From Surf/Skate, by Steve Miller, copyright © 2019, published by Glitterati Editions, www.glitteratieditions.com. — From *Surf/Skate*, by Steve Miller, copyright © 2019, published by Glitterati Editions, www.glitteratieditions.com.

For many teens, the relationship between surfing and skating is a yin and yang exchange. Despite the differences in terrain, equipment, and bruise rate, the motion is the same⁠—the feeling is the same. Frequently, so are the brands. Logos from the likes of Quiksilver, Volcom, and Billabong are etched into every surfer and skater’s DNA and often, their boards. Despite the predominance of these global brands, boutique workshops continue to make their mark on the ever-shifting proving terrain of a sporting world where aesthetic is weighted equally with performance. Veteran boardmaster Steve Miller has cornered his own menagerie of boards both on land and in the water.

In his new book Surf/Skate: Art and Board Life, Miller surveys the creative output that landed his studio on the map and the creative process behind it. Inspired by an x-rayed pair of stilettos from the 90s, x-rayed animals provide the theme that unites much of Miller’s work. Most striking are the tall, imposing longboards graced by alligator skeletons nearly as long as the boards themselves. Turtles, snakes, piranhas, and iguanas also regularly guest star on Miller’s boards. For the less skeletally inclined, other designs include vibrant golden pineapples and shadowy palm trees. Taking to the streets and the waves, you feel the primal energy of the flora and fauna pushing you on, reminding you with whom you share the environment.

Naturally, where there’s smoke, there’s fire and where there are boards, there’s apparel to match. Miller goes beyond the pedestrian staples of t-shirts and snapbacks, expanding his range to include alligator pashminas, leggings, and scarves. Forward-thinking design requires forward-leaning mediums. More traditional surf and skate apparel enthusiasts need not fear, though. There are plenty of spiffy hoodies, shirts, and beanies to match your board. If you’re into that kind of thing, that is.

What makes Surf/Skate special is not only is it a collection of stunning images, but also that the images chronicle a beautiful journey. From the conception of an X-ray, to its assimilation into a board, to its eventual life on the sea or the streets, each leg of the journey is a rich experience to be admired and appreciated. You’re not sure if the star of the book is meant to be the stunning creations from Miller’s studio or the photographs taken of them being put to work. Regardless of where your eye wanders, it’s sure to embark on a remarkable journey.

As you trace the photographic voyage of these boards, you can’t help but gain a greater appreciation for the culture they represent. Skating and surfing are hobbies typically associated with laid-back, casual attitudes about life. While zen may be the goal mindset of many in the board community, the quest to achieve it is anything but. Surfers face early mornings, frigid waters, and every hazard of marine living. Skater perils tend to begin and end with bruises and broken bones. Hey, if you’re going to wipe out, you may as well do it in style.

Miller’s boards are so artful it seems almost a crime to put such pieces in action. However, looking at scuffed skate decks engender’s a sort of reverence for the intersection of the beauty of nature, craftsmanship, and athleticism required for these beat-up boards to exist. The transformation of the sacred by the profane is, in the end, what makes the sacred so special to begin with. Skeletons are often associated with death, and yet, there can be no life without them. In much the same way, what makes Miller’s work so special is his keen awareness of the circle of life. Break your board on a rock? Another will surely take its place.