Behind the scenes in Tavarua.

The latitude is deep south, two of the best lefts in the world are exclusively yours for the duration of your stay, and everything else? Everything else is like a fantasy camp for surf monkeys—and it’s all only an eight-hour flight from Los Angeles. Tavarua. Good, old Tavarua.

Tom Servais is an old hand when it comes to time spent on the Fijian island. He’s been on trips there with just about anybody who’s anybody, and a lot of people who are nobody’s, but just love to surf perfect waves. He probably couldn’t tell you how many times he’s been there with Kelly Slater. Actually, knowing Tom, he probably could, but that’s not the point. The point is that him and Kelly have been going there together for years.

This summer the two were back on the island again. Kelly’s better half, Kalani, was in tow, as was Pat O’Connell, Sal Masekela, Saxon Boucher, Bob Hurley, and a motley crew of friends with names like Dozer, Lego, and Vava.

“Is there anything special you want me to ask him?” Tom asked me before leaving on the trip. He’d agreed to gather a few photos for us, and said if he had the time he’d do an interview with Kelly.

Read the rest of the article on ESPN.