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CONTENTS I S S U E 111 — O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0

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SPOTLIGHT MEET HOT AUSSIE ARIARNE LEPIN, PLUS SOPHIE STALLONE CHECKS IN ADVENTURE WE TAKE ON WIDE OPEN BAJA IN A 200 HP RACE-PREPPED BUGGY

MACHINES BUGATTI'S EB110, ASTON MARTIN'S SUV AND TRIUMPH’S ROCKET 3 R

COVID-19 DR. ANTHONY FAUCI FIGHTS THE GOOD FIGHT BAR EXPERIMENTAL CASK FINISHES GO MAINSTREAM ACTION MOJO RAWLEY, PRO WRESTLING’S NEXT BIG THING COVER GIRL CHRISTINE QUINN, STAR OF SELLING SUNSET, REVEALS ALL SURVIVAL ONE MAN'S TRUE STORY OF OVERCOMING ADVERSITY IN THE OUTBACK GROOMING WELL-GROOMED LIFE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO, PLUS AUSSIE SNOWBOARDER SCOTTY JAMES' NEW EYEWEAR STYLE HOW BREMONT WATCHES ARE CREATING A LEGACY IN REAL TIME

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FITNESS POWER-UP YOUR BACK MUSCLES AND POSTERIOR CHAIN SPORT WE CHAT WITH TOP GOLFER RORY M c ILROY TRAVEL GRENADA REMAINS THE CHOSEN DESTINATION FOR CARIBBEAN COGNOSCENTI AUTO FOCUS PININFARINA AND THE NEW GENERATION OF OVER-THE-TOP SUPERCARS THE DATING GAME THE ART OF PICKING UP LEADING MAN FAST & FURIOUS STAR TYRESE GIBSON

MAXIM CALENDAR SUPER-FIT INFLUENCER CLAUDIA JOVANOVSKI 24 HOURS TO LIVE SHANNON ELIZABETH, THE ICONIC HOTTIE FROM THE AMERICAN PIE FILMS, ON HER FINAL DAY ON EARTH

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COVER CHRISTINE QUINN P H OTO G R A P H E D BY CHRIS MARTIN

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SPOTLIGHT

Introducing

ARIARNE L

Meet the exquisite 20-year-old Australian model and social media influencer on the riseâ&#x20AC;¦ P h o t o g ra p h e d b y N E I L D I XO N In t e r v i e w b y S A N T I P I N TA D O Ha i r & m a k e - u p H AY L E Y M C I V E R (@ H AY L E Y M I C I V E R M A K E U P )

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SPOTLIGHT

“I LIKE A MAN WITH AMBITION AND A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR — SOMEONE WHO CAN PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE.” really had an interest in modelling as I was quite the tomboy. I stopped modelling after a year and decided to have a break then I was messaged on Instagram by an agency called Que Models, which is based on the Gold Coast, and I signed with them at 16. I’ve been with Que ever since and I can’t thank them enough for helping me get to where I am now.

ello, Ariarne, congrats on your first MAXIM feature. How do you feel? I feel honoured to even be considered in your magazine alongside all of the other beautiful women. It was certainly a pleasant surprise to discover I was going to be a part of something of such high significance. It’s a really great shoot. What did you love most about it? That I had the opportunity to assist in the styling and aesthetic of it. I love the fluidity of this shoot and the opportunity to freely express myself, alongside Neil’s [photographer] direction. Well, you look gorgeous. When do you feel sexy? Thanks! I feel my sexiest when I’ve got a good outfit on. Tells us a little more about yourself and life story so far. I was originally born in Sydney but moved to Queensland when I was very young. I grew up in Brisbane with my mum, dad

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and older sister. We lived on acreage and I was very lucky enough to own horses. I learnt to ride at six years old and rode competitively throughout school and also went to states when I was 12. In high school I never knew what I wanted to do, so I did a Cert 3 and 4 in fitness thinking I wanted to become a PT. But, after leaving school, my modelling career started to pick-up and I became a full-time model. At the start of this year I moved to Sydney to pursue my modelling career further and never looked back. Sydney is now my home and I absolutely love it here.

What do you think you would you be doing if you weren’t modelling? I would be pursuing an alternate pathway in the fashion industry for sure – possibly designing my own fashion brand or investing my drive and ambition into creating a business. How have you been coping in these COVID-19 times? The toughest thing about COVID-19 is the uncertainty of it all. Whether I’ll ever get to travel again for modelling is a major concern as this is an opportunity I don’t want to miss along my career. At the same time, I find security in the thought that everyone is in the same boat and the unexpected intrusiveness of the pandemic is something we’re all facing together.

What would people be most surprised to know about you? Probably that I did equestrian competitively in high school. I actually started modelling when I was 14 but wasn’t doing it seriously until about 18.

What’s the first thing you will do once all travel restrictions are lifted? Definitely cross the border to visit my family in Queensland. It’s a stretch, but then hopefully travel to Europe to work and explore.

How were you discovered? I was first discovered because my mum applied me to an agency at 14. I never

What is the best way for a man to win his way to your heart? With hot chips.

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“IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE EXERTS THE “BEST” PARTS OF THEIR LIFE ONLINE.”

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Of course. Anything else? I like a man with ambition and a good sense of humour – someone who can put a smile on my face. What’s one thing men should always remember about women? That God is a woman. You’ve no doubt heard some scary pick-up lines over the years — what’s been the weirdest? The one I constantly get in my DMs is the dude starts off by sending a dog emoji followed by the line, “Max, come here boy! Don’t bother the beautiful girl. Sorry he runs off sometimes. How are you?” What do you not enjoy about being an influencer? How detrimental it can be to your mental

health sometimes. It can be such a vortex and I think it’s important to remember that everyone exerts the “best” parts of their life online. On the days when I don’t feel motivated it’s hard to want to take photos or put make-up on. Everyone has their off days. And what do you love the most about social media influencing? Being able to get creative with my posts and styling my own outfits for the ‘gram. Finally, what’s next for you? Are there any exciting projects on the horizon you can share with us? Nothing too exciting at the moment – I’m just focusing on modelling right now, but if anything comes up I’ll be sure to let you know. ■

“I LOVE THE FLUIDITY OF THIS SHOOT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO FREELY EXPRESS MYSELF.”

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Status Update FULL NAME: Ariarne Lepine BORN: March 31, 2000 HOMETOWN: Brisbane, Queensland LIVES: Sydney, NSW HOBBIES: “When I’m not working I’m hanging out with my friends at the beach or looking after my mini Dachshund pup Frankie.” BEST HIDDEN TALENT: “I can flip my eyelids inside out.” PHOBIA: “Spiders.” GO-TO DRINK: “Love a good whisky and apple juice. Or just a plain old voddy, lime and soda if I’m trying to not suffer too much the next day.” HANGOVER CURE: “Definitely going to the beach and swimming in the ocean. It cures everything! Plus, a Powerade and some hot chips.” LIFE MOTTO: “‘What we do in life, echoes in eternity’ – Gladiator.”

“I NEVER REALLY HAD AN INTEREST IN MODELLING AS I WAS QUITE THE TOMBOY.”

INSTAGRAM: @ariarne_lepine

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The

STALLONE LEGACY The famed actor’s daughter, SOPHIA STALLONE, is making her voice heard, for a good cause... By DU N CA N Q U I N N

ou might call it a cotillion on steroids, but Sophia Stallone’s coming out party was the time she and sisters Sistine and Scarlet were named Miss Golden Globe for the 2017 awards ceremony. The trio made the cover of The Hollywood Reporter and were finally being asked by interviewers about their own exploits and not just, “What’s it like to be the daughter of Sylvester Stallone and [former model] Jennifer Flavin?” “I never thought I would ever be on the cover of anything, especially with my sisters,” Sophia, 23, tells MAXIM about what became a transitional moment in their lives, leading to modelling gigs in Tokyo, Milan and Shanghai. “It was a time when we felt like we were making a name for ourselves. Obviously, everyone was interested because they know who my dad is and my mum is, and they want to know who the daughters are. But we really had the chance to share our voice and have the opportunity to figure out our footing, and what we want to say and what we’re passionate about.” Now, about that famous dad. “He’s so witty and he has such a dry sense of humour. It’s really cool when I get to see people’s reaction from his jokes,” she laughs. Not really known for his comedy, Stallone has played some indelible movie tough guys like prizefighter Rocky Balboa and Vietnam vet John Rambo. But Sophia’s favourite is 1997’s Cop Land, directed by Ford v Ferrari filmmaker James Mangold. “It’s a different side of him,” she says about her father’s performance as an incorruptible small town sheriff. “I really liked seeing the transition physically, mentally and emotionally that he doesn’t usually get to do. He is an amazing actor and it’s great to see that emotional side of him.” The gorgeous Sophia studied Art History at USC, but she switched her major to Communication. Her father happens to be a dedicated painter as well and a lover of fine arts, often seen at gallery shows such as last year’s George Condo opening at Sprüth Magers gallery in Los Angeles. Stallone Sr.’s latest faves are Condo, Kerry James Marshall, and Bridget Riley; sometimes they play a game whereby they have to guess who an artist is by the color, style and period of a work. When not reading or baking, you’ll find Sophia on the golf course or horseback riding, or regularly volunteering at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “I had open heart surgery. It’s where I had my second

operation,” she offers. Although born with a hole in her heart, Sophia leads a healthy active lifestyle. “So, I’m really happy that I’m able to have the time to give back.” Another way of giving back is spreading positive vibes through her blog and social media posts. Her Instagram page @sophiastallone — 1.3 million followers and counting — is a blizzard of photos in different moods and style, while her blog (sophiastallone.co) offers sage advice for millennials, started months after her own graduation from USC. “No one really talks about that transition of young adults entering the adult world. It really takes a lot of patience and talking,” she says, recalling the anxiety of her own experience. “That transition from having someone tell me what to do to you’re your own boss, which I love now but before was really intimidating.” The situation wasn’t helped by the fact that Sophia, like many millennials, has anxiety issues. Fortunately, she finds that social media has become a place where people can heal by speaking frankly to a community of fellow sufferers. “When you feel like no-one’s going through it with you, it’s hard,” she confesses. “I’ve given people tips on what helped me and how to make it better based on my own experiences.” There were five siblings in the Stallone clan, but Sage, the eldest, from the actor’s first marriage with Sasha Czack, died of heart disease in 2012 at the age of 36. His brother Seargeoh, three years younger, was diagnosed with autism at an early age. The eldest of Stallone’s three daughters with Flavin, Sophia was followed by actor-model Sistine, two years younger, and 18-year-old Scarlet. There was talk of a reality series starring the trio, but ultimately it was decided there’s just not enough drama between them, though Sophia and Sistine are currently planning a podcast. And if they need any free advertisement, they can rely on Sophia’s 16,000-plus Twitter followers in addition to her growing legion of Insta fans. “I have this platform and I have an opportunity to share my advice and my lifestyle and even my family, so they can get to know us more,” she says about becoming an influencer without really trying. “Anyone with a big following might think of a way to make it a positive experience for people. I think eventually from building social media and building a brand, I can create something I can call my own.” ■

“I THINK EVENTUALLY FROM BUILDING SOCIAL MEDIA AND BUILDING A BRAND, I CAN CREATE SOMETHING I CAN CALL MY OWN.”

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ADVENTURE

DESERTWARRIOR We ride with WIDE OPEN BAJA in a 200 hp race-prepped buggy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and live to tell the tale... B y N I C O L A S S T EC H E R Ph o t o r g ra p h y b y A N D R E W G R I M S H AW

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ust,” warned Darrin Graham in his signature dramatic style, “is the enemy.” I remember his caution now, seconds too late. The wiry Wide Open Baja guide was prepping us for three days of tearing through some of the most remote areas of Baja California in over-powered race buggies, yet I thought he was speaking theoretically. You know, of hypothetical threats like plaque or communism. Illusory tricks pulled by the powers-that-be into getting you to brush your teeth, or vote Republican. But what was purely theoretical only hours ago is now acutely practical, as a wall of yellow sand swallows me whole and clobbers my goggles, blinding me like a heart attack. I’m following a raceprepped buggy at over 70 mph as it rips through some of the most pristine desert I have ever had the grace of laying eyes upon, but I may have gotten too close. Suddenly a towering cardón — the giant saguaro-like cactus that calls this land home — materialises through the golden haze, necessitating a brake stand and emergency detour left. Thank god for the superb Fox suspension and Wilwood brakes; the buggy recovers, and the cardón—not to mention my driving record — lives another day. Heart pounding, I ease on the throttle and again recall Graham’s cocked warning: Dust is the enemy. As the last man on this five-buggy caravan I stop to let the dust fog settle. I’ve never seen so many cacti before, like a virtual forest of cardones, the largest cactus species in the world, peppered with chollas: twisted, branchlike plants with vicious, barb-like needles. Yellow butterflies flitter across my helmet’s restricted field of view. The sun is hot on my exposed skin, the Subaru Boxer engine idles impatiently behind me. After about a minute the coast is clear: it’s go time. Flooring the throttle the flat-four hits redline before I upshift, second, third. It’s a hell of a ride, this thing. Squeezed into the fivepoint harness the vibrations course through me, utterly visceral. The cacophony of the exposed 200-horsepower powerplant, the clanging of suspension as dampers test their limits, the intermittent whirring of a fan powering up to desperately cool off the torrid engine. These moments at speed are a petrolhead’s night emission. You don’t go full-bore all the time during these expeditions — you wouldn’t want to, or probably even have the stamina to — but when you choose to engage in high-focus driving these spaces will fill you with vast, childlike, almost delirious joy. On straights… pure combustion, slamming through gears at speeds reaching 80-mph blurs… into corners. Down shifting, feeling the rearaxle slide out from under you, releasing throttle, recovering — and doing it all over and over again. Rhythm, hypnosis. I’ve experienced this kind of trance before, a weird conflation of acute hyper-attention with the calming effect of repetition. Except usually it’s on looping racetracks

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with grandstands and Pirelli signs cluttering my vision. Now it’s through landscapes so spectacular Ansel Adams could spend a season here trying to capture it on film. It’s profoundly beautiful and strangely meditative, apart from the braaaaaap! of hammering pistons filling the hot Mexican air. “This terrain really puts an exclamation point on the fact that smooth is fast,” Sam Cummings will tell me later over a tub filled with Dos Equis. “Because of the soft sand, the slickness of the rocks, the slippery hard surfaces, it really lowers the speeds at which the car’s limits can be reached. You really gotta focus because if you lose your concentration for a second you’ll overcook the turn.” Sam is one of a dozen guys from Michigan I’ve joined this week, a private group of old friends that convenes every other year or so to experience Wide Open Baja in all its harebrained glory. While some are amateurs, Sam is one of the more experienced racers; he’s had his competition license since 1996, and races three or four times a year in one of four vintage track cars. “There are a lot of similarities to the vintage racing experience: it’s one part camaraderie, one part history and one part racing. But here the history is perhaps replaced by scenery, right? I mean look at the settings — they’re extraordinary!” Sam recalls our first lunch stop on a gorgeous expanse of empty white beach, where while staring out into the Pacific he witnessed a whale breaching. “Think about that juxtaposition,” he sighs. “I mean that’s just cool shit.” Wide Open Baja was created in 1997 to offer plebeians a chance to taste the Baja experience in race-prepped, action-ready buggies. Co-founder Bill Savage designed the innovative tubular space frame that forms the architecture of these buggies in 2002, and since then they have slowly evolved into the bristling off-road gladiators they are today. Make no mistake: these are the actual cars that compete in the Baja 1000 — 2 4

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“TEARING THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST REMOTE AREAS OF BAJA CALIFORNIA IN OVER-POWERED RACE BUGGIES.” the longest non-stop race in the world, and what many consider the most brutal motorsport anywhere. Fittingly in 2012 WOB was purchased by Roger Norman of SCORE International, the sanctioning body for the Baja 1000. But as much as motorsports informs WOB’s DNA, this thing isn’t just about speed. Sure velocity, aggression, dexterity are all part of the fun. They are the meat of the Wide Open Baja adventure, but they don’t really capture its soul — and that is exploration. Simple discovery, the type that launched ships across oceans and covered wagons across the Continental Divide. You will rumble into swathes of desert almost no other humans will ever see. Zion-like monoliths, stratified and coloured, rising from the sand. You will ride jagged roads hugging the ocean, on one side verdigris green cliffs, the other brick red boulders tumbling into the sea. You pass shipwrecked fishing boats pushed into the craggy shores, broken and rusted, waves crashing against them so close ocean sprays our visors as we drive past. Nowhere does it feel quite like this — as primitive, wild, lawless, divorced from time and modern civilisation. Occasionally you have to slam the brakes into a sideways skid as a bull bigger than a Sprinter van wanders onto your path. Other times it’s a herd of wild horses startled by your approach, skittish and anxious and running full fleet along the road, black manes flowing. But don’t fool yourself: this is a dangerous sport. Respect it. Spend too much time sightseeing and disaster strikes like a scorpion. Most rolls are little more than thrilling mistakes, exclamation points to punctuate the trip. High-speed flips happen; a broken arm or ankle seem possible. In the event of an emergency, WOB has contracted a service to medevac you out of these endless tracts of badlands. I ask one of the guides when the last flip was, and he thinks for all of a second. “Ummmm… last week,”

he says flatly. “But we just rolled it over and kept driving.” Staying within your limits is absolutely key to a successful venture. Personally I can admit to maybe a half-dozen turns during our three days of mischief where I superseded my skill set. Where had anything unexpected popped up — a single gash in the road, a missed tree trunk, an itinerant goat — I would have rolled my buggy like Vegas dice across the arroyo. “Not knowing exactly what’s coming up around every corner or up every hill, that uncertainty keeps you on your toes,” agrees Dan DeVos, the hub of the Michigan crew and owner of the Gulfstream private jet that brought them all down here. A dyed-in-the-wool car nut like Sam, Dan thoroughly understands the critical balance of speed and caution that Baja demands. “On the race track you know what’s coming: you go around and around and around the same thing every time. Here you don’t have a second to take your mind off of what you’re doing because everything changes so quickly and so, so dramatically.” As principal owner of the NBA’s Orlando Magic and 30-something car dealerships across the Midwest, DeVos could choose anywhere to spend this precious week of downtime, and yet he chooses to be here — in Baja, racing these deranged buggies across the Mexican desert. “There’s nothing like it,” he declares, explaining how his endless quest for the interesting and unique brought him here for the first time back in 2003. “I’ve never seen an organisation put on an event like this where normal guys can go drive race-prepared buggies through the desert.… As long as you’re not stupid, the thrill is there.” He pauses. “It’s all about the camaraderie. It’s about friendship.” When I ask he and Sam if they would do it again, Sam jumps in. “In a heartbeat,” he asserts instantly. “Definitely doing it again. Right now we’re on sort of every two years, but I’m starting to get older — maybe we should do it every year.” ■

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REBIRTHOF A LEGEND

Bugatti reimagines its iconic EB110 as the ultimate modern supercar... By K E I TH GO R DO N

etermined to honor one of the most iconic and influential supercars in history, the EB110, iconic automaker Bugatti set itself a seemingly impossible task. The company wanted to modernize this classic, bringing it up to standards set by the company’s groundbreaking Chiron hypercar — without losing the design inspiration and DNA left by one of the cars that defined not only the 1990s, but the arrival of the supercar in the public consciousness. With the unveiling of the new Centodieci model, it seems like the brand has achieved

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the impossible. With a striking design that, despite modern lines and aerodynamic enhancements, still evokes strong memories of the pioneering EB110, the Bugatti design team has walked the fine line between honoring the past and embracing the future. “The challenge was not to allow oneself to be captivated too much by the design of the historic vehicle and work solely in retrospect, but instead to create a modern interpretation of the shape and technology of that time,” says

Bugatti’s Head Designer Achim Anscheidt. With a more angular and refined exterior than the marque’s recent offerings, the Centodieci (Italian for 110) balances the design concepts of the EB110 and the current models, while producing performance that ranks with Bugatti’s contemporary lineup. Small changes from the current designs, like a smaller horseshoe intake at the front and a low-slung

front end inspired by the wedge shape of the EB110, give the Centodieci a unique stance compared to the other Bugattis, but all of the engineering genius that helped create the Chiron was not ignored either. Anscheidt explains the challenge, admitting that “transporting this classic look into the new millennium without copying it was technically complex, to say the least.

We had to create a new way of combining the complex aerothermal requirements of the underlying Chiron technology with a completely different aesthetic appearance.” This usage of the most advanced aspects of the Chiron is evident, starting with the powerhouse that is Bugatti’s 8.0-liter W16 engine capable of producing 1,600 hp. Acceleration from a stop to 100 km/h is possible in a mere 2.4 seconds, .86 seconds faster than its inspirational forerunner,

the EB110, while modern weight-saving advancements allow an insane power-toweight ratio of 1.13 kg per horsepower. With only 10 vehicles scheduled to be produced, the Centodieci is already sold-out, despite a starting price of €8 million (about US$8.8 million). And it appears to be staking out a legacy of its own, one that seamlessly honors the history of Bugatti and bridges the gap between three decades of the marque’s dominance in the supercar world. MAXI M.COM.AU

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THE SECRETAGENT’S SUV Aston Martin, James Bond’s favourite car brand, enters a new era with the DBX... B y J A R E D PAU L S T E R N

n Daniel Craig’s latest outing as James Bond in the this fall’s No Time to Die, no fewer than four Aston Martins including the iconic DB5 and Valhalla supercar share the screen with him. None of them are SUVs — and until recently, the very idea of an Aston Martin that was anything but a flat-out sports car would seem preposterous. But the storied 107-year-old British marque recently debuted the DBX, its first-ever SUV and one that delivers the performance and style long associated with the Aston Martin badge, and we can’t help but think Bond is missing out. Powered by a 542-hp AMG 4.0-litre V8, it’s capable of doing 0–60 mph in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 181 mph. Car and Driver speculates that the DBX may well break the SUV lap record at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring circuit. That and its nearly US$200,000 price tag put it firmly in the new category of super-SUV staked out by the likes of the Lamborghini Urus and the pricier Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It’s a bit more subtle than they are and perhaps a bit cooler for being less aggressively attention-attracting. If you don’t order yours in purple that is. Either way we hope no one does anything aesthetically unfortunate with the beautiful saddle-coloured leather 2 8

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Aston sources for the DBX’s interior — and matching set of luggage — from Bridge of Weir, the 115-year-old Scottish firm that uses only the finest hides sourced from heritage breeds. “The design of the DBX began on a blank sheet of paper,” notes Aston Martin Lagonda’s Vice-President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman. “We created a car with incredible proportions and practicality

that will reset the standard for SUVs in the luxury space. It has been a monumental task to deliver such a special car, from the initial design concepts right through to the fantastic work done by the dynamics engineers, and having to create a new manufacturing facility to produce it,” but the investment appears to have paid off with the order book filling up rapidly. Like the DB5 and the latest DBS Superleggera, the DBX bears the initials of David Brown, the distinguished British businessman who owned the company from 1947 to 1972. And Aston has now entered a new chapter of investment. In January it was announced that Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll had agreed to purchase up to 20% of the company and rename his Racing Point F1 team after the auto brand, giving it a powerful new presence on the world stage (Aston’s sponsorship deal with Red Bull Racing ends this year). Perhaps the LS era will one day equal that of the DB. Meanwhile the partnership with an F1 team and its engineering expertise is bound to benefit Aston’s road cars as well, and we feel confident in predicting that a Superleggera version of the DBX will one day blow the doors off of anything 007 has ever gotten his hands on.

MACHINES

ROCKET MAN Taking TRIUMPH’s raucous new ROCKET 3 R for the ride of a lifetime in Portugal... By DU N CA N Q U I N N

engine at 2,500cc, and delivers the highest hrough the smoke, we’re playing torque of any production bike on the road a very c ompetitive game of crazy today. Weighing in at a whopping 163 lb-ft eights. We are an Indian American, / 221Nm at 4,000 rpm, this thing makes two African Americans, and Anthony Joshua look as if he lacks punch. an Englishman in New York, at a French In October 2019, past TT winner Gary Algerian hookah bar, in the Algarve. Laying Johnson strapped into the hot seat and down the heaviest of card hands, while piloted one to a new Triumph production pondering the lore of Triumph Motorcycles motorcycle record of 0-60 mph in 2.73 Ltd. The combination of legends and seconds on a track in Cartagena, Spain. whispers that define the DNA of this most “It was great to experience this truly revered of British brands. incredible acceleration,” Johnson says. “It’s Marlon Brando in The Wild One. The hard to describe just what this motorcycle is first 100-mph production-class bike lap at the capable of. The Rocket 3 R was well prepared Isle of Man TT, the ultimate road race, by the and I felt very confident — even in this appropriately-named Malcolm Uphill on a racetrack set-up. As early as the first attempt Bonneville Thruxton. Or the scene from The we made, I felt that the acceleration was Great Escape, in which Steve McQueen — or so strong and that we would be successful. rather, his stunt double — jumps the barbed The Rocket 3 R ran perfectly and the wire fence in a scramble for freedom, on a track and weather conditions were ideal. specially prepped Triumph TR6 dressed The whole team did a fantastic job.” up to look like a German army BMW. I woke up on Sunday morning with the “Trumpets,” as they’re known to the taste of döner kebab sweating out of my faithful, have a special place in my heart. pores. Extra chile sauce. Extra garlic sauce. I’ve been faster, scared myself more, and An almost foray into the packed dance floor reached further into the internal void while of the Irish pub we had stumbled upon in riding them than almost any other brand of our quest for post-hookah eats. Crazy eights motorcycle. And I’ve owned a few over the over, this was about to get serious. A day years. From jittery meth-head Speed Triples spent relearning the history and provenance to poised, regal Daytona T595s. Each had its of Triumph, which first started making twoown personality, and distinct character. A soul. wheeled machines more than a century ago. Instilling a feeling of trust as you put your life Then dinner out with entertainment courtesy in its hands and forcefully twisted the “go” of Gary and his stories of derring-do at the grip until it hit the stop. Take the motorcycle TT and beyond. Trying to figure out which to pieces and you will not find it — but it is piece of the motorcycle was the “ring piece” the thing that makes the difference between a he mentioned. mode of transport, and a passionate love affair. Accompanied by endless banter between After an e-mail arrived earlier this year Top: The new Triumph Rocket 3 R features him and record-holding racer Maria Costello, asking if I’d like to reignite my Triumph the world’s biggest production motorcycle engine. Above: One of the riders at Triumph’s who when not giving Gary as good as she got love affair, I couldn’t say no. A quick Rocket 3 R event in Portugal; was offering to make me her copilot in the transatlantic hop followed by some Sleazyjet Opposite: Our dapper correspondent next TT. And amusement at the statistical to Faro, Portugal, and I arrived in situ only Duncan Quinn prepares for takeoff chance of bumping into friends from Monaco partially broken and jet lagged. One musclein a random restaurant in the Algarve, with rejuvenating massage later, I was ready to hugs and hellos before I went off to battle the gorilla. swing a leg over a Trumpet for the first time in a while. And And then to it. Monday AM. Strapping into the Triumph safety hoping that all that rubbish about learning to ride a bike was true. gear. Jeans lined with PEKEV (sort of like Kevlar) along with D3O Even if it was a bike with a bigger engine capacity and more power impactabsorbing knee protectors. Arms into a protective upper body and torque than the first car I owned. It was, of course, the all-new condom with more PEKEV. Back protection, elbow protection, Rocket 3 R. If these things have souls, perhaps its spirit animal is the shoulder protection, kidney protection. New Triumph gloves to abate silverback gorilla. Looking large and docile and slow — until it rips the road rash potential of taking a face-plant onto the tarmac and gravel. your arms clean out of their sockets and disappears into the mist. Or that ditch which has been known to jump up at you unannounced. The Rocket 3 R features the world’s biggest production motorcycle 3 0

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A new pair of DQ boots, with an extra layer of cowhide on the left for gear-change wear. And finally a Shoei helmet to keep what was left of the addled, kebab-infused grey matter in one piece should anything go badly wrong and the gorilla really throw me across the road. I survived. But the foot pegs didn’t. Which always strikes me as scary and remarkable on a bike. Leaning over so far that the sides start scraping the tarmac, as a Joker-like grin fuelled by adrenaline and fear and joy spreads across your face. I wasn’t pulling rolling burnouts like the guy I was following, Joe Akroyd, also of TT fame. Or popping wheelies on a bike that weighs more than a baby elephant. But holy shit, was I having fun. And way more fun than should be reasonably possible.

“A COMBINATION OF LEGENDS AND WHISPERS DEFINES THE DNA OF THIS MOST REVERED OF BRITISH BRANDS.”

I was riding the silverback. And not getting spat off. Or my arms pulled out of their sockets. But simply observing from that quiet place inside me how damned fast this thing was. And how the power was endless. And as brutal as you wanted it to be. When it wasn’t sitting quietly in reserve. Calm and knowing. Like the professional MMA fighter at the bar when the angry small guy decides to pick a fight with him for no reason. Most surprising of all, it went around corners. Fast. At angles which belie belief. And at least with my riding technique, making me think of the Batman Tumbler throwing out an anchor at 90 degrees to swing around the corner faster and tighter than such a solid beast should. The Rocket 3 R is simply fantastic. Ridiculous. Unimaginable — but fantastic. Superman you may not be, but with the right leathers, on the right day, on the right road, in the right light, you may just convince a few innocent bystanders that you are… if they can even discern what you are as you blur past from 0 to 60 in 2.73 seconds, riding a silverback gorilla through the mist. ■

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COVID-19

DOCTOR IN-CHIEF DR. ANTHONY FAUCI has been tireless in his fight against infectious diseases in the United States, earning the nation’s gratitude... By DU N CA N Q U I N N

e has captivated millions at President Trump’s Coronavirus Task Force briefings; led the nation’s scientific response in the time of our worst health crisis in recent memory; and been the voice of reason in the course of a heated debate about whether or not we are doing the right thing. Dr. Anthony Fauci has even seen his face plastered on everything from candles to cupcakes, while Brad Pitt played him on Saturday Night Live, and thanked him personally at the end of the sketch. Not half bad for a 79-year-old, five-footseven immunologist from Bensonhurst. Fauci, who earned his MD at Cornell University Medical College and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 in recognition of his “efforts to advance understanding and treatment of HIV/ AIDS,” has been the Director of The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984. One of the world’s leading immunologists, he was the obvious choice to shape our scientific strategy in fighting the pandemic. Which has turned out to be the most difficult job in the country, save that of the President himself. Speaking of which, as one can tell from those infamous briefings, Fauci isn’t easily impressed or intimidated by those in positions of power. Of course, he has advised six different Presidents on domestic and global health issues, including HIV/AIDS. As Niccolo Machiavelli, the legendary Renaissance advisor to the Tuscan Medici dynasty once said, “A wise prince should take another course: choose wise men for your advisors, and allow only them the liberty of speaking the truth to the prince, and only on matters about which you ask, and nothing else. But you should question them about everything, listen patiently to their opinions, then form your own conclusions later.” President Trump has given Dr. Fauci a bit more freedom than that, but he could do no less under the circumstances, especially amidst the abundant adulation heaped on the heretofore unassuming medico — e.g. The Atlantic, which dubbed him “America’s Coronavirus Crush.” So far doctor Fauci has resisted the attempts to paint him as interested only in forcing the American economy into indefinite shutdown, subverting all other concerns in the cause of science. As with any new threat, COVID-19 makes life very difficult for those trying to decide the best course of treatment. There are

analogues in other viral flus, but learning is happening in real time, day by day. And data is confusing, conflicting, often badly recorded or gathered, and limited. So figuring out a plan of action is very tough. And dynamic. Like trying to run through a forest, blindfolded, at night, in an earthquake and not hit a tree. And giving safe guidelines to millions of people with varying degrees of health is no mean feat. On a broadcast of CNBC’s Halftime Report in late May, Fauci, dubbed the coronavirus’ “unlikely celebrity” by the New York Times, surprised many by stating that “staying locked down for a prolonged period of time” is in fact not the right approach, and that “most of the country” is reopening “in a prudent way.” While lockdowns were necessary to contain the virus initially and flatten the curve, “now is the time, depending upon where you are and what your situation is — to begin to seriously [look] at reopening the economy, reopening the country to try and get back to some degree of normal. I’m totally in favour of that, if done in the proper way, in the appropriate setting.” It is the ability to adapt to the data and the situation on the ground that marks Fauci as a true professional. And goes to show why he was appointed Director of NIAID back in 1984, and is currently in control of a budget of US$5.9 billion, overseeing an extensive portfolio of basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat established infectious diseases, respiratory infections, and emerging diseases. At the same time, he has demonstrated remarkable compassion, again refuting those who would claim that he cares not for those whose fate he is effectively deciding. Indeed, at press time, Fauci delivered one of his most heartfelt statements to date, while virtually addressing both Johns Hopkins University and his alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross, declaring, ”Now is the time, if ever there was one, for us to care selflessly about one another.” While we are still, in his words, at war with the virus, Fauci is hopeful the country will eventually emerge stronger than ever. “I think it will be remembered as really showing what a great country we are,” he told the New York Times. “We have been through, as I’ve said, if you look at the history of our country, some extraordinary ordeals. I mean, world wars and diseases and depressions. And we’ve gotten through it. I have a great deal of faith in the spirit of the American people. We’re resilient. We’re going to get over this. And this is going to end.” ■

“NOW IS THE TIME, IF EVER THERE WAS ONE, FOR US TO CARE SELFLESSLY ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.”

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CULT CASKS & RARE FINISHES Experimental cask finishes started with Scotch and have now gone mainstream in the best of ways... B y J A R E D PAU L S T E R N

relatively recent phenomenon in the world of single malts, dating to the early 1990s, experimental cask finishes are now a critical component of many high-end whisky brands’ offerings — and other spirits are starting to take note. From fine French spirits to rum, tequila, gin and even aperitifs, intriguing cask finishes are now popping up across all categories, offering whole new perspectives and styles and pushing the boundaries of what was once thought possible and acceptable to enthusiasts. Many credit David C. Stewart at famed single malt Scotch distillery The Balvenie with having pioneered the cask finish movement when he debuted The Balvenie DoubleWood Aged 12 Years in 1993, one of the first double-matured whiskies on the market. Recognising that few parts of the process affect the character of a whisky more than the time spent in the cask, and the characteristics of the casks used, Stewart transferred the malt from its primary barrel into a second cask previously filled with sherry, creating an entirely new flavor profile that enhanced the spirit beyond mere aging. The sherry finish soon became

an industry classic, and many major single malt whisky brands have since offered it in addition to their core range. In recent years, others in different parts of the industry have

Top: A behind-the-scenes look at a Courvoisier Def Jam campaign featuring artists Arlissa, Amir Obè, Valee, and Bobby Sessions; Above: Courvoisier Master Distiller Benoît De Sutter admires his handiwork in the company of precious cognac casks. Opposite (top): David C. Stewart of The Balvenie nosing a cask at the distillery in Scotland; Opposite (bottom): Rare spirits in one of Maison Ferrand’s cellars

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seemingly taken cues from the aesthetic Stewart developed. Few have embraced cask finishing as passionately as Maison Ferrand, the premier boutique spirits brand which produces Ferrand Cognac, Plantation Rum and Citadelle Gin, among others. “Finishes for us are more like another maturation of the spirit that will give it a different suit to wear on a different occasion,” Guillaume Lamy, Vice President Maison Ferrand, The Americas, tells MAXIM. “Working with Maison Ferrand founder Alexandre Gabriel and his team in Cognac and in Barbados taught us a very important thing — finishes are there to expand the wardrobe of a beautiful rum or gin, and create style and elegance without changing the spirit’s character or original beauty.” Plantation Rum has become a cult favourite with bartenders and serious spirits enthusiasts by favouring craft over marketing. Most of its rums are double-aged; once in their country of origin and then a

“CASK FINISHES CREATE STYLE AND ELEGANCE WITHOUT CHANGING THE SPIRIT’S CHARACTER OR ORIGINAL BEAUTY.” second time in ex-cognac casks at Maison Ferrand in France. One of its recent releases, Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry, is a blend of pot still rums from Jamaica that are then “married” and double-aged in ex-cognac barrels at the Ferrand estate. Ferrand also uses unusual casks — five types of them, including acacia, mulberry, and cherry — to give a unique finish to its Citadelle Réserve barrel-aged gin, imparting characteristics that seem more common to whisky. Known as Napoleon’s Brandy, the famous cognac house Courvoisier was founded in 1828 and is as steeply rooted in tradition as any French spirit. Yet it too has embraced cask finishes as a way to innovate but not alienate. It first experimented with a sherry cask expression in 2019, and has recently come out with Courvoisier AvantGarde Bourbon Cask Edition, the first release in its new Avant-Garde Series, finished in Kentucky bourbon barrels. “Following the successful launch of Courvoisier Sherry Cask, it was clear that there was a demand among consumers for an elevated twist on a sipping spirit,” Courvoisier Master Blender Patrice Pinet tells us, noting that “the demand for and consumer interest in hybrid spirits is rapidly growing, particularly in the cognac and bourbon space.” He worked alongside Courvoisier’s Master Distiller, Benoît De Sutter, and Jim Beam’s legendary Fred Noe, to “source the highest quality bourbon barrels that provide us with the tasting notes we were looking to achieve with our new Avant-Garde liquid…. The extra aging MAXI M.COM.AU

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creates an elegant, velvety finish with tasting notes of vanilla, honey and sweet marmalade,” definitely an evolution of the classic Courvoisier flavour profile. One might think that an iconic aperitif like Campari, whose secret recipe has been unchanged since 1860, would have little need for experimenting with cask finishes. Yet in September 2019, it released a limited edition expression called Campari Cask Tales honouring the legacy of Davide Campari. Created by Herbalist and Master Blender Bruno Malavasi, it is finished in bourbon barrels in an “exploration into the world of cask-finishing.” Malavasi “experimented with casks from multiple sources to find the ideal environment to age and flavour” the spirit, without drastically altering its character. On the palate, “the bourbon barrel finishing smooths the bitter notes with fruity, sweet, and creamy tones, providing a delicate oaky smokiness,” the brand says. With so many renowned spirits getting into the cask-finishing act, whisky brands are turning to new avenues of innovation. Dewar’s, one of the world’s most famous Scotch labels, is launching a limited edition 8YO Ilegal Smooth Mezcal Cask Finish that cleverly aligns its whisky with the trendiest spirit going. And while doing so might seem counterintuitive for a blended whisky wherein the key component is consistency, Dewar’s Master Blender Stephanie Macleod arrived at it as part of a “journey of experimentation to develop new flavor profiles in the Dewar’s house style.” To create it, the classic Dewar’s White Label blend of over 40 single malt and grain whiskies, aged for eight years in Scotland, were blended and aged again before being finished for at least six months in Ilegal Mezcal casks. “Normally, 60% of a whisky’s flavour comes from the wood,” the brand notes. “This is enhanced even more so by the extra aging period…. This specific cask finishing beautifully complements the classic Dewar’s house style, creating a complex, yet harmonious blend [with]a twist of crafted, Oaxacan smoke.” Of equal interest and ingenuity is The Boss Hog — The Samurai Scientist, a new expression from cult Vermont-based rye distillery

WhistlePig. “Cask finishes are a great way to take whisky to the next level of flavour,” the brand’s Master Blender Pete Lynch tells us. “We have such a wide range of casks to choose from, from wines, spirits, and even different oak and wood types, that we can really create truly unique whiskies that the world may have not seen before.” For The Samurai Scientist, “we looked to our industry friends and partners in Japan at Kitaya brewery and took note of their world-class Saikoo umeshu,” a Japanese plum liqueur, Lynch says. “A rye whisky as flavorful as this, thanks to the unique flavors imparted by the Japanese umeshu casks, has never been seen by the world, and the result is spectacular.” Sixteen years of aging in new-char oak, plus five weeks in umeshu casks, imparts “delicate notes of tart plum, savory umami and sweet fruit [that] play incredibly nicely with the bold, intense flavours of our cask-strength rye…. It’s not something you can just take one sip of, and the flavour develops in the glass over time, compounding into something greater.” For the record, we had no intention of stopping at one. ■

Top: The Royal Warrant on display at a Dewar’s visitors centre; Above: Dewar’s is known as the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky

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“FINISHES ARE LIKE ANOTHER MATURATION OF THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES IT A DIFFERENT SUIT TO WEAR ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION.”

Top left: The entrance to the Kitaya brewery in Japan, WhistlePig rye’s partner for one of its rare expressions; Top right: Plantation rums make a delectable punch; Above left: Campari Cask Tales is an evolution of the iconic aperitif; Above right: Cask finishes give Citadelle Réserve barrel-aged gin its unique characteristics

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ACTION

“TO ME HUMILITY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS IN THIS BUSINESS.”

MOJO RISING The improbable story of MOJO RAWLEY, professional wrestling’s next big thing... By K E I TH GO R DO N

or WWE Superstar Mojo Rawley (born Dean Muhtadi), the ascent to the pinnacle of the sports-entertainment world has been an unlikely journey. After working his way up from the lowest levels of college football all the way to the NFL, Rawley began a second career in the world of professional wrestling. Since his arrival, the now 33-year old Rawley has quickly risen through the ranks of the WWE to become one of the most electric performers in the industry. Prior to his likely appearance at WrestleMania set to livestream from Orlando, Florida, Rawley spoke to MAXIM about his extraordinary path to the WWE. 3 8

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Hey, Mojo, what’s your background? Were you a WWE fan growing up? I was born and raised in Alexandria, VA, and am a proud T.C. Williams Titan, the school from the movie Remember the Titans. My family was in the United Nations so we are from everywhere, primarily the Middle East. I grew up watching WWE; every Monday Night Raw would be on television and my brother Casey and I would be watching.

You worked your way from lowly D-III college football all the way to the Green Bay Packers. How did you to forge such an unlikely path? I started off as a non-scholarship athlete at a D-III school. I was the last athlete recruited in my class. I became a team captain, school record holder, and earned an academic scholarship. I then transferred to Maryland where I had to pay US$35,000 a year and start over as a walk on. I left Maryland as a starter, record holder, and scholarship athlete with the highest GPA on the team. In the NFL, I was not drafted and was not signed in free agency. I earned my way through a tryout. My entire career I was always the guy that was picked last, but found a way to get the job done and leave my mark on the team. What was the motivation behind your career switch and how did you get your chance with the WWE? I was a free agent in the NFL coming off a bad injury and was in talks with a couple of teams when I received a unique opportunity. Gordy Gronkowski, father of the Gronkowski brothers, arranged a meeting between me and his old college roommate and current WWE producer Mike Rotunda. The rest is history. What similarities are there between the two sports that seem to attract so many former football players to professional wrestling? Does it satisfy your competitive streak in the same way? The life lessons derived from a career in football are perfectly in line with what it takes to be successful in WWE. Dedication, perseverance, the comprehension of how a team works, and humility are extremely important here. To be completely honest, initially I was concerned that the WWE brand of entertainment would inevitably not satisfy my competitive streak, but this never became an issue. You compete to win the crowd, the trust of your coaches, and the respect of the locker room. Is there a strong brotherhood/ community in the WWE or are the athletes competitive behind the scenes as well? The WWE locker room is very similar to the NFL. It’s all one big family. For the most part, everyone gets along and we get to travel the globe together performing and entertaining the greatest fans in the world, so the bonds are built very strong. Make no mistake, it is extremely competitive. Whereas everyone works towards putting on the best show possible, everyone also competes to have the best or most entertaining segment on the show, whether it is a match, an in-ring promo or backstage segment. Everyone wants to be the best and works hard to do so. WWE is unlike any business. I like to think of it as the world’s largest mom-

and-pop business. We are around one another far more than our own families and we travel the world together. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but we always entertain the WWE Universe. We are a global brand full of larger than life personas. To me humility is one of the most important characteristics in this business. What is the schedule like for a WWE Superstar? The schedule is actually relatively constant. On a normal week, I fly out Friday morning for four days of shows. The daily itinerary is the same; gym, show, drive. Gym, show, drive. On Tuesday, I fly home and go straight from the airport to the WWE Performance Center for weight training and conditioning with former NFL strength coach Sean Hayes. Then I go out to the rings to observe or join one of the various training sessions. From there I go to hot yoga, film study, a deep tissue massage, and finally sushi for dinner every Tuesday night with family or friends. If the flight after Monday’s show is a red-eye, then I do all of this on zero sleep. What’s the toughest part of maintaining your body and mind during the WWE schedule? The travel; most of us are very large people and we don’t really fit on planes very well. Do you prefer being a good guy or a bad guy? Does it require different mentalities to be a “hero” or a “heel”? When I am a good guy on TV, my character tends to be almost identical to how I am as a real person. However, as a bad guy, I get to be the opposite. I get to be a jerk. I get to talk trash, I get to say all the things that I’m thinking but have to restrain myself from saying out of respect or decency. I liken it to being an athlete playing in the away stadium with all the boos and hostility. Being the bad guy tends to be way more fun! What interests or hobbies do you have away from the ring? Breakdancing my butt off. It’s the best cardio workout and it’s probably the thing I’m best at! I can’t sit still. I take my training very seriously but I also take fun very seriously too. Even when I’m having fun, I’m constantly thinking of ways to incorporate it into my WWE persona, as that way I’m serving two purposes at once.

What do you think has allowed you to succeed in such a competitive industry? I credit all of my life’s successes to my ability to “Stay Hyped.” That is my life’s mantra. Facing adversity with a smile and excessive energy. Being the hardest worker in whatever I do, and never stopping, resting, or complaining. That is what has helped me to succeed at all levels of WWE and in life. ■

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COVER GIRL

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Agent Provocateur

CHRISTINE Q

The sassy and sexy model, fashionista, realtor and star of Netflix reality TV hit Selling Sunset reveals all as she makes her MAXIM debutâ&#x20AC;¦ Ph o t o g ra p h e d b y C H R I S M A R T I N In t e r v i e w b y S A N T I P I N TA D O Ma k e - u p b y J O S I E M E L A N O H A I R L AU R A R U G E T T I

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“I want to be a bitch that exudes confidence and I want to encourage and inspire everyone to do the same.” wanted the world to know. I just wanted to be myself and be on camera – that’s all I ever wanted. So, I figured until my rich husband shows up I better find a profession I loved.

uite the cover shoot for MAXIM, Christine, congrats! How does it feel? Wow, this feels amazing! I’ve always dreamt of being on the cover of MAXIM. Due to COVID-19, this shoot was actually at my house. Our home is very modern so there are a lot of really cool areas to shoot with lots of bright light. I had Britney Spears’ “Work Bitch” on repeat that day. You look gorgeous. When do you feel you are at your sexiest? Thank you. I want to be a bitch that exudes confidence and I want to encourage and inspire everyone to do the same. Confidence is the main component to being sexy. Be comfortable in your own skin. As long as you feel good, it doesn’t actually matter what you are wearing. What’s your best asset? My mind! I love to play dumb blonde, then shock people with my intelligence. Physically, I love my legs and hair. What would people be most surprised to find out about you? I have been fired from every corporate job – from Walmart to Taco Bell. I worked at many restaurants and I was actually the worst

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Why did you decide to pursue a career in real estate? I saw Jason and Brett [Oppenheim, brothers and founders of The Oppenheim Group where Christine works] living the life. They were working for who they wanted, when they wanted and I knew I wanted in. They were making huge profits off the sale of one house. It was fascinating to me that they could pay for a house with the sale of a house. I was money hungry and thirsty for experience, so I did everything to study, learn and set myself apart from every boring salesperson. Standing out has always been my expertise – Burgers and Botox was quite original, I must say. waitress in the history of waitresses. I used to car hop at Sonic and wear rollerblades to bring out the food. I probably got fired from there, too. LOL! How did you get into modelling? I started modelling when I was about 15. I would dream about walking in fashion shows and being on the cover of magazines. I started doing some work in commercial print then worked my way up to runway and fashion campaigns. I was in Vogue magazine at the age of 18. You also star in Netflix reality TV series Selling Sunset. How did you get into the real estate business? Like 99% of the population, I moved to L.A. to become an actress. I busted my ass daily to book TV shows, movies… and started my career doing extra work — anything and everything to get my name out there. I was doing really well, but got tired of being typecast as the ditzy blonde over and over. I have always been more than that and I

Describe your experience on Selling Sunset so far. It’s been a wild ride – it has its ups and downs. I love that I get to just be myself and I love to make people feel something when they watch me. Whatever that feeling may be, you can’t say I’m not entertaining. Are you happy with your portrayal on the show? I am the comic relief in this office of stale saltine bitches. Reality is an illusion. The show is made to seem as dramatic as possible. No-one goes home at night and is like, “Wow, they made me seem like an asshole, I am so happy with the outcome.” I can’t change anything and have no creative control, but there’s always next season. Do you have any regrets signing up to do the show? Never. I get to share my life and career with people. I want to inspire every fan, follower and hater that you can do ANYTHING.

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“I am the comic relief in this office of stale saltine bitches. Reality is an illusion.”

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I was an awkward teenager that used to work at Taco Bell in the middle of Texas – look at me now. What’s the toughest thing about being a real estate agent in L.A. and selling the Sunset area? Initially, you have to build your clientele and your brand. The first several years is a struggle, but once you have time under your belt, and you build a network, the fun begins! When you’re not posing for MAXIM or filming Selling Sunset what do you do? I love, love, love to travel. I’m currently on a yacht in Croatia overlooking the port in Havar. I love to embrace myself as a woman and express my talents in as many ways as possible. I take dance lessons once a week with a top choreographer to the stars and I recently started yoga. I also love journaling and reading. Since COVID-19, I have learnt to be the next Martha f—king Stewart – I have really embraced the housewife role. Well, minus the cleaning. I have embraced mostly just the lingerie and cooking bits. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen about yourself in the media? It’s always a surprise to see what paparazzi photos will pop up next to a salacious headline. I love when there is articles that are so wildly inaccurate. I once saw a “celebrity jeweller” guesstimate the size of my ring to be 4 carat. Needless to say, I was offended and had to set the record straight. How do you handle any negative press, the social media trolls and other haters? I have haters? Good, that means I stood for something! Brush off the haters – I don’t waste time on negative energy. I don’t ingest it nor entertain it. It’s just not worth my time. You should only hate on people you actually know. If you don’t have my phone number, you don’t have the right to talk about my life. Your recent wedding in L.A., where you rocked a black dress, has been described as a gothic winter wonderland. What made you go for this theme? I have always been different. Vanilla is boring and it’s just not me. I like to push the envelope. I knew I wanted something noone has ever done. I told my amazing event planner, Lisa Lafferty, I want a “Crazy Rich Asians” wedding, just like the movie. I want my guests to step into an experience, not

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“I can’t change anything and have no creative control, but there’s always next season.”

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just an event. I have always loved everything gothic and black. I have black wallpaper in my house, and my cars were wrapped with blood spatter for Halloween last year. I wanted the wedding to be a beautiful blend of an ethereal experience and twisted darkness. When you were single, what did a man have to do to win you over? Very simple – be honest. Honesty is #1 in my book. What have you learnt about men over the years? They underestimate women. My ex told me I would never be successful because I didn’t have a formal education. Send me some extra copies of MAXIM, I got some magazines to mail out. What’s one thing men should always remember about women? Anything you can do, we can do better. Finally, got any big plans for the rest of 2020 once this coronavirus is sorted? I want to start my own all female brokerage and my own lifestyle brand. In five years I see myself being the CE-HOE of my own company, aboard my mega yacht and in every major magazine publication. I want to run my companies while travelling the world. All things fashion and beauty are in the works. ■

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“Standing out has always been my expertise — Burgers and Botox was quite original, I must say.”

Status Update NAME: Christine Quinn BORN: October 14 HOMETOWN: Dallas, Texas USA LIVES: Los Angeles, California, USA FIVE-WORD SELF-DESCRIPTION: “Hilarious, strong, brave, loving and bitchy.” WORST HABIT: “Judging people’s fashion choices.” GO-TO DRINK: “Watermelon Red Bull.” HANGOVER CURE: “Fried food.” LIFE MOTTO: “There is no such thing as ‘normal’ and I hate when people refer to themselves as ordinary. We are all extraordinary.” INSTAGRAM: @thechristinequinn TWITTER & SNAPCHAT: XtineQuinn

Styling by HOUS E O F J U L I A N

MENDEZ COUTURE ( B L AC K & R E D O U T F I T S ); L’A N I M A L C O ( P I N K B I K I N I )

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The true story of a W.A. man’s life above the outback and how his true Australian Spirit helped him overcome adversity… B y G R EG K E Y N E S 5 0

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The Red Hill crew, and Greg’s mate and business partner, Jim Adamson, dragging what’s left of Greg’s chopper onto a trailer to take the wreckage home

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rowing up on the family property in outback W.A., Greg Keynes’ childhood seemed idyllic. Poignant memories of exploring with his dogs; hunting, working and joking with the local Yamatji people. Breaking free from family ties as a young man, Greg began his own aerial mustering business and fell in love. Life was sweet, until a routine muster in the rocky gorges of the Hamersley Range went horribly wrong and Greg faced the reality that he may never walk again. In this edited extract from his new book The Flying Bushman Greg takes us through his helicopter accident and surviving the near-death experience. When you learn to fly a helicopter you quickly realise that in comparison to a fixed-wing aircraft they don’t glide well in the event of engine failure. However, there is an engine failure procedure that you can follow, providing you have enough forward indicated air speed and/or height above ground level up your sleeve. The manoeuvre is called “autorotation”, which involves keeping the main rotors turning by using the air moving up from underneath as you descend. It’s the equivalent of gliding in a fixed-wing aircraft. It allows you to keep some control over the direction you’re heading in, as the main rotor drives the tail rotor. I was very fortunate that my instructor had made me practise autorotations to the ground from thousands of feet. It gives you plenty of time to feel like messing your pants, but also sets you up for a real-life emergency. I was 150 feet (the height of a 15-storey building) above ground level when my engine failed. I had no power to inject into

“IT WAS A HUGE IMPACT. THE NEW KCF@8 = K5G =B K5G H5?=B; A9 =BHC 5BCH<9F 8=A9BG=CB"Å

:fca `YƊ hc f][\h. Hamersley Range, a mountainous region of the Pilbara of Western Australia; Mustering sheep on the Curbur Lake under the shadow of the chopper; Greg with his co-pilot, Ben — a purebred border collie — who used to fly with him in the chopper. Sometimes Greg would drop him out and he’d muster stock towards the chopper or help Greg put them through a gate; The chopper put them in there; Greg flying his chopper off into the sunset

the crippled machine, and could only use the cyclic to guide it to the best available landing space and hope for the best. I headed for the base of the gorge, and then it was as if everything slowed down to a snail’s pace. But I do remember the point of impact as my machine and I collided with the ground. It was a huge impact. The new world I was in was taking me into another dimension. I was no longer in charge of what was occurring or where I was going, and yet the amazing thing was that it was so peaceful. There was no pressure. I could take it easy and relax. I didn’t know what the end result would be, or what was in train for me, but I knew I would be taken care of. This was a beautiful, peaceful place, a lovely space to stay. And all the while there was an intense white light drawing me toward it. I had absolutely no control. The light was so powerful I felt I needed to shade my eyes. I remember thinking this must be heaven. But I was unable to confirm who or what was radiating that light and love — beautiful love. Even so, I was hanging back saying, “No, I don’t want 5 2

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“You’ll be right mate.” Rodney’s voice brought me out of my meditative state. It was like coming out of a powerful dream after taking morphine. Then pain cut in and jerked me back to reality. Rodney Rodney [fellow cattle musterer mate] was trying to move me and I couldn’t seem to move my legs to help him drag me away from the demolished aircraft. The impact had smashed me into the seat, which had collapsed under the force. A large rocky outcrop had disintegrated my undercarriage, suspension and skid gear. The heels of my RM Williams boots had been torn from their uppers and my feet had gone through the front Perspex. The helicopter, usually 2.5 metres high to the top of the rotor

to go. I’ve got too much to do. I don’t want to go.” It would be a conversation that would embed itself into my brain for the rest of my life. But I was not sure that I was actually saying the words. It was like somebody was saying them on my behalf. Like a prefect defending a bad pupil in a meeting with the headmaster, and making a case for a second chance. I was getting awfully close to the light now, on my slow, unstoppable journey. I desperately kept repeating my mantra. The closer I got, the harder I seemed to pull back. I felt that once I came into the direct presence of that powerful light, I couldn’t go back. Well, someone must have been listening.

blades, was compacted to less than a metre high, and I was buried in what was left. Rodney must have been concerned about the threat of an explosion. The Robinson R22 helicopter has a gravity feed fuel system. The fuel comes from a tank that’s directly under the main rotors and flows down to the motor underneath. In this crumpled mess I was entangled in, the fuel was dripping onto the hot motor. Now that I was back in the real world, I could understand his concern. By the time the ground crew got to me and Kim [Greg’s wife] arrived, Rodney had dragged me away a little distance from what was left of the aircraft and laid my head on his coat. There were lots of rocks around and there was nowhere that was really flat. Lionel Ainsworth from Red Hill Station sat cross-legged all night, some 10 or 12 hours at least, with a pillow on his legs, so that I’d be able to rest my head and keep slightly elevated as they didn’t know the extent of any internal injuries. Kim was obviously horrified at what she saw, and tried to comfort me as best she could. But it was a long night. The only painkillers available were two paracetamol tablets somebody had in their saddlebag. The RFDS arrived in the morning, with Rodney guiding them in. Once the doctor had examined me and administered a beautiful shot of morphine to ease the pain, they strapped me into a stretcher to avoid any movement and lifted me directly out of the gorge and on a direct flight to Pannawonica, some 50 kilometres away, with Kim at my side. At Pannawonica I was transferred to an RFDS fixed-wing aircraft — with state-ofthe-art emergency equipment — for the trip

“IT GIVES YOU PLENTY OF TIME TO FEEL LIKE MESSING MCIF D5BHG BUT ALSO SETS YOU UP FOR 5 F95@ʔ@=:9 EMERGENCY.” MAXI M.COM.AU

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Greg Keynes grew up on a family property in the Murchison region of Western Australia. Working as a pastoralist and chopper pilot in the early ’80s gave him the unique opportunity of seeing only places that could be reached by helicopter, much of the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Murchison regions along with the world heritage listed Shark Bay. He still travels the regions of WA continuing to write and working in various roles and keeping in touch with his three children and three grandchildren.

ÄBC = 8CBÇH WANT TO GO. I’VE GOT TOO MUCH HC 8C" = 8CBÇH WANT TO GO.” to Perth. I don’t remember much about the journey, as they gave me more juice in the veins. I do vaguely recollect the aircraft’s throbbing vibration and rushing air. I also remember having a hazy understanding that this was serious, because my feet were numb and it was hard to move them. The aircraft landed at Perth’s light aircraft and training airport in Jandakot. I had flown out of it at first light on many a cool, fresh morning, heading back up the coast to mustering camps all over the Pilbara and Gascoyne after getting my helicopter serviced. The media were at the airport when we arrived. I later saw a video of the evening news showing me being wheeled into an ambulance that was waiting to take me to the hospital. Only one piece of my aircraft ever made it out of that gorge intact. My friend and business partner, the late Jim Adamson, who was then farming at Eneabba, managed to locate the wreck after much difficulty, with the efforts from some kind helpers like Trevor Grover. They discovered that one rotor blade was not damaged at all during the accident. It showed that I must have flared back strongly, in correct engine failure procedure, 5 4

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From top: RFDS doctor (in white shirt) assessing what to do with Greg moments after the helicopter crash; “Go easy, boys, I’ve got a broken back!” Greg explains he only found out about his busted back after he was taken to hospital

as I wrestled my machine onto the rocks at the base of the gorge. Jim cut the undamaged rotor blade off the machine, took the wreck home on a trailer, and mounted it on the wall of his den. It’s the only surviving memento of R22 UXK — Uniform X-ray Kilo, which left its few remains in a deep gorge 10 kilometres east-south-east of Mount Farquhar in the Pilbara, Western Australia. ■

The Flying Bushman by Greg Keynes (Gelding Street Press, $29.99rrp) is available at all good bookstores, BIG W and Target

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RENAISSANCE MEN Gentlemen of style have three new reasons to reaffirm that the well-groomed life is the only way to go... B y J A R E D PAU L S T E R N

or a while there this spring, before most barber shops and hair stylists were able to reopen for business, the state of men’s grooming was seemingly in dire straits. With “quarantine beards” the new normal, pundits predicted that men would embrace this enforced slovenliness; CBS New York even went so far as to air a segment titled “Experts Predict Long Hair, Beards Back In Style By Summer.” Of course, men proved more resilient than that, unwilling to abandon their perfectly-trimmed facial hair and precision fades. Nor did they decide to forgo fine grooming products simply because there was no one around to appreciate them. The timing in fact proved fortuitous as two new luxury grooming lines were in the nascent stages, while one of the country’s coolest highend barber shops expanded its offerings and locations. With a return to normalcy we expect them all to do very well, as grateful men return to the grooming regimens that help define them as gentlemen of style. America had already welcomed Saunders & Long to their shores after their London launch last summer. The luxury grooming line blends an impeccable pedigree, perfect formulas, and handsome packaging. It was founded by film producer Nick Saunders and hair stylist Jonathan Long, who brought on the likes of Klaus Heidegger, former co-president of Kiehl’s, and Stephen Musumeci, former chief chemist of Bumble & Bumble, to work on the products. Model Johannes Huebl and photographer Greg Williams are also partners in the business, and London’s legendary Fortnum & Mason

was one of their first retail accounts. “Our ambition was to build a great British luxury brand in the hair and skincare space,” as Saunders told Forbes. “We felt that the incumbents in this space had slightly lost touch with the rapidly increasing demands for progression in the world of luxury.” Galimard can hardly be said to be a newcomer, having been founded in Grasse on the French Riviera in 1747. One of the world’s oldest perfume makers is however not very well known elsewhere. That’s about to change though, especially in the U.S., as one of the world’s coolest barber shops, Pittsburgh’s House of Handsome, gets set to launch an in-house Galimard experience, dubbed the Studio des Fragrances, where customers can create their own bespoke scents. In preparation House of Handsome’s owner Michael Beckadic and his wife Emily traveled to the home of Galimard in France to become certified perfumers, or “noses” as they are known in the industry. Using a palette of 127 scents, which can be selected as top, heart and base notes — the “architecture” of a fine fragrance — they will help you create a custom cologne in the stunning, sybaritic surroundings House of Handsome is justly famous for. The result is a 100ml bottle of a scent uniquely your own. The formula is then recorded in the firm’s confidential database and cannot be duplicated by anyone else. In terms of grooming, “you are your own product, you are selling yourself,” Beckadic tells us. “The better you look, the better you feel; the better you feel, the greater you perform; and the greater you perform, the more you succeed. If you can’t take

Above: Sanders & Long was founded by film producer Nick Saunders and hair stylist Jonathan Long; Opposite: Pittsburgh’s aptly-named House of Handsome is home to a new Galimard fragrance experience 5 6

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“GRATEFUL GENTS HAVE RETURNED TO THE GROOMING REGIMENS THAT HELP DEFINE THEM AS MEN OF STYLE.” care of yourself, how can you take care of business?” The Galimard offering, available by private booking, makes that both a pleasure and a preordained success. In Miami meanwhile men have been embracing one luxury barbershop brand in particular: The Spot, which now has over 15 locations throughout the area. They offer full-service haircuts, hot towel shaves and various grooming rituals, all in settings evocative of the gentlemanly lifestyle with an industrial chic vibe, some complete

with bars and libraries. It’s little wonder that the likes of Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather make a point of stopping in to get spruced up whenever they’re in town. Clients often end up staying for hours to sip whiskey, watch sports, shoot pool or brush up on their reading, which is no surprise given how inviting the premises are. Long hair and beards don’t stand a chance when getting them seen to is such an amazing experience. ■

Miami’s The Spot is a true gentleman’s escape and lussxury barber shop in one

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This page: Bremont ALT1-C Griffon Opposite: Bremont Project Possible

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LEGACY

In less than two decades British watchmaker Bremont has become iconic in its own time. While Switzerland reigns supreme as the home of exquisite horology, two brothers with a taste for adventure and the aptly-titled surname English are singlehandedly reviving luxury English timepieces. After all, Rolex watches used to be assembled in England. MAXIM sat down with Giles English, one half of the brotherly duo behind Bremont, to talk watches, expansion and creating a legacy in real time… B y R E I L LY S U L L I VA N

n 2002, two English brothers with a lifelong passion for flying vintage aircraft established a company to craft beautiful pilot watches. It would be millions of pounds of investment and five long years before they’d sell their first timepiece. “When we set out on this original journey it was about bringing British watchmaking back to the UK,” explains Giles English, chatting via Zoom from a well-appointed home office in the U.K.. “We’re building an engineering brand and a luxury brand at the same time.” From their headquarters in Henley-on-Thames, the quintessentially English town world-famous for its annual regatta, Bremont is making the case for British watchmaking. Although the Bremont name is derived from a fortuitous encounter between the brothers and a French farmer called Antoine Bremont (they crashed landed in his field), Giles is quick to clarify that the link between Antoine Bremont and Bremont watches is in name only. “He reminded us of our dad in a big way, but it was never supposed to be a dedication.” It’s the pair’s late father, Dr Euan English, an ex-Air Force pilot who tragically passed away in a plane crash in 1995, who serves as an ever-present inspiration for Giles and Nick. “We wouldn’t have gone into watchmaking it if it hadn’t been for our father and his love of watches and engineering. 5R NYdNf` UNQ \[R Re]_R``V\[ UR b`RQ a\ Y\cR x6ay` better to live life and lose it than never live life at all’ and we’ve lived our lives by that to an extent.” Suffice to say, founding Bremont was a mammoth undertaking, particularly in a country which no longer possesses the creative nor mechanical infrastructure for luxury horology. As Giles points out, the brothers could have more easily purchased an existing Swiss watch company and traded off past glory. “There are so many Swiss watch brands that have traded since 1722 and such… but actually they’re resurrected companies from 20 years ago. We’re very much about creating our own history.”

Bremont has made its name crafting bespoke watches for elite military units and personnel across the globe. “It’s a middle ground of creating a luxury timepiece that you could wear in the board room or Mount Everest,” says Giles of the company ethos. The MBI watch, created in partnership with British aviation company Martin Baker, was one of their first timepieces to capture the imagination of the watch world. Unveiled in 2007, the MBI is put through the same rigorous testing and extreme G forces as Martin Baker’s fighter ejection seats. In a marketing master stroke, an MBI may only be purchased by pilots who’ve themselves ejected from an aircraft via a Martin Baker seat, making ownership of the watch among the most exclusive in the world. When it comes to marketing Bremont, the company’s advertising is similarly innovative. “We’re proud to say we are making aviation watches and it’s not about models standing in front of aircraft, it’s real people wearing our watches” says Giles. Instead of casting big screen action stars as ambassadors, Bremont has tapped real-life heroes to populate their campaigns. Men like Ross Edgley, the first person to swim all the way around Great

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Britain. “For us it’s someone who appreciates the quality of engineering. It’s generally someone who is active, but he’s also his own man.” Nick and Giles are perhaps the most effective Bremont ambassadors of all. By allowing themselves to be front and centre in the brand’s promotion, the pair represent a through line between Bremont and its recurring motifs — aviation, the military and engineering. Certainly, in an era where watchmakers relentlessly mine (and embellish) their histories to woo customers, having two aircraft-flying and camera-ready founders gives Bremont vitality. Who needs James Bond or the ghost of Steve McQueen with founders like these? “If you’ve got the marketing money you don’t have to be creative,” declares Giles. “We’ve never had that luxury so we’ve had to be creative. We’ve had to bring in new technology and work with interesting partners and come up with crazy R&D developments. We’re not working with a team of designers who are just looking at market trends.” Having two founders who are still very much alive has other advantages, particularly when it comes to partnering with other brands on special edition timepieces. As Giles puts it, “How could I go work with Jaguar or Martin Baker if I was an old chronometer manufacturer from 1760?” The brand’s limited-edition watches don’t subscribe to a strict theme or period. According to Giles, “It’s about design inspiration. There’s no end to different bits of inspiration Nick and

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This page (from top): Bremont ALT1-P2; Bremont brothers Giles and Nick in front of their plane; Opposite: Bremont Project Possible

I can work with.” Their design vision isn’t just Martin Baker and the military either. Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose aircraft, the Concorde and the America’s Cup have all inspired namesake watches. Then there’s the Jaguar D-type watch, named after the iconic vehicle of the same name, with original D-type tread etched into the timepiece and hand-signed by Jaguar’s Director of Design. One of Bremont’s more whimsical partnerships has been with Rolling Stones guitarist (and painter) Ronnie Wood, the subject of the 1947 collection. Each of the 47 custom-made pieces from the collection features a dial face hand-painted by Wood himself. Retailing for a cool $69,995, the 1947 collection is strictly for the high rollers. Giles confirms the existence of a devoted group of clients who regularly fork out for Bremont’s most luxurious creations. “We have people who own 30 or 40 of our watches and collect every one we make and that’s a real honour.” Equally, he’s also immensely proud to attest that Bremont owners are a broad church. “We have two divisions: we have a lot of collectors who buy our watches. They want a British watch in their collection, love our limited editions and want something a bit different. And then we have the other end of the spectrum: military pilots, kids getting their

21st birthday present. We’re their first watch and we’ve helped them get into the love of watches, and that’s lovely as well.” Until recently, the humble quartz watch was a sticky subject for most luxury watchmakers. The art of mechanical watchmaking was devastated by the advent of these new low-cost movements in the 1970s, giving rise to the notion that mechanical watches were merely ornamental status symbols for the rich. With its cast of action men and strong military associations, Bremont busts the myth that modern chronographs are made only for their craftsmanship and aren’t supposed to be put to the test. Ambassadors like polar explorer Ben Saunders and mountaineer Nirmal Purja really do brave earth’s most hostile conditions wearing the brand’s watches. “These guys can’t wear quartz watches because the temperatures kill the watches,” explains Giles. “If you’re in the South Pole at minus 40 degrees, a quartz watch will last four or five days. They need old fashioned cogs and gears and that’s part of what we love — technology really hasn’t moved on. They’re not using cogs and gears because its old craftsmanship, they’re using it because it actually is the best thing to use.” In a surprising twist, the rise of smartwatches has eroded the quartz watch market while seemingly invigorating luxury mechanical watches. Turns out the smart watch, made to be worn then quickly superseded, makes a luxurious mechanical watch, that’ll last centuries, seem even more appealing. “It’s such a non-disposable item that has longevity” muses Giles. “There’s not many things you can buy today that have that.” As brand fatigue scares watch enthusiasts away from conspicuous logos, Bremont slides neatly into the inconspicuous luxury category. A conversation starter, the timepieces are aesthetically unpretentious yet distinguishable for those in the know. They’re also highly versatile; the dive watch I’m lent from the S500 range looks just as stylish decked with jeans and a biker jacket as it is dressed up with cufflinks. Commemorating British aircraft manufacturer Supermarine, it’s also one of the brand’s more entry level pieces, starting at $6,100. Coincidentally, Mr English himself is wearing a similar model during our Zoom call. Perhaps the magic is in the fascinating trip tick case, in which three pieces are used to create the case bezel, middle and back. The result feels wonderfully handmade and bespoke, and yet, to a discerning watch enthusiast, instantly Bremont. “We wanted a classic style of watch, but we felt the standard watch cases are pretty dull. By doing the trip tick, the case became a work of art. You can always tell a Bremont on someone’s wrist by looking at the side profile.” With boutiques in London, New York City, Hong Kong and Melbourne, the brand is in a unique position. As many watchmakers surpass saturation in Europe and North America and eye far-flung

emerging economies, Bremont still has room to expand at home. A shiny new facility in Henley is scheduled to open this year (pandemic permitting). Tentative plans for further boutiques are in varying stages of development. One wonders if the brothers have carefully noted the failures of luxury brands who’ve enthusiastically embraced licensing and joint ventures, only to see their brand names diluted and customers rightly confused. By playing their cards close to the vest, Bremont keeps a tight rein on when and where timepieces are sold. “In numbers terms, we’re making tiny numbers compared with big brands, and often Bremont owners appreciate that.” It also fosters a palpable sense that customers and staff are one big family. “Without a doubt, we make less margins on making watches than anyone else. That’s because for the price-point it’s a very good watch made in very exclusive numbers. We want to offer value and exclusivity. If you buy a Bremont you enter the Bremont club and you become a friend of the brand.” These client interactions are precious. “Watches and the stories around them can be amazingly emotional,” says Giles. “A guy walked in to our boutique recently with his two sons and said, ‘We all want to buy a Bremont today together.’ We went through the whole process and he was really excited to be buying for his sons. At the end of it we asked what they were celebrating and he says, ‘I’ve got terminal cancer and been given six months to live.’” I suggest that a customer entrusting such a sentimental moment with the brand is also a responsibility. Giles agrees. “It’s a huge amount of trust they’re putting in us and we have to live up to that. It’s in the quality and looking after the client forever more and not doing anything stupid with the brand that will put that in jeopardy.” In less than 18 months, the brand will celebrate 20 years since its founding, and the brothers are focussing on their goals for the coming decades. In particular, increasing Bremont’s vertical integration (some components are currently manufactured outside the UK) and local expertise. “Training up watchmakers is critical to our future success,” says Giles. “We’ve got a brilliant team working at the company and everyone feels there’s a mission we’re on. We’re always the underdog in that mission and that’s part of what drives us.” Perhaps Bremont’s greatest achievement to date has been building up a loyal client base, no mean feat for a British company competing against over 700 Swiss makers. “Our customers are everything. It takes years to gain that trust and I think we’ve proved our worth and that we’re here to stay. You don’t buy a Bremont to say, ‘Look, I’ve made it in life’. You buy a Bremont because it’s understated elegance” concludes Giles. “We’ve been on this amazing journey and it’s got a lot longer to go.” ■

“IT’S A MIDDLE GROUND OF CREATING A LUXURY TIMEPIECE THAT YOU COULD WEAR IN THE BOARD ROOM OR MOUNT EVEREST.”

Bremont watches are available at www.bremont.com, Bremont boutiques and authorised retailers MAXI M.COM.AU

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Champion Aussie snowboarder SCOTTY JAMES talks isolation, and escaping COVID-19 lockdown, plus the release of his new signature Oakley eyewear… DOB:

HEIGHT:

July 6, 1994

185cm

RESIDENCE:

OLYMPIC PERSONAL BEST (PB):

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PB:

Warrandyte, Victoria

BRONZE 2018 Pyeongchang Halfpipe

GOLD 2019 Utah Halfpipe

You recently escaped an intense COVID lockdown in your home city of Melbourne. How were you managing those difficult circumstances? It was certainly an interesting few months being in Australia. Change of pace and not travelling was strange but I actually enjoyed my time at home as it has been a while since I’ve been able to spend time without thinking about the next trip or competition. Did you at least manage to enjoy your prolonged stay? I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t able to do much as everything was closed but seeing the family and friends when I could was great. I miss Melbourne when I’m away, so I felt pretty spoilt that I got to be there for so long.

Did you have any iso projects you were working on? We were working on a few products, which was really awesome, like my Scotty James gloves. But more playing golf inside, training and staying fit for when I can get back on the snow was the main focus. You’re now basing yourself in Switzerland. What’s your plan of attack from here? I’m standing by waiting for the snow to fall as we are heading up to the Glacier for the month of October which is going to be great. I love Switzerland, I’m happy to be here in the months leading up to the return of snowboarding. Tell us about your new signature Oakley goggles. I always used to wear signature goggles of the pros that inspired me growing up and I would dream of one day having my own. When the opportunity arose it was really special.

What role did you play in developing the Oakley Line Miner Scotty James Signature? It was overwhelming because I wanted to get it so right! I love the Oakley Line Miner frame, so that was a given, and then with the design, colours, strap, lens… I really wanted it to reflect me. I love the colour red and wanted the goggles to be loud but subtle. We came up with quite a few options before we got the end product. Besides the red what are your other favourite features? I love the frame. I always wear a clear frame in my Pitchman R sunglasses and wanted to mimic that to the goggle. It’s a unique look and something different from the rest. I’m hoping anyone and everyone will benefit from these goggles. Are you working towards any major 2021 goals? Continue thriving in the competition world as well as working on some more video base content. But it’s been a great few months to recharge the batteries and fire up, so for now I’m feeling great heading into the season and looking forward to competitions commencing again. ■

The Oakley Line Miner Scotty James Signature goggle is a new standard of peripheral vision 6 4

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How to

BACK YOURSELF MAXIM fitness guru ALEXA TOWERSEY gives you the lowdown on powering up your back muscles and posterior chain to make you a stronger athlete...

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TOP TIP

Strong Grip = Strong Back. Adding in Heavy Loaded Carries for some low impact conditioning is a great way to stimulate more muscle fibres for more growth.

It’s the “Mirror Muscles” you can’t see that make an athlete — the big, burly, powerful back muscles that form the posterior chain. In recent years, the posterior chain has come to the anterior of many fitness, physique, and performance conversations. A strong p-chain makes a strong athlete.

THE WHY

THE WHO

A strong posterior chain helps contribute to a strong core musculature, which helps reduce lower back pain and prevent injury, as well as facilitating co-ordination and strength through the limbs. It’s fine to train muscles in isolation, but training an entire “chain” to work together makes sure you’re not just strong in the gym, but in real life too. To bring up all your lifts, you need big and strong glutes, hamstrings, and lower back muscles. To run faster, your glutes and hamstrings have to be extremely powerful to propel you forward. To maintain proper running mechanics , you need a strong lower back. To dominate the stage in competitive bodybuilding, you need "hanging" hamstrings. And if you want striations in your glutes, well, you’ll need to have glutes first! Last but not least, chicks don’t dig flat grandpa butts either! Sorry, not sorry.

The main muscles and functions of The Posterior Chain Gang include: ● Latissiumus Dorsi (prime movers and stabilisers of the shoulder/scapula) ● Rhomboids (scapula stabilizers) ● Lower Trapezius (dynamic scapula stability) ● Multifidus (spine support) ● Erector Spinae (back & spinal extension) ● Gluteal Muscles (hip extension & rotation) ● Hamstring Muscles (hip extension, knee flexion) ● Gastrocnemius or Calf (plantar flexes ankle, knee flexion) ● External Obliques (back and spine support, in tandem with anterior core)

THE WHAT Primary Exercises These are your bread and butter strength builders – the foundation on which a solid back half will be built. We all want to be able to bang out some pullups on demand, and have an impressive squat and deadlift. For an athlete, this means more on-field power. For the rest of us, being able to lift heavy shit is not only functional but also pretty f—king empowering. These are the focus of the session so they will appear first and are typically heavier with a lower rep range. These are your Olympic Lifts, Squats, Deadlifts, Glute Ham Raises, Hip Thrusts, Glute Bridges, Pull Ups and Bent Over Rows. GPP/Accessory Exercises These are used to build work capacity, General Physical Preparedness, injuryresistance, and hypertrophy. They support and help boost the primary lifts so will round out each workout and provide the bulk of the volume. They include Good Mornings, Romanian Deadlifts, Bulgarian Split Squats, Back Extensions, Hamstring Curls, Seated Rows, Sled Push Variations. MAXI M.COM.AU

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THE HOW Anterior exercises deserve attention, but most athletes need to focus on p-chain training to balance the body. For this reason, I’d suggest a 3:1 ratio split for the first 4-6 weeks when programming in regards to pull:push movements. You can train the posterior chain every day. It all comes down to exercise selection and the order in which they are performed. Here’s a sample 3-Day Training Split that will be guaranteed to improve your pulling power..

Day 1 A1. 5 x 5 Back Squat. 90 secs rest between B1. 4 x 8 Barbell Bench Press B2. 4 x 8 Barbell Bent Over Row C1. 3 x 12 Romanian Deadlift C2. 3 x 12 Lat Pulldown C3. 3 x 24 Walking Lunge (long step) D1. 2 x 15 Standing Calf Raise D2. 2 x 15 Back Extension

Day 2 A1. 5 x 5 Sumo Deadlift. 90 secs rest between B1. 4 x 6-8 Pullups B2. 4 x 6-8 Standing Military Press C1. 3 x 12 Zercher Standing Good Morning C2. 3 x 12 DB Bulgarian Split Squats C3. 3 x 12 Seated Row D1. 2 x 15 Seated Calf Raise D2. 2 x 15 Facepull D3. 2 x 30 secs Side Plank each side

Day 3 A1. 8 x 8 Glute Bridges. 30 secs rest between B1. 4 x 8 DB Incline Bench Press B2. 4 x 8 Ring Rows C1. 3 x 6-8 Hamstring Curls C2. 3 x 24 DB Reverse Lunges C3. 3 x 12 Bench Supported DB Row D1. 30m Sled Push (high hips) D2. 30m Suitcase Carry each side 5 rounds

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TOP TIP

Most people don’t put enough effort into calf training. They say, “You’re either born with big calves or not. It’s all genetics.” Yes, calves are stubborn. But so is your girlfriend, and you haven’t given up on her yet. Right? Try a five-second pause at the bottom of the stretch movement to get the biggest bang for your buck.

CONFIDENCE IS A SKILL YOU CAN LEARN Here are three simple gym hacks to build your body and your self belief… ● Do what you NEED to do, but include what you LIKE to do. It’s necessary to work on weaknesses and shit we’re not good at, but it’s just as necessary to have a fun factor as this is the stuff that essentially fuels motivation and cultivates consistency. ● Set Rep Records. Chase size and you don’t always come away with strength. But chase strength, and often size is a bonus. Aggressively chase numbers — it can be pretty damn hard to get a true 1 RM, but you can go for 3RM, 5RM, 8RM and 10RMs. Not only do these promote hypertrophy and work capacity, but achieving them will bolster your confidence. ● Half Ass it instead of skipping it. There will be days where it’s a deadset struggle to get to the gym. But turn up anyway. Backing out on your commitments to yourself is a surefire way to lose self-respect. ■

ABOUT ALEXA

“Action Alexa” is an internationally published celebrity trainer, sports model and nutrition and lifestyle coach with over 15 years’ experience in the health and fitness industry, and has worked with NZ’s world champion rugby team, the All Blacks. She has qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Champs and was named as one of the Five Toughest Trainers in Asia during her seven-year stint in an MMA gym in Hong Kong.

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SPORT

An exclusive Q&A with one of the world’s top golfers and Omega brand ambassador RORY McILROY... By DU N CA N Q U I N N

ory McIlroy, the world number one golfer, has climbed from humble beginnings to the very top of the sport. Today the Irish athlete and UNICEF ambassador looks down from on high at all who seek to topple him — raking in winnings and accolades along the way. With a career among the most lucrative in golf history, the London Sunday Times put his net worth at about US$170 million in 2019. His tournament appearance fees (said to topUS$2 million apiece) and winnings (such as the 2019 Fedex Cup where he won a cool US$15 million) are just part of his estimated annual earnings of about US$40 million, making him one of the world’s highest-paid athletes. As is often the case with true winners, the trappings and financial rewards are not what drive McIlroy. Perhaps easily said when you are on a roll and have deals with the likes of Nike, TaylorMade, and Omega watches. And while the need to win is what drives him, his arsenal also includes compassion. Rory also has fine taste in supercars (he’s been spotted at the wheel of a Lamborghini Aventador) and property (reportedly owning houses in Florida and Dubai), so we figured we’d ask his views on life during a pandemic, the future, tuxedos, watches and golf balls. He’ll hopefully be hitting them again in earnest with the PGA tour slated to resume — sans spectators, initially this summer.

and throw myself into completing complicated jigsaw puzzles to have a bit of fun and help with my concentration. My fitness, which has always been important to me, has taken on an even greater significance in the past weeks. Running and skipping workouts are working wonders, but my recent passion for Peloton cycling, where I compete against other riders (some of them golfers), really keeps that competitive spirit in me alive. The last couple of months have completely altered what would have been a hectic schedule of events and I intend to continue to use this time to recharge, stay fit and enjoy the least amount of travel since my days as an amateur golfer.

How has your daily routine changed since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic? Like almost everybody, my routine has changed beyond anything I could have imagined. For starters, I hadn’t played golf until I hit a few balls at the range very recently. My last competitive round was in March at The Players and then I didn’t swing a club until the end of April — pretty unheard of at this typically very busy time in the golfing calendar. An unexpected break is usually welcome, but this was a really different and extended layoff for us all. I tried to keep a consistent routine each day during the lockdown period and ensure something of a structure to my days at home, [with] most a mixture of reading, gym, working with my commercial partners and keeping in touch with friends and family with plenty of Zoom calls.

You’re one of the top five golfers in the world. Do you have an inspiring story from your ascent? I think that one of the best shots I ever played was a hook — but it was an intentional one. In a playoff at the Hong Kong Open in 2008, I pulled my drive on the 18th, our second playoff hole, and left myself an almost impossible shot from behind a tree. I was about 130 yards from the green and needed a 50-yard hook to get to the putting surface. Needless to say, I made the green but lost the playoff hole (and the tournament) to a great approach and tap-in birdie from Lin Wen-tang.

“I DEFINITELY HAVE A REAL PASSION FOR FITNESS, HEALTH AND BUSINESS.”

What are you doing to keep creative? I’ve been able to put into practice my belief that the body and mind need to be active to remain healthy. I continue to read widely

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How do you see the sport of golf adapting to the post-pandemic world? I find it difficult to imagine if there will be such a thing as normal for the golfing world, but we will adapt to whatever new reality professional golf becomes. All aspects of every sport, from players and sponsors to media partners and fans, will return to a changed landscape. And while the importance of sport to the lives of millions cannot be underestimated, including my own, its return really needs to be a cautious and controlled one. New measures are essential to ensure the safe return of golf and I look forward to the special atmosphere, excitement and contribution fans bring to sport.

Does a bad workman blame his clubs? Or is golf like Formula One where the tools are (arguably) more important than the man? Even if I’ve occasionally tried, I don’t think blaming bad tools was ever really justified. It’s especially the case in today’s game as professional golfers have their equipment customised and tweaked

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to their own needs and desires — so “tool blaming” is definitely out! There is obviously a time when prototypes and experimental equipment will be flawed during the testing process, but it’s a different story when clubs are taken to the course for competitive play. It’s pretty safe to say that today’s available club and ball technology do not allow a golfer on the course with substandard kit. I think we can pare it all back down to the talents, both physical and mental, of the individual. What’s your dream shot? My dream shot is the one I visualise and then execute successfully! I just love when a hole fits my eye; I pick a spot in the distance, make a good swing and get the desired outcome. But golf’s so much more than dream shots. It’s about getting the job done from lies we don’t think we deserve, swirling wind and near impossible pin positions. Today’s professional golfer needs to be an able and creative shotmaker, moving the ball left to right and right to left as dictated by the demands of different courses and conditions. And then, sometimes, dream shots can be found amongst all that clutter. The golf tuxedo: discuss. Or is it shorts and spandex polo shirts all the way from here? Golf fashion trends and materials have certainly evolved over time, and usually it’s for the better. For casual games and practice days, I really like the freedom of wearing shorts, but I’m still a believer, even a traditionalist, in a smart polo and trousers during competitive play. For me, it’s almost like putting on business attire when I walk onto the first tee during a tournament. From a material perspective, modern golf apparel is all about performance. Shoes are lighter with better traction, molded to your feet and ultimately helping the foundation of your swing. The apparel materials are all about performance, temperature control, and designed to reduce friction when I’m swinging the club. Ultimately, I’m all for the traditional tuxedo look, but with an eye towards the lightweight and breathable, and performance fabrics of today. You’re an ambassador for Omega watches. Do you notice the time when you are in the heat of a match? How do you use time? Time is a huge part of my life, not just on the golf course in the heat of a tournament. The structuring of my event schedule is entirely about strict time management and optimizing my tournament preparation — it really is like a military exercise! I am also very time conscious with practice sessions in preparation for a tournament. I like to have short, focused sessions within a set timeframe, ultimately helping me focus on quality over quantity on the range. Now I’m even more time-focused since I’ve started to wear my Omega Seamaster “Ultra Light” on the course. My tendency is always to play fast in competition and I’m conscious of where on a course I’d like to be at a given time. That doesn’t always work out, especially if the pace of play is a little slow, but at least I get to check out my watch more often! Who’s the best golfer ever? And why? Oh, the eternally difficult golf question: Jack or Tiger? As professional golfers’ Major victories tend to be the ultimate measure of greatness, Jack Nicklaus would be deemed the greatest golfer ever because of his tally. But I don’t believe for a minute that things are that simple. If we throw a few more things into the mix such as technological advances over the years and the greatly improved standard of today’s top golfers, that question becomes a little more complex to answer. Let’s just say that Jack was streets ahead in his day while Tiger dominated in his — but Tiger’s 15 Majors may not quite be the end of that amazing journey.

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“WE WILL ADAPT TO WHATEVER NEW REALITY PROFESSIONAL GOLF ENDS UP BECOMING.” What else are you good at aside from swinging a club? And where does that lead after you get to that final 18th hole? I have a real passion for fitness, health and business. I’ve even said before that if golf hadn’t worked out for me many years ago, I would have probably worked in the business end of sport or fitness. My decision to finish my education early and pursue golf as a career was, I believe, the correct one but I do have a real appetite for reading and increased understanding. In my world as a professional golfer, I have developed a lot of interest in the areas and opportunities around health and wellbeing — things I hope to put a lot more energy into as I head towards my golfing twilight years. That said, I hope my golfing journey has a long road left to run. At 31 years of age, I like to think I’m still somewhere on the front nine of my career! ■

TRAVEL

SECRET SANDS While the rest of the region wrestles with overdevelopment, Grenada remains the chosen destination for Caribbean cognoscenti... By K E I TH GO R DO N

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The tropical white sandbar in the middle of the Caribbean Sea — Sandy Island in Carriacou, Grenada

t’s not the most famous, most frequently Instagrammed, or most blogged about Caribbean island — which is part of the reason you should be setting course for Grenada, which more than holds its own against better-publicised neighbours. For centuries, traders flocked there for its abundance of valuable spices, and the smell of nutmeg in the air still greets visitors upon their arrival. But now the main attractions are Grenada’s natural beauty, stunning beaches and a level of tranquility hard to find in more developed destinations. In fact, its relatively low profile has enabled it to maintain the characteristics and personality that make it feel truly unique in the Caribbean, a throwback to a time before Expedia and cruise ships by the score. Most visitors are greeted on this marvellous island by perhaps the most stunning port town in the entire region, St. George’s. Vibrant and colourful architecture surround the mesmerising harbour, while a stroll through its narrow streets and alleys conveys a strong sense of the city’s colonial history. Local shops and street food vendors make exploring the town a fantastic way to spend an afternoon, and they strike a perfect balance with the beaches and natural settings that will take up much of one’s time on Grenada. St. George’s Market Square is the largest market on the island and a great place to both people-watch and experience Grenada’s bountiful products. A benefit of the gradual pace with which Grenada has been developed for tourism is the abundance of natural parks, isolated beaches and exotic wildlife. Of the island’s 45-plus beaches, the most popular by far is Grand Anse Beach, located some five miles from St. George’s. A two-mile stretch of idyllic white sand paradise cozies up to a turquoise sea that shifts to a deep cerulean colour just a few yards offshore. Numerous watersports are available on the beach, with snorkelling a popular option for exploring beneath the surface, and waterskiing and paddleboarding on top of the water. Backed by a charming selection of hotels, restaurants and beach bars, it’s the perfect way to enjoy a stunning natural view without ever leaving the convenience of nearby amenities and delicious refreshments. However most of Grenada’s meandering coastline is jagged and untamed, meaning an array of different types and sizes of beachfronts are on offer for visitors. La Sagesse Beach offers seclusion, with large coconut palms providing shade for beachgoers, and extravagant flora providing a stunning backdrop for this hidden natural gem. There is also Levera Beach, part of Levera National Park, with its mangrove MAXI M.COM.AU

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swamps, lagoon and abundant birds and other wildlife, in addition to a stunning beach, quiet during the week, that overlooks both the surrounding blue waters and nearby Sugar Loaf island. Additional natural wonders can be found thanks an array of gorgeous waterfalls, with sites like Annandale, Concord, Victoria and the Seven Sisters waterfalls all located on this one small island. Most require short walks, hikes or treks of varying difficulty, so either grab a map and some good hiking shoes, or hire one of the local guides who can help visitors fully appreciate the water features and surrounding rainforest. Ironically for an island of such unspoiled natural beauty, one of the most amazing attractions anywhere on Grenada can be found just offshore in the Molinere Beauséjour Marine Protected Area off the west coast of the island. The Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park, founded by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, is a surreal installation of at least 75 pieces of art in a series of different collections placed on and around the seafloor. Since the park’s creation, tropical fish, coral and sponges have made the exhibits their home and both scuba divers and snorkelers can visit the site and enjoy one of the most unique underwater experiences to be found anywhere on the planet. Finally, Magazine Beach offers another option for those seeking an equally stunning beachfront excursion. Light pink sand and bluegreen waters greet visitors, who are likely to find the peace and quiet they’re seeking along this stretch of the beach. The snorkelling just offshore is superb and accessible to swimmers of all levels. We recommend combining a day spent frolicking in the waves with a dinner reservation nearby at The Aquarium Restaurant. Fusing international dishes with West Indian traditional flavors, this seafoodcentric establishment offers incredible freshly caught menu options, including our favourite, the Aquarium Medley, which offers guests

a large selection of lobster, scallops, jumbo shrimp and fish to share. Speaking of truly special culinary options, Grenada is not lacking when it comes to fine dining on par with any Caribbean destination. Many of the top dining options are found at the elite hotels on the island, an added attraction for those who stay at these world-class properties. One of the most highly regarded of these is Calabash, a five-star institution that is a member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux group. Visitors can stay in spaces ranging from impressive junior suites to standalone villas that offer all of the privacy and comfort of a private home with the elite service and attention one would expect from a five-star resort. With names like Caribali, Hummingbird and Treefrog, these villas are an Instagrammer’s dream, with jaw-dropping views and amenities such as infinity pools, Balinese-style cathedral ceilings and polished hardwood floors. Calabash is also home to Rhodes Restaurant, an openair space founded by the late renowned chef Gary Rhodes. Surrounded by flowering plants, palm trees and sparkling lights, the only thing that can distract diners from their surroundings are the delectable dishes on offer. From the first appetizer through dessert, each dish is treated with the utmost care, including the rotating list of specials that highlight local proteins and spices. Another option for uncompromising luxury and service is Silversands Grenada. In addition to guest rooms and suites that combine modern design with an open, breezy layout, guests can also choose one of the private villas, with their own pools or views of the sea that will impress even the most jaded of travelers. The resort has something for everyone, whether your preferences lean towards the rum and cigar lounge — ours do — the full-service spa, or a beach club with resident DJ. It also offers multiple dining options, including the deservedly acclaimed Asiatique, where diners are treated to dishes that integrate

Above: Instagram beauty Veronika Klimovits (@veronika_klimovits) lounging at the island’s 61° West Restaurant + Beach Bar; Opposite (top): Grenada’s renowned Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park; Opposite (bottom): The stunning Seven Sisters Waterfall

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“I THINK WHAT MAKES GRENADA SO MAGICAL IS THAT IT’S AN UNTOUCHED ISLAND IN SO MANY WAYS.”

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Above and below: The posh Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel is one of the island’s top destinations; Opposite: The picture-perfect pool at the Silversands Grenada

Asian techniques into local ingredients and traditional Grenadian spices. Sustainability is a key tenet for the resort, which sources most of its fruits and vegetables from local female growers, supporting both on-island food sources and female economic empowerment amongst the local population. Then there is Spice Island Beach Resort, featuring 64 beachfront suites are unique in their layout, as each suite provides a level of privacy and exclusivity sure to satisfy the expectations of the most demanding of guests. Breezy terraces and private lawn gardens provide a space for relaxation and rejuvenation, and many have private plunge pools in case the gentle breezes aren’t sufficient to cool off midday. In addition to standouts like the chic Janissa’s Spa and available beachside yoga sessions, Spice Island can offer culinary options including the fabulous Oliver’s Restaurant. In this open-air dining room with splendid views of the sea, diners are treated to exquisite offerings of both international and Creole dishes, all while being serenaded by calypso, reggae and steel bands from the island, making this one of the most authentic local dining experiences imaginable. Last but not least, those with an eco-friendly leaning can find true bliss at Mount Cinnamon Grenada, a boutique property featuring 37 suites and villas adjacent to the idyllic Grand Anse Beach. Despite possessing a more laid-back vibe than some of its peers on the island, the resort doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to luxury and service. While inhouse restaurant Savvy’s serves delicious options for breakfast and dinner, we find ourselves drawn from the beach to the midday barbecue and icecold beverages at Savvy’s Beach Cabana, open until the sun goes down at the end of your beach day. Find a spot in the shade of the palm trees that line the beach and enjoy your favourite cocktail. While lesser known than some of the other Caribbean island destinations, Grenada has been growing its reputation as a worldclass luxury getaway and drawing more diverse visitors with its

combination of extravagant luxury and natural beauty. The island has also been making more of an impact globally. For instance, the up-andcoming designer Fe Noel, whose family hails from the island, made a huge splash at New York Fashion Week earlier this year with her Grenadianinspired clothing line. This follows the creation of Grenada Fashion Week a few years back, which not only brought attention to the island, but to the fashion styles and talented designers coming from the small nation. Needless to say, Grenada is a destination on the rise. But while unrestrained development and shortsighted planning has turned some Caribbean islands into seemingly artificial and inauthentic destinations, Grenada has managed to develop world-class amenities without losing its natural wonders, its small-island feel and the warmth and hospitality that make a visit there such an intoxicating experience.

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A PLACE IN THE SUN Solamente Villa will soon be Grenada’s most alluring and exclusive escape B y J A R E D PAU L S T E R N

welve years in the making, Grenada’s new luxury escape, Solamente Villa, is set to welcome its first guests in time for the forthcoming seasonal festivities. The exclusive retreat on the island’s stunning southern coast was originally built as a private residence nearly 50 years ago, and it retains that spirit while offering a world-class “barefoot luxury” experience courtesy of a multimilliondollar renovation project. With rates starting at US$25,000 per night, it will only be available for five-to-six weeks per year and is expected to attract the likes of royalty, celebrities and billionaires who seek the privacy and security that only a private villa can provide, yet with all the amenities of a five-star resort. Expanded to 25,000 square feet by acclaimed Mexican architect Manuel Mestre, the residence now features eight suites capable of accommodating up to 17 guests in sybaritic luxury, yet the vibe at the ecofriendly estate is more holistic than hedonistic. “Solamente is a happy home, you feel this energy from the moment you step foot on the property,” pioneering Grenada developer Sherry Azadi tells us. Azadi’s sister Suzy Azadi, with whom she is a partner in New York City-based Azadi Design, oversaw the interior of the villa, which is adorned with

unique pieces of art and furniture from around the world, combining with natural materials used in its construction for a warm, welcoming and harmonious effect. The all-inclusive Mexican-style property with Caribbean flair is a fitting setting for the gracious decor, with its 100-foot infinity pool matched by 150 feet of private white-sand beach and a reef just off shore that makes it the most majestic private residence on the Caribbean island known for its pristine beauty. Guests will be attended to by a staff, known as guest ambassadors, numbering 15, including three chefs, a personal trainer, butlers, housekeepers, security guards, and chauffeurs. And there will also be a spa, tennis court, Technogymequipped workout room and extensive outdoor spaces including two thatch-roofed palapas and a private dock with a motorboat. Sherry Azadi says the original plan was to tear down the existing structure and start anew, but according to Mestre, “the spirit of the original owner [an American heiress] was too strong…. He said, ‘I could hear the laughter, joy, and happiness in the walls, and this is why I respected the wishes of Solamente’s destiny.’ He felt compelled to honour the house.” She adds, “the interior and architecture are in a perfect balance like a dance to beautiful music. One floats in Solamente; nothing is boring, and beauty is presented in every turn and hour.” To assemble the eclectic, contemporary decor, “we traveled around the world collecting piece by piece,” Azadi notes. Hence items sourced from Grenada itself now live in harmony with others from Africa to the Middle East, and many of them come with inspiring backstories. “All of this has true meaning,” Azadi says. “There’s something very energetically beautiful about every piece and everything sent here.”

Below: Solamente Villa boasts every conceivable luxury, including aqua spin bikes in the swimming pool; Opposite: Looking out to sea at the luxe Silversands Grenada resort; A Tesla at an entrance enticing entrance to the property

“ONE FLOATS IN SOLAMENTE; NOTHING IS BORING, AND BEAUTY IS PRESENTED IN EVERY TURN AND HOUR.”

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Of equal importance is truly impeccable service, because “that is actually not such an easy thing to find,” Azadi says. “I travel around the world extensively, and whether we rent villas [or] stay in the best fivestar hotels, quite honestly service is the one thing I always find lacking.” To that end Azadi brought in Marie-Claude Metrot, one of France’s top luxury hospitality consultants and an expert on protocol and etiquette, who has held numerous posts including Quality Director of the legendary Ritz hotel in Paris, and whose clients have included the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and LVMH billionaire Bernard Arnault. Metrot says that the level of service at Solamente is “haute couture.” A defining moment in Azadi’s quest to provide an impeccable haven for celebrities came when she ran into Roger Federer and his

family at a famous five-star hotel in Sardinia. “They didn’t have a moment to breathe when they were in the hotel, because everyone jumped on them. They were dying to get autographs, pictures with the children and so forth. And so Federer and his family were quickly whisked off to a yacht. And I thought it would be incredible if we created a home where you have [the atmosphere of] a yacht but on land, with all of its luxury, security and privacy.” The cuisine is certainly expected to pass muster with those used to Michelin stars. The property’s executive chef, Dexter Burris, a native of Grenada, was brought over from Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel, one of a handful of properties from the famed Relais & Châteaux association in the Caribbean, which is known for fine food and wine.

Above: Solamente Villa is architecturally appealing and in perfect harmony with its surroundings; Opposite: Scenes from the well-lived life at Solamente Villa

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Azadi says the culinary offerings will be truly varied depending on what is fresh and in season, both at the property’s own farm garden and from local producers and fishermen, with an emphasis on local seasoning and cooking styles. Grenada, known as the Spice Isle, is the perfect place to expand your palette and be at one with nature. “I think what makes Grenada so magical is the fact that it’s an untouched island in so many ways,” Azadi notes. “There are still monkeys in the trees…. Some of the roads are quite rugged, and there’s this purity about it [and] an innocence compared to the other islands. It’s people are incredibly kind and very beautiful.

And there is no other private home on this island of this calibre.” Which enables Solamente to be the kind of place where “you can truly refresh your soul and rejuvenate yourself.” Which is why Azadi plans to retain it for personal use most of the year. “Obviously Solamente is going to be rented to an exclusive group of people,” she says. “But it’s not so much about the money as it’s about the experience. And this is what’s so important. Solamente is not really a business, [and] I’m not going into it to make a huge profit. It’s more that I’d like to share it with certain people. And that is truly the vision for it.” ■ MAXI M.COM.AU

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PININFARINAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THIRD WAVE In its 90th year, famed Italian design house Pininfarina helps lead the way to a new generation of over-the-top supercars... B y N I C O L A S S T EC H E R

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s legendary Italian design house Pininfarina S.p.A. enters the third stage of its nearly century-long lifespan, a new brand, Automobili Pininfarina, has joined the family, aiming to produce the most elevated sustainable luxury cars the world has ever seen. Their first creation, the zero-emission Battista, flaunts celestial performance, with mind-boggling numbers like 1,900 horsepower, a 217-mph top speed, and a 0-62 mph time under two seconds. Yet Automobili Pininfarina aspires to even bigger goals than simply boasting one of the quickest vehicles on the planet: by 2025 they plan to debut an entirely new vehicle category dubbed the S-LUV (Sustainable Luxury Utility Vehicle), and aim to become the most sustainable luxury manufacturer in the world. “This is the story of a company, and it is the story of a family,” Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of Pininfarina S.p.A., beams proudly as he holds court in a sun-drenched gallery of his firm’s museum. “My grandfather had a vision to continue the company after his life: ‘My life is too short!’ he said, ‘I want the company to survive!’ And so he trained my father Sergio to become the second chairman of Pininfarina. And when I and my brother were born my grandfather was very happy, and he said ‘Now that we have these two new Pininfarinas I dream our company can be

projected into the next century!’ And now here we are, in 2020.” We’re standing in a gleaming glass atrium in Pininfarina headquarters in Cambiano, Italy, surrounded by some of the most coveted automobiles in human history: the Cisitalia 202, Ferrari P6 and Berlinetta Boxer, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider and 2uettottanta concept. Walking among these curvaceous steel masterpieces, it is blindingly clear that this is indeed the story of a family as much as a company. In the exalted pantheon of automotive design there are few names that carry more weight than that of Pininfarina. Sure other giants loom with surnames like Bertone, Giugiaro, Zagato, et al, but none quite hold the gravity and longevity of Turin’s most storied design house. Created in 1930 by Battista Farina, a man born in the foothills of the Italian Alps in 1893, Carrozzeria Pininfarina quickly gained fame penning cars of exquisite balance and elegance. Tiny in stature, and born the tenth of 11 children, Battista’s nickname “Pinin” (littlest one in the the family) soon became inseparable from his myth. The story of Pininfarina is really a trilogy, broken down into three distinct books: Book I, the genesis and foundational era under Battista; Book II, its evolution and more than half-century of collaboration with

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Ferrari under the leadership of Battista’s son Sergio; and finally today we gather in Turin to read the first chapters of Book III — probably best titled A Work In Progress. This third stage really began in 2012, unquestionably a transformational timestamp for Pininfarina. The death of Sergio in July of that year ended what many consider the halcyon era for the house. A half-decade of rising debt also saw 2012 as the year of a painful corporate restructuring. Lastly — and perhaps most ominously — Ferrrari created Centro Stile, it’s in-house design centre. The F12berlinetta, which debuted in 2012, marked the last production Ferrari to ever use Pininfarina styling, ending a streak started in the ’70s, where nearly every Ferrari production vehicle was designed by Pininfarina (with the lone exception of Bertone’s 308 GT4). Enter Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group, which purchased Pininfarina S.p.A. in 2015, saving it from seeming insolvency. It’s important to note the association with Ferrari immortalised Pininfarina, there’s no question. But the design house made its name years before the Prancing Horse even existed, so there’s reason to believe it will continue flourishing. For this reason Mahindra formed Automobili Pininfarina to envision, engineer, design and manufacture vehicles under the Pininfarina badges. And it all starts with the Battista [see sidebar], an electric rocketship imagined to elevate Pininfarina into the minds (and garages) of the world’s most discriminating and deeply pocketed collectors. But the story doesn’t end there. After the tour of the museum they usher us downstairs to see the next vehicle in the Automobili Pininfarina stable: the PURA Vision, a design concept that looks to forecast an entirely new lineup of vehicles under the signature ‘PF’ badge. And while the Battista takes its powertrain from Croatian hypercar builder Rimac, these newer vehicles will be manufactured in Northern Italy, with newly-developed platforms and powertrains.

“ A COMBINATION OF HERITAGE, DESIGN, AESTHETICS, PERFORMANCE AND CONNECTIVITY.”

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There’s not much we can divulge about this sneak preview, but we can say that the PURA Vision is a thing of spectacular beauty, pulling elements from some of Pininfarina’s most iconic vehicles. A chimera of sorts — half shooting brake, half SUV, all crossover — the S-LUV features a unique silhouette with the high fenders and low hood of the Dino. Very low in height with a narrow greenhouse, its linear simplicity echoes that of the Alfa 2uettottanta with the short overhangs and proportions of the Cisitalia. Pininfarina’s Chief Design Officer Luca Borgogno claims the PURA Vision’s all glass cabin hails from the very rare 1953 Alfa Romeo 6C Superflow IV. Its sides are deeply scalloped but polished smooth, almost like the high cheekbones of a supermodel. “We want to give a kind of sensuality to the car,” explains Borgogno. “It’s like the hips of a woman that are, in my opinion, one of the sexiest parts.” Beyond the zero emission all electric powertrain that will run across the fleet, serious sustainability efforts include a “circular economy” wherein scraps of aluminum and leather are upcycled into unique materials. Components like carpeting are made of discarded fishing nets, and some leather is tanned with an organic agent sourced from pruned leaves. Given the PURA Vision’s narrow windows and low height, I ask if the glass roof was designed to mitigate the claustrophobia from such a small greenhouse. The amicable designer smiles and shakes his head. “The inspiration was to actually have the perception of the surrounding environment as much as possible,” Borgogno clarifies. “It’s linked with our sustainability aspect. So the glass greenhouse has to do with enjoying the environment as much as possible, being related to looking outside: the feeling, the colors and the beauty of nature.” If the PURA Vision augurs what the Automobili team can bring into showrooms, then Pininfarina’s third book could very well become a bestseller. Who knows, it could even spark a second trilogy.

BATTISTA ANNIVERASARIO

Much has already been written about the Battista, but in Turin we were the first to witness the limited edition Anniversario. Created to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Pininfarina design house, the Anniversario features the same ridiculous zero-emission powertrain that courses through the Battista: a 120 kWh high-power-density battery supplying four independent electric motors, one at each wheel. This generates 1,900-hp and 1,696-lb-ft of torque, enough force to timewarp the Battista from 0-62 mph in under two seconds, and from 0-124-mph in under six — acceleration engineers compare to that of a fighter jet. Aesthetically the Anniversario edition offers a second set of 21-inch “Impulso” forged aluminum wheels, a slew of additional aero enhancements (including front carbon fiber winglets, rocker panel, reworked rear diffuser, rear aero fins and a bespoke rear wing), headlight engraving, “90” badging throughout, and a signature twotone livery. Designed to make the Battista “just a little more special,” according to Luca Borgogno, only five of the Anniversario will be made starting at US$2.9 million.

PININFARINA & FERRARI Over more than a half-century of collaboration, Pininfarina designed some of Ferrari’s most iconic and collectible cars. The two companies first joined forces in 1951, and while Ferrari worked with other coachbuilders in addition to Pininfarina in the 1950s and ’60s, by the 1970s, the famed Turin firm could take credit for every Ferrari road car except the Bertone-designed 308 GT4. Here are some of their greatest Prancing Horse masterpieces. — Jared Paul Stern

1968

The 365 GTB/4, aka the Daytona, won praise and races in equal measure.

1987

The F40 was designed to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary with style and power.

1976

Interest in the 512 BB, for Berlinetta Boxer, in recent years has seen values soar.

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Named for Ferrari’s founder, the eye-popping Enzo brought F1 tech to the street.

1964

The 275 GTB is frequently cited as one of the greatest Ferraris of all time.

1984

Made famous by Miami Vice, the Testarossa has been praised as a modern classic.

2013

The Pininfarina Sergio concept is mechanically based on a Ferrari 458 Spider.

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ULTIMATE LUXURY A conversation with Automobili Pininfarina CEO MICHAEL PERSCHKE... B y N I C O L A S S T EC H E R

What is it like to inherit this legendary name, responsible for some of the most iconic cars in the world, and shepherd it into a new era? I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime unique opportunity that you take a brand which is so strong, which has 90 years of legendary design. You go to The Museum of Modern Art, you go to the Petersen Museum, you go here to the National Automobile Museum and you have so many masterpieces of Pininfarina, and yet Pininfarina has never done that step to develop brand new cars. So I think that was a big strategic move. Thanks to Anand Mahindra and his foresight acquiring the company back in 2015, but already having in mind to create a car company. I think that already is a very important, very vital step. But I think the opportunity we now have is to start with new technologies. We’re not another “me too” combustion engine brand – we’re actually the first ultimate luxury car brand with zero tailpipe emissions. I think that’s a very, very unique positioning that we’re very proud of. Also our 90th anniversary is kind of that hook year where we can launch our first product, makes it even more unique. And when it’s time to celebrate 100 years of Pininfarina after 10 years of having our own car brand, I think that will make it

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extremely striking. But the Battista is the right starting point. When Pininfarina stopped creating current production cars for Ferrari many analysts thought it signaled the company’s end. Can you talk about phasing Pininfarina into this third chapter of its life? Fair question. Now I have to say I’m not part of Pininfarina so I cannot really speak to how it felt for the Pininfarina people. I personally think retrospectively, maybe this is one of the best things which happened to the company, because I would always say that Pininfarina delivered to Ferrari the shovels to allow Ferrari to dig for gold, because it was the design that made the Enzos, the F40s, the F50s really legendary.… But if you look in the history books it’s all about the design, and that was Pininfarina. So Ferrari breaking up that marriage actually gave Pininfarina the opportunity to step out of that shadow and define its own destiny. Now that led to a second company because Pininfarina [S.p.A.] is a design and engineering company that continues to serve other manufacturers, and we [Automobili Pininfarina] are only looking to create that beautiful new car brand.

We’ve seen the success of Tesla, and the unveilling of a slew of other EV hypercars like the Lotus Evija and Rimac C_Two; just being an EV hypercar is no longer revolutionary. What is unique about your positioning? I think there are three or four elements for this unique positioning. First and foremost I think Pininfarina owns aesthetics, beauty and design. Everybody else can own other attributes but I think nobody will really challenge Pininfarina on organic design, proportions, dimensions, surfaces. Pininfarina defines the category. We are not a follower, we are best in class for 90 years. For luxury this is very important because luxury is also a lot about design. Secondly, we have that unique heritage of having designed 64 Ferraris, 700 cars, 120 show cars, and we are very well respected. The Cisitalia was the first car which went into the permanent exhibit of The Museum of Modern Art. So I think that’s a very strong asset we have. The third asset we want to own is driving characteristics and performance. At the end we might not be the strongest by four or five horsepower, but that’s not relevant. It’s how you can apply the power to a day-to-day use. And then lastly we want to also be among the best in the connectivity space. So when you come to your car it has intuitive-to-use, easy-to-integrate technologies — because that’s one of the critical elements for the next generation. So that combination of ingredients heritage, design, aesthetics, with performance and connectivity — if you put them together are quite unique. I always say it’s like a Michelin star chef: he goes to the same vegetable market as the normal restaurant. But the application of the ingredients by the magician, like my [Design Director] Luca Bergogno, they create a very unique three-star dish.

Pininfarina can hang its hat on aesthetics and design. But what you’ve never done is manufacturing. What do you tell investors to make them confident your team can bring a fleet of cars into production? So I think there’re different levels. The Battista is going to be produced here, in a combined team of Automobili Pininfarina and Pininfarina. We have in the group already the capabilities of small scale, very unique series. And we’re here in Italy around terrain where you have a lot of these small shops, coach builders, leather companies, who can provide all the ingredients. Small numbers but high-quality suppliers, and that’s where I think we also have the strengths at our disposal. And then for the next car [PURA Vision] it’s scaling up. And I think the scaling up is something we are just embarking on and you’re going to see more on the scaling up, the factory, the green production technologies, photovoltaic and all that, which we will embed to become a zero impact company by 2025.

DESIGN GENIUS Pininfarina’s design projects now extend to trains, yachts, real estate and beyond “Beauty, Innovation, Purity and Authenticity” — the design principles of the legendary house of Pininfarina, founded in Turin, Italy, by Battista Pinin Farina in 1930, apply equally to the projects the company has pursued beyond the realm of gorgeous Ferraris, Alfa Romeos and other automotive icons. Battista’s grandson Paolo Pininfarina, now Chairman of Pininfarina S.p.A., started diversifying the design business in the late 1980s, making forays into product and later industrial and interior design, and, most recently, architecture. It’s major projects in the latter category now include the control tower of the new Istanbul Airport as well as a number of cutting-edge residential buildings in Europe and Latin America, such as the Cyrela by Pininfarina residential tower in São Paolo, Brazil. This year, on the brand’s 90th anniversary, it has announced a new endeavour with Spanish developer Excem Real Estate for a residential complex that will “become a unique architectural landmark” on Spain’s famed Costa del Sol, Spain. “We couldn’t have hoped for

a better gift for our 90th birthday,” says Paolo Pininfarina. “For years we have gradually pushed our creativity forward from cars to the world of industrial design and building architecture, and the market has understood this. We have learned that once a design language has been defined, a world of opportunities opens up. We started out from new luxury residential concepts with projects like Cyrela in Brazil or Sixty6 in Cyprus, and now we aim to leverage our vast experience in highend residential complexes by designing a breathtaking piece of architecture for Excem that establishes an emotional connection with people.” Call it the architectural equivalent of a super-luxury car with mouthwatering lines and you won’t be far off. And while real estate is becoming a more important part of the business, Pininfarina is still heavily invested in designing beautiful things that go fast, from the sleek Pininfarina Goldenpass Express train in the Swiss Alps, set to launch this winter, to the Princess X95 luxury yacht, with extensive outdoor space and an open-plan, modular interior; and the Airbus Corporate Jets 350XWB, which features wings that “morph” in-flight to produce the most efficient and cost-effective flight possible, as well as a fuselage made from nextgeneration carbon composite materials. — Jared Paul Stern ■ MAXI M.COM.AU

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THE DATING GAME

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The

PICKUP ARTIST Is he a manipulative and misogynistic psychopath who gets a boner playing and using women or just a nice guy trying to lift his “game” and get laid? Our resident sex and relationship columnist VANESSA DE LARGIE delves into the art of picking up…

ickup artists (PUA’s) accredit sexual success with women to a number’s game. PUA’s often moonlight as authors, dating coaches and even sexperts. Their online global community thrives through blogs, forums, newsletters and one-on-one coaching. But do PUA’s pseudoscience tactics really work? And what are the downsides of getting laid via such a cunning game?

The History Pickup artistry dates back to the ’70s, the decade that saw the Beatles break-up and cult leader Charles Manson get sentenced along with three others. Manuals and books such as The Art of Erotic Seduction and How To Get The Women You Desire Into Bed were released. Movies such as Magnolia and the TV series The Pickup Artist turned the caper, mainstream. Enter journalist Neil Strauss with his 2005 New York Times Bestselling book The Game and the methods of the pickup artist were here to stay.

The Defence Many women (myself included) roll our eyes when we hear the term “pickup artist” but are we jumping the gun? Could pickup artistry possibly be a positive pursuit that assists both men and women in the dating game? The answer is a massive “yes” according to pickup artist, Jon Anthony who contributes to the site Masculine Development. He says, “Learning game is the process of becoming a confident, assertive and decisive man who can effectively relate to women in a way that makes them attracted to you. In other words, learning game is f—king normal. But, because our society conditions men from a young age to be weak, snivelling beta males that don’t know how to relate to a woman, we actually have to spend time LEARNING something that should be natural. Game is basically having the correct emotional response to a woman’s actions and words. Game is knowing that women test men to see how confident they are, and knowing how to pass these tests. “Game is learning to be the best version of yourself; it’s a process of self-discovery where you grow and mature emotionally as a man, so that

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“GAME, WHEN DONE EFFECTIVELY, ACTUALLY MAKES A WOMAN FEEL REALLY GOOD. WOMEN ENJOY BEING WITH A MAN WHO’S CHARISMATIC, CONFIDENT AND FUNNY.”

you can relate to a woman in a healthy way. The media and mainstream “group think”, of course, completely twist this. They warp game into being some sort of Machiavellian pursuit where men learn how to use women, and they demonise the men who teach pickup as calculating, cold-hearted killers. Fundamentally, game is actually a mutually beneficial endeavour; men who pursue learning game see an increase in the quantity and quality of women in their lives, and women have more attractive men to choose from. In addition to being a win-win on a macro level, game is also a win-win on a micro level — it’s never meant to hurt or manipulate the woman you’re with, but rather to make them feel good and have fun. “Game, when done effectively, actually makes a woman feel really good. Women enjoy being with a man who’s charismatic, confident and funny. They enjoy being led around on a date or in a social interaction; they love it when a strong man can decisively guide them through life. The mainstream media, however, zooms in on the one percent of pickup artists that are manipulative psychopaths, and somehow gives everyone the idea that this is the ENTIRE pickup community, when it’s obviously not. In fact, most pickup artists that I’ve met in person are actually really, really nice guys.”

How Women Spot A Pickup Artist Catching a pick-up artist at his game is not always easy for women. Men can appear genuine when they’re not. Below are some convincing pickup artist techniques that a lot of women fall for. THE THREE-SECOND RULE: If a guy approaches a woman, immediately after locking eye contact. He could be executing the three-second rule, a classic pickup artist strategy to help men overcome anxiety and nervousness. KINO ESCALATION: Women also have to be aware of the bloke who takes your hand and twirls you around, playful pushes, high-fives and hugs within the first few hours of meeting. Pickup artists refer to this premature touchy-feely behaviour as “kino escalation” which is the escalation of kinesthetics with a girl, from the first touch to f—king. The idea is to find out her boundaries and to touch her in a non-sexual way. The end goal is to get her comfortable with physical touching and move towards getting her into bed. AVERAGE FRUSTRATED CHUMP: An average frustrated chump was coined by pickup artist extraordinaire, Ross Jeffries in the ’80s. It’s obviously shortened to AFC and is the label given to men that are clueless and incompetent when it comes to women. Women will

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find that most men are AFCs. FACEBOOK CLOSE: According to a site dedicated to PUA terminology and acronyms, a Facebook close is a way for pickup artists to interact with their “female target”. Because of the search bar on Facebook you don’t have to have her personal details to add her as a friend. Being “friends” on Facebook puts less pressure on women according to pickup artists. And if he fails to close with his female target, there’s also potential opportunities to connect with her friends. NEGGING: This is an insult and compliment all-in-one. For example: “You have a really big arse but I think it’s sexy.” It was first written about in Strauss’s book The Game, it’s goal is to lower the woman’s selfesteem, so she then seeks validation from the man she’s just met. It is supposed to even the power dynamics. Many men shower women with compliments on first meeting them, which puts them up on a pedestal, according to pickup artists, this makes women think that you’re soft. STATEMENT OF INTENT: Women should most certainly watch out for the “statement of intent” which is scripted dialogue pickup artists use when their verbal or physical attempts cause her discomfort. “Sorry, I’m a touchy-feely person” he may say after inappropriately touching your leg. This statement of intent is meant to show that he understands how he has made her feel and is used to build faith and confidence so women don’t immediately give him the flick. SOCIAL PROOF: If he’s flirting with another woman, or the barmaid serving him, he may be practicing pickup artist tricks to show her his worth via social proof. Women are often attracted to men who are desired by other women, so he could be trying to let her know how desired he is, out in the world. So, it seems the jury is out on pickup artists. To circle back to our original question at the strat of this article — are pickup artists manipulative and misogynistic psychopaths or just nice guys trying to lift their “game”? Pickup artist Jon Anthony tries to convince us that it’s definitely the latter. “The average man hates pickup artists, because he’s too scared shitless to admit that he lacks game and that he’s a bitch. The average woman hates pickup artists, because she thinks that they’re manipulative — until they game her and change her mood, that is. Don’t let these people sway you from the path. However, learning game will change you as a Vanessa de Largie man, regardless is an Australian actress, of your age or sex columnist and freelance circumstances.” ■ journalist based in London

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LEADING MAN

FAST FORWARD

Beyond the famous franchise, TYRESE GIBSON’s whole career has been in high gear... B y J O R DA N R I E F E P h o t o g ra p h y b y C H R I S T I N E M O R D E N

t’s rush hour again for Tyrese Gibson, who is behind the wheel when we catch up with him, just where you would expect to find the guy who plays Roman Pearce in next year’s Fast & Furious installment, titled F9. Actor, singer and former model Gibson has been with the franchise for 17 years, watching them come and go — Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, Charlize Theron — to name just a few of the players throughout the oil and octane saga. New faces in F9 include John Cena as Jakob Toretto, Cain to Vin Diesel’s Abel, Dominic. “John Cena being Vin’s brother and them being archenemies, it was definitely something I can relate to cause before me and my brother started getting along, it’s the type of relationship we had,” Gibson tells us. “You have some dudes who have brothers who drink and smoke and play video games all day and don’t want to do shit with their life. And then you got the other brother who’s working his ass off, trying to make something of nothing and basically carrying the survival of the whole family on their back.” The other guest star is Cardi B, who kept the cast in stitches. “She was a joy, man. She’s just got a really big personality. The jokes are nonstop, she’s very funny, great energy,” he laughs, adding that Cena surprised them with his affability. “We expected him to be an arsehole cause he’s a wrestler and his line of work is so aggressive. We just expected him to be aggressive. He’s just the nicest guy ever.” The one regular FF cast member who wasn’t there, hasn’t been there since 2015’s Furious 7, Paul Walker, who played Brian O’Conner, died at the age of 40 in a car accident in 2013. Every time the cast returns to the FF franchise, it’s a reminder to all of them of the tragedy of that loss, especially Gibson who grew close to Walker over the years. “People will say Paul is not in it so why are you guys continuing? That’s exactly why we’re continuing cause we made the shift in my mind saying we have to do this for Paul,” Gibson says. “But the biggest decision came from us talking to Paul’s family and them giving us their blessing. The last movie that Paul did was 7, and then to see Paul’s

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father, mother and brothers at the premiere of Fast 8, it just sends the message that they’re fully supporting us every step of the way.” Gibson grew up in Watts, the youngest of four raised by a single mother. His first appearance was singing in a Coke ad when he was just 15. Modelling offers followed and within a few years he was signed to RCA Records. His debut album, Tyrese, peaked at #17 in the Billboard 200. Although director John Singleton’s 2001 film Baby Boy was Gibson’s big-screen debut, he has built his acting career around two franchises; Fast & Furious and Transformers, in which he plays Sergeant Epps, a role he could return to again on the big screen. Before that, Gibson will portray superhero Simon Stroud in Morbius, based on the comic book character. Stroud is an FBI agent in pursuit of Morbius (Jared Leto), a scientist who has inadvertently injected himself with a form of vampirism. “My character was originally white, and they made him black. But I like to say he was a white guy who got a really good tan,” Gibson jokes about Stroud, who sports a hi-tech weapons-grade arm in the film. “That arm has all kinds of special effects and powers, and that’s going to mess people up when they see this movie. It’s my first time ever officially being a superhero. I’ve done some superhero shit, but I ain’t never been a superhero. I had to explain this to my daughter.” And that’s where you’ll find him when he’s not at the wheel or running for his life from giant robots — with his daughters. “I’ve never known love like this before,” he says. “When you have kids, it takes you to levels that you didn’t even know you had. You have a bottom line that you never knew you had. You don’t put up with agents and managers and entourage and family that’s trying to disrespect you and take advantage of you. You just have zero tolerance for bullshit.” Whatever love he’s lost for the industry, the fans are a whole other story. “I just want to say to all of the fans and readers of MAXIM, thank you for continuing to support me and stand with me and show love to me for all of these years. It’s something I do not take for granted.” ■

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Status Update FULL NAME: Claudia Jovanovski BORN: April 23 HOME TOWN: Cape Town, South Africa LIVES: Sydney, Australia FIVE-WORD SELFDESCRIPTION: “Witty, down-to-earth, active, positive and driven.” FAVOURITE DRINK: “Coffee. My alcoholic drink of choice is shiraz.” LIFE MOTTO: “You are the creator of your own destiny.”

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24 HOURS TO LIVE

Elizabeth

The legendary hottie from the American Pie movies talks animal rights, her MAXIM modelling days and her hypothetical last day on earth… B y R E I L LY S U L L I VA N

Hey, Shannon, how are you spending your last day on earth? I just want to spend it with my dog Peanut and my partner. If we could also be in the bush with other animals and in nature, then that’s a plus.

it’s hard to pinpoint just one. I’m leaning towards Buffy from Scary Movie. I love making people laugh, and because we were spoofing other films, we had to study all of them. It was a fun process and allowed us to take the best of the best.

Do you have any deathbed confessions? Definitely not!

As a three-time MAXIM cover girl, what is your fondest memory working with us? I mainly remember always being in great hands when I’d shoot with MAXIM. I always knew we would have the best photographer, hair, make-up and wardrobe. The pictures were always stunning, too!

Will you be going to heaven or hell? I don’t believe in either, per se. I believe in reincarnation and that we have to pay for our sins – we’re always striving for nirvana. I definitely believe in karma, too. It helps to keep us all on track and reminds us when we need to do better. You’ve done so many classic comedies, like American Pie and Scary Movie. Who was your favourite character to play during your time on earth? I’ve had so much fun with all of my characters, 9 8

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What are you glad you’ll never have to do again? Eat meat. When you are young you don’t have any idea what meat is and you don’t always have a choice in what you eat. You also don’t understand how industrial meat actually hurts your body, mind and spirit.

“I MAINLY REMEMBER ALWAYS BEING =B ;F95H <5B8G K<9B =Ç8 G<CCH WITH MAXIM.” It’s harmful to people and it’s torturous to the animals. What’s your proudest accomplishment? My non-profit charity work, Animal Avengers, which started as a dog and cat rescue but has since morphed into the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation. Anytime we can help an animal, or a person who protects the animals, is what truly matters in this world. To learn more, go to shannonelizabeth.org. ■

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