Watch Ryan Callinan's Road to Nowhere

I had the honor of putting Ryan Callinan on his first surf magazine cover. It was a corkscrew backhand air reverse with more torque than I’d ever seen before. I still don’t know how he made it, nor do I understand his control in these high speed turns in his new edit “2019” — a year that doesn’t look half bad anymore. I highly recommend this as therapy from the outside world. Time to surf more than ever.

And if you’re looking for a pony to follow this 2020 season (if it happens), Ryan is a rare one: He is a total joy to be around, not flashy, but totally endearing and genuine and kind. He has been through tragedy and battles through and surrounds himself with wonderful people. He is a feel-good story and every time I see him win or stomp a whip, my heart fills with joy. And yours should too.

Here’s that cover whip from SURFING Magazine in 2011, our first glimpse at Ryan’s crazy talent. He made this cleanly, the clip is in Kai Neville’s movie Lost Atlas.