Swell of the Year

Miami shows off, Barrels on Tap. by Nathaniel Harrington

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This was my first time shooting/swimming around at South Beach, Miami. I had kinda made it a rule of mine that I wasn’t going to go down there and get involved in all the hype… but Matthew Glenn took me down there on Wednesday to see if we could score a good surf session… As we peaked over the dunes entering the beach we knew what we were seeing was pure gold. A couple a-frames peaked up and riffled off sending matt and I into a full sprint back to the car to get geared up. Miami was firing.

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OUR | OWN Lifestyle - An East Coast Surfing and Fishing Publication

OUR | OWN Lifestyle - An East Coast Surfing and Fishing Publication

Matt Glenn looking to make the drop and dodge the crowd.

Matt Glenn looking to make the drop and dodge the crowd.

I always enjoy bumping into this guy in the line-up. Dustin Richardson got the shot of me with his GoPro this round :)

I always enjoy bumping into this guy in the line-up. Dustin Richardson got the shot of me with his GoPro this round :)

Perfection in the South.

Perfection in the South.

A lot of the sequences I photographed look so similar that I have had to go back and forth in the album making sure I’m not using the same sequences over and over. I’m not, it was a machine on repeat all day.

I feel like if Miami could look like this just once a month it would turn the Miami South Beach culture into a major Surf Culture. World class waves at a million peoples finger tips.

I feel like if Miami could look like this just once a month it would turn the Miami South Beach culture into a major Surf Culture. World class waves at a million peoples finger tips.

Glassy and Green. Matt on a tear.

Glassy and Green. Matt on a tear.

You can see the water falling in the top left of the above which is from a surfer who just about paddled into both matt and I. We hollered him off but the sequence was wrecked a frame later by too much water in falling out of place. It happens.

Try try try till you die and you’ll score some perfection. Matt in a golden gift.

Try try try till you die and you’ll score some perfection. Matt in a golden gift.

Miami, South Beach, Jan 22nd 2020.

Miami, South Beach, Jan 22nd 2020.

detailed slide by.

detailed slide by.

My keyboard need the drooling Emoji.

My keyboard need the drooling Emoji.

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Miami

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South Beach

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Enjoy the Views.

Unknown surfer pigdog view yew.

Unknown surfer pigdog view yew.

Nuking.

Nuking.

Nuked.

Nuked.

The backwash wave of the day? Excuse my water spot there was a lot of sand messing me up at that moment. Matt Glenn holding his line in the dragons flair.

The backwash wave of the day? Excuse my water spot there was a lot of sand messing me up at that moment. Matt Glenn holding his line in the dragons flair.

Loving how Dustin looks at the waves he’s surfing. I feel like he has a really good awareness in the water and in those kinda moments.

Loving how Dustin looks at the waves he’s surfing. I feel like he has a really good awareness in the water and in those kinda moments.

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It had some size. An unknown surfer giving me some scale for the wave.

It had some size. An unknown surfer giving me some scale for the wave.

Imagine backdooring that peak. You’re welcome.

Imagine backdooring that peak. You’re welcome.

Carnage

Carnage

Insert yurself here

Insert yurself here

its all good, baby baby.

Unknown in an absolute GEM. South Beach gifting rides of the year to just about everyone

Unknown in an absolute GEM. South Beach gifting rides of the year to just about everyone

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Running from surf like its a big wave day.

Running from surf like its a big wave day.

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After a few hours of swimming I was cold and exhausted. Time to get a few from the shore I thought, so I joined the stadium standing and cheering as surfers got barreled up and down the beach. That crowd towards the end of the day was awesome to see. The stoke was real.

Unknown surfer probably got off work and rushed to the beach for a session, join the hype and live the moment, get views of a lifetime.

Unknown surfer probably got off work and rushed to the beach for a session, join the hype and live the moment, get views of a lifetime.

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Had to get Matt one from shore for some scale. Seriously like 40 people were cheering as matt pumped a couple sections of this wave. It was so neat to be out there and a part of the vibes. Excellent form, Florida.

Had to get Matt one from shore for some scale. Seriously like 40 people were cheering as matt pumped a couple sections of this wave. It was so neat to be out there and a part of the vibes. Excellent form, Florida.

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PS. Robbie your busted dude, the Surfline banner shot is sick but this happened a half-second later. Oh well, visit BDA for all your barrel dodging needs.

PS. Robbie your busted dude, the Surfline banner shot is sick but this happened a half-second later. Oh well, visit BDA for all your barrel dodging needs.

Thank you all for taking the time to check out my blog.

if you are interested in any shots please use the comments or Contact/Info page on this site to contact me. I’d love to see some prints come out of this day.

Hopefully we can all go surf some good to epic again real soon! See you out there.

-Nathaniel Harrington

@natehphoto

@_OUROWN_

the Surfline Story covering this swell can be found here.

https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/south-beach-mesmerizes-the-masses/76042

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