Maui has a habit of hiding its hottest surf talents in a well-built bubble. It’s got heaps of quality waves and plenty of good surfers to push your abilities—but they live in Oahu’s shadow. Only the best are able to stab the bubble with their favorite thruster and escape into the limelight and onto the world stage. Dusty Payne is one of the best.

He’s so hot right now (we’re comfortable saying that in 2010, knowing that someone will read it in 2014 and it will still ring true…maybe truer). He is known as one of the worlds most consistent free surfers, stomping airs and rushing big tubes so well that he makes almost daily deposits to the image bank. 

Examples of said deposits? It would be a pleasure to detail:

-Won the Kustom Air Strike for the best air of 2009. He pocketed $50,000 for one full rotation front side air reverse. Buttery smooth.

-Starred in Modern Collective, Kai Neville’s game changing surf film that featured the six most progressive surfers in the world.

-Nabbed the cover of Surfing Magazine

-Qualified for the World Tour, then stayed on past the mid year cut-off

On land you’ll find Dusty on the golf course working on his short game. Probably good that he works on his short game on the links, cause in the water he does nothing but go big.

Enjoy Dusty through binoculars, ‘cause he’s flying high.