Скачать или смотреть A Surf Photo Featuring Adrian Buchan at Teahupoo Wins 2019 Red Bull Illume

Ben Thouard's mind-bending underwater image of athlete Adrian "Ace" Buchan surfing in Teahupoo, Tahiti was chosen as the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2019 overall winner at the stunning LUMEN Museum atop Plan de Corones in Italy.

The world's greatest action and adventure sports imagery contest saw the top 60 finalist images from the record-breaking 59,551 images submitted unveiled by host Zoran Filicic at the breathtaking LUMEN Museum perched 2,275m (7.464ft) high up in the South Tyrol.

Thouard's incredible image received an outstanding number of votes by the judges at the fifth edition, which consisted of 50 photo editors and digital experts.

Frenchman Thouard revealed: "I've dedicated the last few years to shooting underwater, looking for new angles and a new way to shoot surfing and waves. Tahiti has some of the clearest water in the world. This photo was shot during a freesurf session right before the WCT event in Teahupoo. This is Ace Buchan kicking out from the barrel through the wave, a technique to escape a close-out wave. Luckily I was right below, breathless with my waterhousing waiting for this moment."