excited to see Fred Patacchia competing again on the ASP tour. After suffering an injury, he was sidelined for the year's first competition. Fred quickly rebounded and competed at The Rip Curl Pro in Bells Beach, Australia finishing 17th. I look forward to watching Fred compete the rest of the season. (Freddy P. (C) Tiner.) (I placed the image on a skimboard for Fred, which is displayed adjacent to another one of my works at his house.)

(Tom Carroll & Sean Tiner, @ Ocean Beach, Northern California) As one of my good friends recently departed for a surf trip with Tom Carroll, I thought it would be a fun time to reminisce upon the two-time world champion's impact on the sport. From being the first million-dollar endorsed surfer to refusing to participate in South African surfing competitions during the apartheid era, Carroll has monumentally raised the benchmark for contemporary surfers. (Tom Carroll (C) Tiner) Carroll's love for the sport transcends his popularity and he genuinely connects with everyday fans. When Carroll and I were on a surf trip in Northern California, he shared his sincere passion with fans of all ages. I really enjoyed watching his inner-child appear has he connected with every day fans. (Carroll w/the next generation (C) Tiner) (Carroll (center) & fans (C) Tiner) Additionally, Carroll has been a major role model in my life. Only one day after his sister passed away, he won the...

(SL8R @ Trestles (C) Tiner, signed by Kelly Slater & Sean Tiner) Congrats to Kelly Slater for winning the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria, Australia. This is the year's second ASP world tour event and coincidently Kelly's second consecutive victory. If Slater continues this blistering pace, he will be on track to win his 9th world tour title. (The Life of Kelly Slater (center with Quiksilver hat) (C) Tiner) (Abstract SL8R Sequence @ Trestles (C) Tiner) (Kelly & Sean with Sean's artwork signed by the Quiksilver Team)

Congratulations to Kelly Slater for winning the Quiksilver Gold Coast Pro this past Tuesday in Coolangatta, Australia. Slater, an eight-time world surfing champion, has reclaimed his #1 world ranking with his finals victory over Mick Fanning. (Kelly Slater @ Trestles) From Reef McIntosh catching the ride of his lifetime at Pipeline last season to Kelly Slater ripping up Trestles this past Fall, last year provided fun opportunities for me to capture passionate action moments. I look forward to sharing more work throughout 2008, as this year continues to take me in new directions. (Kelly Slater & Sean Tiner) (Reef @ Pipeline) (Reef @ the Quiksilver House) (Reef Mcintosh & Sean Tiner)