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“Jared Mel is one of those surfers that can make any wave look beautiful. His form is flawless. Longboards, or alternative shapes, he’s an intuitive surfer. It’s like the wave is the choreographer and he’s the dancer. If you don’t believe me, put on your favorite song and watch him surf. I think he’s one of the best surfers on the planet. I don’t want to sound weird, but I think waves really like him.”
Italian by birth, Balinese in spirit, water photography specialist Federico Vanno is never in the wrong place in Indonesia. And he’s having a hell of a year. Thanks to the non-stop swells that have been hammering Bali and the Mentawai during the pandemic. With pinpoint local knowledge, technical mastery and an artist’s eye, Federico is the go-to photographer for locals and visiting surf stars alike. The following is a collection of his favorite moments of this season and his insights about them.
Editor’s Note: Photo captions as told to Matt George.