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“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” M UH AM MAD A LI

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TIMEPIECE

How the Patek Philippe Nautilus became the holy grail of the watch world

Colombian actress Natalia Reyes gets ready to take her place in the Terminator franchise

16 MOTO

The most exotic of all destinations, where Marlon Brando’s former retreat is now a world-class resort

The new Indian Scout Bobber melds performance, design and craftsmanship

Our drop-dead gorgeous cover girl never expected to be a model, but now she’s top of the heap

There has never been a better time to indulge in some super-premium rum

Bentley is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a truly incredible electric grand tourer

FRENCH P OLY NE SI A

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SPIRIT S

AU TO

ENTREPRENEUR

Dave Dawson: From elite athlete to entrepreneur extraordinaire

ATHLE TE

The Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott leads the NFL

68 R ACING

Join us in France on the track at Le Mans, the epic endurance race where reputations are made and broken

76 TITA N

A DV ENT URE

The awesome majesty of the world’s largest cave awaits you in Vietnam

How Slack co-founder and CEO Stewart Butterﬁeld oversaw the creation of a company now valued at over $16 billion

CONTE S T W INNER:

ON THE COV ER Vita Sidorkina wears a tank top by Majestic Filatures, leather pants by Philipp Plein and jewelry by Chrome Hearts. Photographed by Gilles Bensimon.

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The Brando resort on a remote islet in French Polynesia where celebrities go to get away from it all

COURTESY OF THE BR ANDO

Beauty and brains from this Maxim Australia cover girl

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TIMEPIECE

FROM SNAIL TO GRAIL

How the Patek Philippe Nautilus became one of the most coveted watches in the world Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

S E P /TO /O CC T T2 2 019 019 MM AA XX IM IM . C. C OO MM

Above: Paul Altieri, founder of Bob’s Watches and one of the world’s top Rolex collectors, acquired this vintage stainless steel Nautilus Ref. 3700 in 2017. Made in 1979, shortly after the model’s debut, and now worth about $100,000, it’s the most coveted version of the iconic timepiece. “The value of this watch has exploded in the past few years, and I’ve come to love its unique design,” Altieri says. “It’s pretty risqué for a Patek. It wouldn’t have looked out of place on Roger Moore’s wrist in one of the ‘70s Bond movies.”

C O U R T E S Y O F PAT E K P H I L I P P E

P h o t o b y J U S T I N M O RTO N

Patek Philippe was founded in Geneva in 1839. It is by no means the world’s oldest watchmaker, but in the past 180 years it has certainly become the most prestigious. The brand has created some of the costliest and most complicated timepieces on the planet, and while its overall design ethos can be described as staunchly traditional, with the basic outlines of its most popular pieces having changed little over the last several decades, one of its most atypical, and originally unloved, designs has suddenly become its most popular. The Nautilus, designed by horological legend Gérald Genta, creator of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak among others, and introduced in 1976, was made to resemble a ship’s porthole with its rounded octagonal bezel, and was Patek’s attempt at a contemporary highend sports watch in lowly stainless steel at a time when gold watches were all the rage. Sized at a generous 42mm it sported a grooved deep blue dial. As WatchTime reports, the conservative company was not without reservations about it. Demand for the watch was slow at first, the magazine notes, and its popularity has waxed and waned

J O N AT H A N W O N G / S O U T H C H I N A M O R N I N G P O S T/ G E T T Y I M A G E S ; G A R E T H C AT T E R M O L E / B F C / G E T T Y I M A G E S

“TODAY WE ARE MEETING MAYBE TEN PER CENT OF THE DEMAND, AND IT IS GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.”

Patek now makes many different versions of the Nautilus, which was given a relaunch of sorts for its 40th anniversary, in rose gold, white gold, and stainless steel, some equipped with annual calendar and other complications. But the simplest references harking back to the rather minimal original are the most coveted. “The Nautilus simply didn’t sell that well when it was first released in 1976,” David Lee, General Manager of Watches at StockX, the live bid/ask luxury marketplace backed by the likes of Mark Wahlberg where collectors can build portfolios of iconic timepieces, tells Maxim. “For one thing, at 42mm the original Nautilus was simply considered too big. Over the course of the next three decades, Patek Philippe released a number of different references and sizes, but the Nautilus was still simply Patek Philippe’s entry level timepiece, a way to enter the Patek universe for a fairly affordable price.” Flash forward to 2006, Lee says, and the introduction of the 5711. “Limited supply of new watches and a growing desire for high-end luxury sport models started pushing prices in the pre-owned market to trade 20-25% over retail. Secondary market prices continued to trickle upwards. But even up to 2015, you could still find examples for under $40,000 in the pre-owned market.” In the beginning of 2018 however, “Patek seemed to address the rising prices of the Nautilus and raised the retail price from $17,000 to $29,800. However, instead of dampening demand, the reverse happened, with secondary market prices doubling from around $40,000 in late 2017 to the current $80,000 range.” Quite a jump. “While it now costs five digits more to buy a steel, time-only Nautilus than a gold annual calendar, the market shows little signs of slowing down,” Lee notes. “With continued limited supply and popularity amongst collectors and celebrities growing steadily, the market marches higher and higher.” In other words, if you can get your hands on one—and it’s a big ‘if ’—you’d be well advised to hold onto it. Lee himself owns a white-dial steel Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A that took him over two and a half years to track down. “I promised my Patek dealer that I wouldn’t flip the watch, and despite the fact that I could now get two or three time what I paid, after wearing it for just over a year the thought of ever selling it has forever left my mind.” Ask him to tell you exactly what he loves about it though and it’s difficult to put into words. The appeal of the Nautilus remains somewhat esoteric, which in itself is a large part of the draw. “Why is the Nautilus so popular?” Thierry Stern mused to the Times. “Of course I am happy about it, but honestly [even] I don’t know the answer”.

over the years along with changing tastes, with gold versions introduced to up the luxe factor. In the past few years however stainless steel Nautilus models, in particular the reference 5711, have skyrocketed in popularity. Where collectors have long seen the appeal of the Nautilus, it took sightings of the watch on the wrists of celebs like Jay-Z, Jason Statham and Brad Pitt to really push it into the stratosphere. Most recently, cult Off-White and Louis Vuitton menswear designer Virgil Abloh was spotted sporting a custom blacked-out version, giving it instant street cred. Earlier this year the New York Times reported that the waiting list for the most popular model, the black-blue dial Ref. 5711 in stainless steel, is now said to be eight years long. It has become even harder to come by than the iconic Rolex Daytona. And Patek, being Patek, has no plans to increase production. “We don’t discuss production quantities, but clearly we don’t make enough Ref. 5711s,” Patek President Thierry Stern told the paper. “Today we are meeting maybe ten per cent of the demand, and it is going to stay that way. For us, this is not a race to make more money. It is a race for beauty, for the long term.” British GQ adds that those who want to buy one are “carefully vetted and must have a longstanding relationship with the company. They also have to somehow prove that they will actually wear the watch, rather than resell it at a vast profit.”

Above: Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern. Bottom: Off-White designer Virgil Abloh and his custom Nautilus

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MOTO

GET LOW

The Indian Scout Bobber will make your heart race

Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

COURTESY OF INDIAN

Riders of all kinds have been drawn to Indian Motorcycle in recent years due to its combination of performance, design and craftsmanship. Models such as the Scout and Scout Sixty have taken Indian’s product line to new levels, and a more aggressively styled addition to its offerings, the Scout Bobber, flaunts the highest level of design achievement by, ironically, getting low. The sleek lines of the Scout Bobber provide the feeling of streamlined speed, even when stationary. It features a stripped-down look, perfecting the traditional bobber shape by providing an aggressive riding position without sacrificing any of the comfort riders have come to expect from Indian. Its blacked-out design is enhanced by the color options available, including White Smoke, Bronze Smoke, Thunder Black and Thunder Black Smoke. Needless to say, the Scout Bobber has an intimidating personality on first impression, and that’s without even hearing its beastly motor and exhaust roar to life. The Scout Bobber is powered by a 100 horsepower, 1133 cc liquid-cooled V-Twin engine. A 6-speed constant mesh transmission offers smooth gear shifts, while the ABS system ensures control during braking for both the front and rear wheels, a vitally important feature with a bike this fast. For those looking for something more customized, optional accessories include the Stage 1 Slip-On Exhaust Kit, which provides an even richer and more aggressive soundtrack from the exhaust, while the optional Performance Air Intake can increase horsepower by some 5%. Indian Performance Shocks by Fox are also available, somehow improving an already comfortable ride, and ensuring that your bike’s handling fits precisely to your personal preferences. Throw in a change of handlebars that fit your reach and preferred riding posture, and this is a monster that you can not only tame, but tweak to your dream setup. With prices starting at $12,499, the Scout Bobber is the ideal two-wheeler for all of your weekend adventures or weekday commutes, offering both the aggressive performance and styling that riders have come to expect from Indian, but with the comfort and personalization to allow it to be a practical everyday ride. So while the Bobber is a stunning example of motorcycle design, it’s managed to elevate the low-slung experience to new heights.

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SPIRITS

THE RUM DIARIES

An overlooked spirit comes into its own, and it’s cause for celebration Te x t b y N I CO L A S S T EC H ER

“IN 2018 ALONE, VOLUME OF SUPER-PREMIUM RUMS SKYROCKETED 27%”

K I R K M C KOY/ G E T T Y I M A G E S

While traditional luxury libations like Scotch and cognac have long held prized positions on the shelves of spirits enthusiasts, the fascination with high-end tequila, vodka, gin and whisky from around the globe has skyrocketed in recent years. This obsession with “premiumization” inexplicably bypassed rum, however; the versatile spirit seemed relegated to a dark corner as a drink best suited to sailors, gentleman rogues, and other salty ne’er-do-wells. But not any more: in 2018 alone, volume of super-premium rums skyrocketed 27%—the biggest leap in any super-premium spirits category—underscoring the burgeoning global appreciation of this fine spirit distilled from sugarcane byproducts. And at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition an astounding number of premium rum entries qualified, with Ron Zacapa Centenario Sistema Solera 23 from Guatemala claiming a gold medal. “I like to think that anything you can do, rum can do better,” explains Brian Miller, partner (as well as Beverage Director and bartender) at New York City’s esteemed tiki joint The Polynesian. While Miller suggests playing with your favorite recipes by substituting white rums for gin, tequila, and vodka, and darker rums for whiskeys, in cocktails like the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Sazerac, there are many rums so smooth and amusingly complex that they can (and some would argue should) be sipped neat or with a couple of rocks. Here are our favorites:

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CO U RT E SY O F F LO R D E C A N A

White-jacketed waiters at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York offer up delectable Flor de CaĂąa cocktails MAXIM.COM

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MOUNT GAY 1703 MASTER SELECT With a deed dating back to 1703, Mount Gay lays claim to being the world’s oldest premium rum brand. To celebrate its 300-plus years of heritage, the Barbados-based label created 1703 Master Select, a cherrypicked blend of the legendary distillery’s finest single and double pot- and column-still rums from its oldest reserves. The barrels were carefully monitored, all resting between 10 and 30 years, then expertly blended for what is Mount Gay’s rarest and oldest expression. The long sleep lends 1703 Master Select, which was overseen by the brand’s new Master Blender, Trudiann Branker, an oaky nose, with hints of caramel and a superb round mouthfeel.

TO P A N D B OT TO M : C O U R T E S Y O F R O N Z A C A PA ; L E F T, C O U R T E S Y O F M O U N T G AY R U M

RON ZACAPA CENTENARIO XO As far as terroir goes, there is no rum in the world—and arguably no other spirit—with as unique a birthplace as Zacapa. Located between angry volcanoes in the highlands of Guatemala, some 7,500 feet above sea level, Zacapa’s aptly named “House Above the Clouds” claims to be the highest spirits aging facility in the world. For over 30 years Master Blender Lorena Vásquez has overseen production, as passionate about creating a timeless spirit as she is about preserving local Guatemalan culture (every bottle of Zacapa 23 comes adorned with intricate petate grass bands handwoven by artisans of Mayan descent). While Zacapa 23 and Edición Negra add value to any bar shelf, Vásquez’s XO expression blends rums 6 to 25 years old, with an extra aging stage in French oak cognac barrels.

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CO U RT E SY O F F LO R D E C A N A

~ “IN 2017 FLOR DE CANA WAS NAMED RUM PRODUCER OF THE YEAR BY THE IWSC”

FLOR DE CAŇA 25 YEARS Sure, the Caribbean islands ostensibly run the rum game, but don’t sleep on Central America. The Pellas family is now celebrating five generations running Nicaragua’s Flor de Caña as a family-owned estate, never touching artificial additives during aging. In 2017 they were named Rum Producer of the Year by the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). As one of the spirits industry’s most prestigious distinctions, IWSC’s award is a powerful endorsement of Flor de Caña’s consistent excellence in a country that has seen its share of instability. The minerality of Flor de Caña sugarcane fields’ soil and the rich molasses it produces can be attributed to the farm’s placement at the base of the San Cristóbal volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in Latin America. The spirit is then distilled five times before casking in undersized white oak bourbon barrels sealed with plantain leaves. The smaller barrels spur greater contact with the wood, and—in combination with the country’s tropical climate, higher temperature and humidity—accelerate the effects of aging, lending the spirit a complexity not attainable in any other locale. Meanwhile the plantain leaves add a natural tropical note to the finished product. All of Flor de Caña’s younger expressions—4,

5, and 7 years old—will improve your cocktail game, but their ultrapremium 12, 18 and 25 should be enjoyed as you would your finest Speyside single malt. Meaning neat, or at most with a single rock.

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small oak casks. The result is an eminently smooth, rich and even fruity rum that can be sipped neat and hold its own with any Scotch or cognac on the planet. Somewhat challenging to source in America, Diplomático’s dark Reserva Exclusiva rum is worthy of concentrated pursuit; a higher-end prestige range is also available, but the Reserva Exclusiva hits the bullseye.

Elaine Lilley, owner of Cigar Bar Hawaii, enjoys a perfect pairing with Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva rum from Venezuel

COURTESY OF RICK AND EL AINE LILLEY @EL AINE_CBH

DIPLOMÁTICO RESERVA EXCLUSIVA No matter the state of global affairs, the one export Venezuela can surely rely on is Diplomático—arguably the best rum from South America, and inarguably the most highly awarded. Diplomático’s amber Reserva Exclusiva is distilled in the foothills of the Andes from sugarcane honeys in pot stills and then aged up to a dozen years in

C L O C K W I S E F R O M TO P R I G H T: C O U R T E S Y O F G O S L I N G ' S R U M ; C O U R T E S Y O F B U L LY B OY D I S T I L L E R S , C O U R T E S Y O F M A I S O N F E R R A N D

PLANTATION FIJI 2009 VINTAGE Plantation specializes in molasses-distilled rums, but other than that unifier almost anything goes. Creator and Master Blender Alexandre Gabriel of Ferrand Cognac fame has quite the gig: he basically travels the world searching for the finest rums and then applies unique aging techniques to manifest a particular Plantation spirit. Previous expressions from Panama, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad distilled in 2004 and 2005 helped lay the foundation for Plantation, and now Gabriel returns with a spirit from Fiji. Utilizing 1,000-year-old cane and world renowned waters of pristine purity, the latter was created from molasses distilled in 2009 in both pot and column stills by the South Pacific Distillery, and then matured seven years in bourbon barrels. The blend was then shipped all the way to Château de Bonbonnet in France for a final two-year aging in Ferrand cognac barrels. With such origins you can expect bursts of sweet flavors like vanilla, dulce de leche, quince and ginger ale. Boasting a rich and round mouthfeel, Fiji 2009 finishes off with lingering smoky notes of bourbon and cocoa. For the true treasure hunter, look out for Plantation’s Extrême N°3 Collection, which includes two very rare expressions from Jamaica, bottled at cask strength.

GOSLINGS FAMILY RESERVE OLD RUM In 1806 James Gosling sailed to Bermuda and began the Goslings empire with a shop on King’s Parade in St. George’s. Papa Seal Single Barrel Bermuda Rum is Goslings’ top-tier experience, with the bottling date, barrel number and bottle number hand-written on each label. It is delicious, no doubt. But if you desire a less expensive inroad to the world of Goslings without sacrificing quality or taste, check out their Family Reserve Old Rum. It uses the same barrel blends as the flagship Black Seal Rum—all pot- and column-distilled from molasses— but is aged even longer than Black Seal’s time in charred, once-used bourbon barrels to add rich velvety notes of leather and chocolate. As the San Francisco World Spirits Competition awarded Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum a double gold medal and the Caribbean Journal dubbed it the number one aged rum in the world, this more accessible expression is clearly no slouch.

THE RUM COOPERATIVE BY BULLY BOY DISTILLERS When one thinks of rum, arguably the last terroir they’d envision is Boston. Top-shelf small-batch rum handcrafted in 750-gallon copper pot stills in Beantown? Highly unlikely. Perhaps that’s why Bully Boy is so shocking. This isn’t just a garden-variety rum to be passed around in Coke Zero bottles at Gillette Stadium; Boston’s first craft distillery since Prohibition makes a truly superlative spirit. Bully Boy Distillers first registered on our radar when they launched their Boston Rum in 2013 to wide acclaim. Now for the aptly named Rum Cooperative expression they’re blending that tipple with four other exotic dark rums sourced from founding brothers Will and Dave Willis’s favorite rummaking regions. The Rum Cooperative was recently awarded a gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

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ENTREPRENEUR

How an elite athlete used his work ethic to create an entrepreneurial empire Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

If you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life, or so people claim. But for Dave Dawson, a former NFL wide receiver, it seems to be a matter of fact. In the years since his football career ended, the California native has poured his passion, intensity and drive towards entrepreneurship. Now, Dawson has his fingers in more pies than one can count, following his interests in film, music, fashion, medicine and more into an array of ventures, stretching from Hollywood movies to a Polynesian-inspired fashion line. But for all of the financial endeavors that take up his time, money is seemingly never his top priority. Perhaps that’s why the former athlete speaks of his work in terms of relationships, community and helping others, rather than in terms of revenue and profit. “I always say there’s a warrior side of you that you’re just used to, that’s a little difficult to let go of. You have to find the fulfillment you’d get from competition,” Dawson explains about his transition from elite athlete to entrepreneur. “It is in the end very freeing to get to improve other people’s lives through business.” Speaking to the high-energy Dawson about his diverse ventures can leave one’s head spinning, but through it all, one cannot help but notice that in all that he does, the up-and-coming renaissance man focuses on helping others, strengthening his community, and investing in the people around him. “I always say I never do something that I don’t believe in myself,” admits Dawson. “I encourage other people to find things that truly interest them, and then give themselves over to it. That way you’re always enjoying whatever you’re doing.” A multitalented artist, Dawson caught the film bug while working as an extra on the Mel Gibson Vietnam War movie We Were Soldiers. Getting this behind-thescenes look at filmmaking led to Dawson’s interest in the industry, and his eventual work on the film Shadow Wolves, a thrilling action story about a group of Navajo trackers working to stop a terrorist on

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American soil. In addition to crafting his own upcoming film and television projects, he can also be found in the recording studio, continuing his passion for music. But his creative interests expand beyond entertainment, as his boldest venture yet fulfills a lifelong interest, fashion. “I’ve always wanted to have an apparel line since I was a kid. I remember being in sixth grade, and I cut a shirt and did some unconventional things to it. It was horrible. But I thought one day I would love to do something unique that’s personal to me, personal to the Polynesian people. And I just happened to meet Fa‘avae Fa‘avae, who’s become a very close friend of mine, who already had a working vision of a Polynesian apparel line that not only is a front runner for our people, but also inclusive of all cultures and you know, bringing the aloha to everyone.” It’s here where Dawson really brightens up, speaking about combining a business he loves with the sense of community that is such a big part of Polynesian culture, and its ability to share this attitude with the world. “It’s a clothing line that brings our culture to the world, and all the positive vibes that come through that from the Polynesian culture. Everybody’s curious about the islands and where the aloha

C O U R T E S Y O F N AT E J O S E P H / S K YC R A F T S T U D I O S

Renaissance Man

comes from and I think it’s a great platform to further that.” The fashion line, Island Avenue, is already a hit, having been embraced by large retailers and influencers alike, including global superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. While creative ventures are clearly a big part of Dawson’s burgeoning empire, his scientific and physiological interests have brought him to the forefront of one of the fastest growing medical industries, CBD, with his role in the founding of the company ADM Labs. Initially Dawson learned of the emerging medicine when his father used it during his battle with cancer. “But, as I dove deeper into it, I saw so much potential with people that are using it for seizures, using it for anxiety, for sleep, for pain relief,” Dawson recalls. “It’s such a powerful tool for the world and it can change lives so quickly for the better… I would say the motivation behind it comes from the same platform internally for me where I want to help others. I get a lot out of that and I really enjoy it. Whether it’s bringing people’s dreams to life on film, or whether it’s a business that I’m invested in, I typically go for businesses that I believe will impact the world and make it a better place.” But regardless of the growth and success of his diverse business empire, Dawson is unlikely to slow down anytime soon. Pondering the future, he admits “I think retirement is doing what you love, whenever you’re able. And I think that doing these projects has always been very fulfilling to me in that way. So in that sense, I would never retire… I think if you’re always trying to serve people around you, you’ll always be young at heart.”

Life moves fast. Tame it on the go. Use code MAXIM for $10 off your order of $25 or more at GetBeast.com

LONE STAR LEGEND How the Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott dominates the NFL Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

Ever since he was a teenager, all eyes have been on Ezekiel Elliott. After all, that’s the inevitable result when you’re a superstar running back who played first for Ohio State and now for one of the most high-profile football teams in the country, the Dallas Cowboys. It’s also part of the territory when you dominate the NFL as Elliott has since his arrival in 2016, beginning with his monster rookie season where he averaged over 100 rushing yards a game and led the Cowboys to the playoffs. He’s followed that up by establishing himself as an elite all-purpose back for the league’s most popular team, and in doing so, embraced the high expectations placed upon him when he was fourth overall in the 2016 draft, an atypical early selection for a running back. In a mere three years in the league, Zeke, as he’s known by many football fans, has already led the league in rushing twice, proving himself as a dominant force right out of the gate. Unlike many high draft picks, selected by struggling teams looking to rebuild their rosters, Elliott found himself in the perfect setting. Not only did the Cowboys find a star quarterback to play alongside him, un-

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covering elite passer Dak Prescott in the fourth round of the draft, but they already had in place one of the best offensive lines in football, one of the most important factors in any running back’s success. As a result, both Elliott and Prescott made the Pro Bowl as rookies, the first quarterback-running back teammates in modern NFL history to achieve such acclaim as first-year players. “The offensive and defensive lines, that’s where the game starts,” the 24 year old Missouri native tells Maxim. “That’s the heart of the team, that’s what drives a team. Dak and I were very fortunate to be drafted to the Cowboys where we have the best offensive line in football. They make our jobs a lot easier. Those are guys we’re close to, we love to spend a lot of time with, take trips with, and show them that we’re very appreciative of what they do. They don’t get the spotlight, they don’t get a lot of glitz and glamour, or a lot of praise. They work hard, they’re blue-collar.” Unlike the blue-collar linemen, star running backs are always in the media’s focus, but Elliott has worked hard to avoid getting caught up in the noise thus far in his career.

“Being a top guy, you’ve just got to be able to silence that. A lot of it is just to get stories, just to get clicks. But what matters to me is what’s going on with our team, what’s going on in our locker room, and just winning ball games.” And winning in Dallas means extra attention and exaltation, playing for the selfproclaimed “America’s Team.” “It’s great being a Dallas Cowboy. The fanbase we have is the biggest in football, probably the biggest in sports. It’s a dream come true.” But even the most diehard fans can’t imagine the physical sacrifices Elliott must make. The nature of the running back position, crashing into an opposing defense 25 or 30 times a game, takes a toll on even the most special athletes, which is why the routine and recovery of game weeks is so vital for Elliott and his teammates. It also takes a special mindset to play the position at a high level. “As a running back, especially a physical running back like I try to be, I like to bring the contact to them before they bring it to me,” Elliott proudly claims. “You can’t hate contact and be a running back, you’ve got to be physical.” The result of this physical battle, and attrition, means each game week during the season is simply an attempt to get one’s body as close to healthy as possible, although “you’re only going to be 100% at the beginning of training camp because once training camp starts, you’re going to get nicked up,” he notes. As Elliott continues to establish himself as one of the NFL’s transcendent stars, the business side of the league is inevitably coming into prominence, as running backs have trended downwards in value and financial commitments in the modern NFL; teams realize the wear-and-tear on backs adds up quickly, and there’s been a narrative in the league that decent ones can be had at a discount. But Elliott believes this is finally swinging back in favor of elite backs such as himself. “Until the very recent deal with Todd Gurley [four years, $60 million], I think there was an undervalue of the running back,” claims Elliott. “But with guys like Gurley getting drafted so high, then me, and now guys like Saquon [Barkley] getting drafted in the first round, I think we’ve done a great job of bringing back the value of the position, showing the importance of the running back.” But the back has made it clear that while he understands the league is a business, he’d love to spend his entire career wearing the Cowboys’ star on his helmet. “I love playing for the Dallas Cowboys, I love the organization, my teammates. I do want to be a Cowboy for the rest of my life and hopefully that’s

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a possibility. But even Emmitt Smith, the greatest running back ever, ended up going to play a couple of years for another organization. So it’s just the nature of the game, but I want to be a Dallas Cowboy for as long as I can.” As for the upcoming season and his goals, “It all starts with the team, the ulti-

mate goal, and that’s just to win a Super Bowl,” says Elliott. “I think every NFL team starts the season with that goal, and that’s the main objective, nothing comes before that. If you just focus on going out and trying to win games, all of the rest of the stuff, all the individual results, will come with that. I don’t really put much impor-

tance into individual goals. I do every year want to try and win the rushing title. I do every year want to try and make All-Pro. But I believe that if you do everything you can in helping your team win ball games, and the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl, then all of the other stuff will take care of itself.”

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ADVENTURE

ne of the most significant geological finds in recent exploration—the discovery of Vietnam’s Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave—almost never happened. Circa 1990 farmer Ho Khanh stumbled across an entrance and a limestone overhang in the thick jungle of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. The distant noise of rushing water caught his attention, but he thought no more of it. Given the thick, almost impassable, Vietnamese jungle, the farmer’s trail was lost in any case, and he did not try to find his way back. For about 18 years, Son Doong’s existence was seemingly destined to remain a secret, but eventually, he would mention his find to a curious couple from the British Cave Research Association (BRCA). Ho Khanh wasn’t alone in his close encounters with the monster cave. Howard and Deb Limbert, members of the BRCA, have been exploring the area for decades, and in 1994 the pair encountered two caves. First they explored Hang Thung, a cave downstream from Son Doong, where an underground river emerged. Then within a couple of weeks, they ventured into Hang En, a large cave upstream from Son Doong, whose river disappears into boulders. It was clear that a gap of some five kilo-meters between these spots could be a cave carved by the same water flow. Son Doong turned out to be immense. Reportedly large enough to hold a city block of skyscrapers, it seems otherworldly. Making the space even more impressive are the two roof collapses that have allowed sunlight into the cavern, permitting the growth of organisms such as algae, plants and even trees—a miniature jungle, a microcosm of the inhospitable terrain above ground, even with its own microclimate. Despite the scale of the cavern, it remained well hidden until the same farmer, Ho Khanh, rediscovered the entrance in the limestone leading into the cave. This time the opportunity didn’t slip by, and in 2009, Howard and Deb Limbert began to explore what would soon become the find of a lifetime. The remoteness and location of Son Doong added to the difficulty of locating the cave, and to the risk of executing scientific explorations. According to Howard Limbert, “The cave is quite deep inside the jungle, so the location itself is a risk. Although it’s such a huge cave, the terrain is not easy, so initially it is quite difficult to find the best way to progress. For experienced cavers, the risks are not so great, but we always respect the fact that we are a long way from home and help. It is a challenge to measure and map such a huge cave passage.”

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BURIED TREASURE

How to explore Vietnam’s Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N P h o t o g ra p h e d b y RYAN D EB O O DT

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On the exclusive tour with Oxalis, guests will spend four days and three nights camping in the cave system (two nights in Son Doong, and one in nearby Hang En cave, reckoned to be the world’s third-largest). While Limbert insists visitors be in reasonable physical condition and have some experience trekking on rough and rocky terrain, this isn’t a place reserved solely for death-defying adrenaline junkies. A fear of heights isn’t ideal either, but most of the dangerous and difficult spots are protected with ropes, and guests wear caving harnesses for additional safety. In fact, for each group of 10 visitors, there are seven safety staff, showing how seriously the company takes the well-being of its clients. In all, 27 staff members, in-

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Soon after, the Limberts’ team mapped the cave, and researchers realized that Son Doong wasn’t just big, it was the largest cave ever discovered. While exhilarating to the cave exploration community, this headline-grabbing revelation created a problem seen at nature’s grandest sites, from Yosemite National Park to Mt. Everest: tourism and the balance between access and preservation. While some have tried to expand access to allow thousands of tourists to visit, a large number of Vietnamese people managed to convince the authorities to resist such plans. For now, the only way to enjoy the splendor of Son Doong is through Oxalis, an adventure travel company that employs the Limberts as well as Ho Khanh and other locals.

cluding guides, chefs and porters, ensure you can safely explore the cave system, without sacrificing good cuisine or relatively comfortable camping accommodations. Visitors get to climb the Great Wall of Vietnam, a roughly 90-meter calcite barrier, and visit the ethnic minority village of Ban Doong, in addition to the 25 km of jungle trekking, which includes 9 km of caving. The crew even bring portable lighting equipment to illuminate the cave’s myriad visual features, allowing for jaw-dropping nature photography. As Son Doong cave’s fame becomes more widespread, and the places on Earth considered to be on the frontier of discovery and exploration seemingly diminish, there appears to be an inevitable growth in demand for visits to the site, placing it and the heart of the UNESCO-listed Phong NhaKe Bang National Park under the threat of rampant tourism and overuse. But with Oxalis and the local park and government authorities committed to the site for the long term, both for natural as well as economic reasons, there’s a chance to maintain the equilibrium of the newfound wonder. Oxalis tries to ensure this as, according to Limbert, “We have a single path throughout the cave, and we make sure everyone sticks to that. All rubbish is brought out of the cave, including human waste. Cooking is by gas bottle. Everyone is reminded that this is a UNESCO World Heritage site. And all staff now realize the value of the cave in providing jobs, so they are keen to protect it, and keep the tours going for the future.”

“THE CAVE IS QUITE DEEP INSIDE THE JUNGLE, SO THE LOCATION ITSELF IS A RISK. [AND] ALTHOUGH IT’S SUCH A HUGE CAVE, THE TERRAIN IS NOT EASY”

LEADING LADY

HASTA LA VISTA BABY

Colombian actress Natalia Reyes gets ready to take on the Terminator Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

Colombian actress Natalia Reyes is already a household name in Latin America, thanks to her incredible performances in film and on television in her native country. But with her sights set on an even bigger stage she managed to land a role in one of the greatest franchises of all time, the Terminator films, starring in the next iteration, Terminator: Dark Fate. She recently spoke with Maxim about her career, working with her idols, and balancing a life and career spent both in Hollywood and her home in one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trendiest travel destinations, Cartagena. How did you get started in acting? What do you consider to be your first big break? I started with theater when I was 9 years old and then got into television when I was 16, but I would say my first big break was Lady, La Vendedora de Rosas, a telenovela that was very successful all across Latin America. You had great critical and commercial success in Colombia. What motivated you to expand to Hollywood and a larger global audience? You can say that I have always dreamed big. As an actor you want the world to see your work and my dream was to make movies. I learned English (self-taught, if you can imagine) because I knew it was the best way to get work in bigger productions. And now I'm in this massive franchise! I still can't believe it. The Terminator franchise is one of the alltime film classics. What attracted you to the project and role, and what was your reaction when you got the part? At first, I thought it was a remake! But then

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Were you familiar with or a fan of the earlier films? It's funny because I wasn’t even born when the first Terminator film came out, but I did see both (1 and 2) when I was about seven years old, just a regular Sunday watching movies at home, and I remember I was so amazed by that world they had created. Not to mention Linda Hamilton, she became such an icon for me ever since! What was it like working with legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, as well as current stars like Gabriel Luna and Mackenzie Davis? It was an amazing experience! I felt it was the perfect balance between new talent and the legends. I love Linda, she is the most professional and committed actress I know and just such a loving human being. Working with Arnold after seeing him so many times on a big screen was surreal and hard to believe it was actually happening. Mackenzie is such an

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inspiration to me, she is a terrific actress and we became very close working together and am so happy to call her a great friend now. Gabriel is a very sweet person and I'm excited for people to see him as the new Terminator. Are film sets and the working environment different in Colombia as they are in the U.S.? Hollywood is a bigger and older industry and

“WHEN THEY TOLD ME I GOT THE PART I CRIED FOR HOURS AND ACTUALLY I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT” therefore the scale is different, everything just feels 10 times bigger, from the catering to the crew. Every day I learned something new! Do you plan to continue focusing on American films or do you want to continue working in other countries as well? Yes, I want the best of both worlds. I'd love the opportunity to continue to work in the U.S. with people I have always admired and I also want keep telling stories from where I’m from.

What other upcoming projects are you working on? Anything to look forward to in the near future? Well, we are about to start a big international press tour for Terminator: Dark Fate. Then there’s a beautiful independent movie and a Netflix series coming, but I also want to start developing projects with characters I want to portray. What passions or hobbies do you have away from acting? I love theater, going to the movies, and cooking new vegan dishes at home. I also love dancing salsa and traveling, and doing outdoor sports such as biking, hiking, and swimming. Are you excited/optimistic about Colombia’s future, and is it now a must-visit country for travelers? Any tips for those considering visiting? Absolutely, Colombia is a beautiful must-visit country, it’s full of nature and lovely people. I’m excited and proud of the peace agreement we signed two years ago with the guerrillas so it’s pretty safe—we ended the war and we are in a reconciliation process so the country is blooming. I was born in Bogotá, but then moved to Cartagena, my favorite place in Colombia. My husband and I have a beach resort on the closest island to Cartagena, it’s called Fenix Beach, so make sure you stop by when you visit.

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I found out it wasn’t, rather it was a continuation of the story from Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Tim Miller was attached to direct, James Cameron was back as a producer and they had this whole new story line and new characters…. When Tim called me and told me I got the part I cried for hours and actually I still can’t believe it.

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PROMOTION

The Maxim Hot 100 Experience hosted by Olivia Culpo at Hyde Beach and SLS South Beach was the hottest party during Miami Swim Week. Celebrating the annual Maxim Hot 100 issue, the event drew hundreds of models, athletes, Miami VIPs and more. Guests including Cara Santana, Yovanna Ventura, Daniela Botero, Joy Corrigan and many others were treated to musical sets by DJ Damaged Goods, DJ Bobby French and a special pop-up set by current breakout star Bryce Vine. Guests were treated to signature Black Diamond Margarita cocktails courtesy of Maestro Dobel and stayed hydrated in the heat with Vellamo water and Infuzed Thirst beverages. Party-goers took full advantage of capturing themselves on a custom Maxim Hot 100 cover provided by Digital Mirror. Follow @maximmag for more information on upcoming Maxim Experiences.

COVER STORY

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Vita Sidorkina came out of the East to conquer the modeling world

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n an alternate universe, Vita Sidorkina wouldn’t be stomping down the runway in a ball gown missing everything but its sleeves and some barely-there lingerie. If the 25-year-old Russian bombshell had fulfilled her childhood dream, she’d be a flight attendant in a demure uniform hiding some of the most soughtafter curves in the world of fashion. No Victoria’s Secret shoots, no Maxim cover, and no fun except for a lucky planeload of passengers. We can all say a word of thanks that in this case at least dreams didn’t come true. Yet she has more than fulfilled her fancy of seeing the world—and the pay is a hell of a lot better to boot—with almost 800,000 Instagram followers along for the ride. “Modeling is not something I dreamed of growing up,” the blonde beauty tells Maxim. “I got into it by accident! A friend invited me to a local modeling school for a summer camp, where I took my first professional pictures and uploaded them on social media. About a month later I was contacted by an agency in Moscow who told me I had potential to become a model and offered me a three-month contract in Japan.” After moving to New York City at the age of 17 in 2011, Sidorkina began modeling for an impressive array of clients, including Lilly Pulitzer, BCBG, Elie Tahari, Rebecca Minkoff and Philipp Plein. Her big break came when she landed a spot in the 2015 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. “I was so thrilled!” she says. “I prepared and worked really hard for two years to get there. Victoria’s Secret is the brand all models in the industry dream of, the competition is insane. It’s really a big deal to be selected.” And a big deal it was, because the lingerie extravaganza proved to be the official turning point in Sidorkina’s career, immediately launching her to exponential heights. “I will be forever grateful to PINK and Victoria’s Secret for opening so many doors,” she notes. Doors that the pretty girl from Khabarovsk, a city on the eastern edge of Russia near the Chinese border, never could have imagined. “Growing up there was really beautiful,” she says of her hometown. “I spent my summers at my grandmother’s dacha, or cottage, by the Amur River. Winters were long and there was so much snow everywhere, so I would ski and ice skate– two sports I still love to this day. Growing up in such extreme weather conditions was so [incredible], and even going to school was an adventure. That made me a bit of a tomboy, even though a part of me has always been very girly.” In 2017 Sidorkina tied the knot with Italian real estate developer Valerio Morabito, and to score such a stunning wife, the lucky groom went went above and beyond to impress his lovely lady and literally flew clear across the world for their first encounter. “My husband swept me off my feet when he flew from Miami to Sydney where I was for work to have our first date. You can’t beat that.” Clearly he continues to keep that standard at the same astronomical level each and every day, because Sidorkina is absolutely loving her new role. “Married life is amazing! Everything is so much better when you have your soulmate by your side. I definitely think that any relationship requires work but it should never feel forced. The key is to be honest and open about your feelings, and accept your other half exactly the way they are.” These days Sidorkina also balances being a supermodel and a super-

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mom. Having welcomed her daughter Allegra to the world in November 2018, she is back in front of the camera and more beautiful than ever. “It feels really special to be on the cover of Maxim only ten months after my baby was born. It’s something I would have never imagined. Pregnancy changes a woman’s body, but I feel more confident about my body now than I did before.” There’s no reason not to be confident when you’re Vita Sidorkina, and it’s also no wonder she made a speedy rebound. “My weekly routine is two days of pilates, two days of yoga, and two days of light weight training,” she tells us. Her blessed genes don’t hurt, either. “I would call myself a workout addict. I love being active! There’s nothing better than starting your day with a good workout, it just puts you mentally in a better place for the whole day. Since I became a mother it’s definitely more challenging to find time but I’m getting back on track.” Behind everything that comes with being a high-profile model, Sidorkina finds solace in her quiet home life with her family as a new mom above all else. “I enjoy the simple things, like going to the movies and spending time with my child and husband,” she says. “Ever since I had a baby I realized that life is not about me anymore! Being a parent means making sacrifices, but it’s also the most rewarding thing ever. I’m just starting to get back to business, and managing a family and a career that requires spending lots of time on airplanes is no easy task!” Luckily, her favorite part of being a model is something she gets to do often, something the little girl from Khabarovsk always wanted, but in a way that’s a hundred times more glamorous: seeing the world. “Meeting new and interesting people is definitely a big bonus that I get working as a model,” she says. With a Maxim cover to her credit now, she can definitely expect a lot more fascinating people and places in the years to come.

“MODELING IS NOT SOMETHING I DREAMED OF GROWING UP,” THE BLONDE BEAUTY TELLS MAXIM. “I GOT INTO IT BY ACCIDENT!

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Tank top, MAJESTIC FILATURES For more information, see page 82. Assistant Stylist, Rap Sarmiento. Makeup, Charlotte Willer. Hair, Gianluca Mandelli. MAXIM.COM

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FRENCH POLYNESIA

RETURN TO

PARADISE

The wonders of French Polynesia await discovery by well-heeled adventurers

n the spring of 1768, the French explorer, mariner and anthropologist Louis-Antoine de Bougainville first spotted the Tuamotu archipelago, a chain of almost 80 islands and atolls in what is now known as French Polynesia. Later, upon arriving in Tahiti, its white sand beaches must have shaken and elated him to the core; so taken by the tropical scenery and numerous nearly naked young women, he and his crew compared it to the Garden of Eden.

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As de Bougainville wrote in his widely read travelogue Voyage Autour du Monde (Voyage Around the World), Tahiti, one of the area’s largest islands and now its most important, was utopia, an earthly paradise of blissful innocence, untouched by the corrosive tentacles of civilization. While much has changed in the quarter-millennium since de Bougainville arrived, the transformative spectacle of French Polynesia—the raw, visceral nature of the place—has not. You need not stray

The Brando is an otherworldly 35-villa resort located on the remote islet where Marlon Brando once had a home

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far from the Tahitian capital of Papeete to find sights you will not soon forget. As soon as you step onto this otherworldly agglomeration of archipelagos and atolls you will feel, to paraphrase what French painter Gauguin wrote circa 1901, civilization falling away from you. In the Marlon Brando film Mutiny On the Bounty, his character Fletcher Christian does not go ashore after stoking the eponymous uprising. Depressed and facing the gallows back in England—never

mind incontrovertible Royal Navy career suicide—he lets his sailors return to the many fruits of the nearby Polynesian archipelago while he drinks himself into a stupor back on the HMS Bounty. In real life Brando had a much different reaction to French Polynesia: he became fascinated to the point of obsession. While filming 1962’s Mutiny, the famously reclusive actor preferred the company of local fishermen to his fellow thespians, and on one excursion they

passed Tetiaroa, a small atoll of 12 motus, or islets. A sacred place for the Polynesians, Tetiaroa, 30 miles north of Tahiti, was only used by royalty for feasting, prayers and conflict resolution. Since the place was taboo, forbidden to common Tahitians, it remained pristine even by their standards. Only half a decade after first rowing past, the opportunity availed itself for Brando to acquire the atoll for less than $300,000 from the heir of Johnston Walter Williams, a British consul who obtained it from the Royal Family. Brando had already married Tarita Teriipaia, the Polynesian beauty who seduced Christian as Maimiti in the film. He had won over his princess, and now he had his treasured kingdom as well. Fast forward just over a half-century and The Brando—a 35-villa resort located on Onetahi motu where the actor once built his home— is a singular expression of luxury unlike anywhere else on the planet. That may sound hyperbolic without context, but after spending just one night here, your body recedes into a level of tranquility that no marble staircase, white-gloved spa or gajillion thread count linen could ever duplicate. After only a few days spent languidly absorbing this paradise, you will begin casting away the cares of the modern world like a snake shedding its skin.

got Robbie. Barack Obama is said to have spent several weeks here working on his memoir; Leonardo DiCaprio has allegedly made repeat visits with both his mother and supermodel du jour. While it boasts nearly every luxury one could hope for, The Brando’s unmatched remoteness, anonymity and peerless sense of privacy might be its greatest indulgence; it’s more like a secret club than a hotel. “Visitors at The Brando come to share values with us about how important it is to preserve such a beautiful place, and participate in that preservation in different ways,” explains Richard Bailey, President and CEO of Pacific Beachcomber resorts and the actor’s partner in envisioning and developing the resort. “It’s not cheap to come to The Brando, so if you’re a guest, part of the money you’re paying is going to conduct research and engage in conservation.” Rates run about $4,000 per night.

There is no resort quite like The Brando because there is no location quite like Tetiaroa. As with its sister islands Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, the small atoll was once also a volcano. Tetiaroa was geologically suppressed, eventually creating a dozen motus crowning a ring around the crystalline lagoon. There are allegedly 32 hues of blue to be found in that 4.3-mile wide pool, although one wonders how someone would even begin to count before losing themselves in the diamonds of its surface. There are many luxuries at The Brando, like multilevel villas each with a pool and access to a private beach looking out onto warm, glasslike cobalt water. There’s a restaurant by two-Michelin-star chef Guy Martin, and a world-class spa next to a natural freshwater lily pond. The resort keeps its client list under lock and key, but recent guests have reportedly included Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres and Mar-

Bailey met Brando in 1999 and spent countless hours with the legendary actor in Tetiaroa, walking its grounds, swimming in its warm, brilliant lagoon and polishing off copious bottles of rum with the living legend—learning his unique perspectives on sustainability and exchanging philosophies of life along the way. Brando was steadfast in his demands that the island remain immaculate, and that whoever developed the atoll in his name would protect it diligently. By the time he passed away in 2004, he had enough confidence in Bailey to sign a letter giving the developer power over the trust that controls the atoll. “What gradually emerged was a vision where the environment and tourism are not a zero-sum game: more tourism doesn’t mean less environment, and more environment protection doesn’t mean less tourism,” argues Bailey. “In other words, these two things are actually complimentary, and revolve around each other and work in a symbiotic relationship.”

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Top: A ship at sea in Tahiti; Above: Serenity on the beach at The Brando; Opposite: A one-bedroom villa at The Brando is a private paradise

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The Brando is the first five-star resort in French Polynesia to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification, the organization’s highest accolade. It boasts the region’s largest array of solar panels, and an ingenious SWAC (Seawater Air Conditioning) system that pumps cold water from the ocean depths to cool the entire resort, consuming 90% less energy in the process. Solar accounts for 70% of the resort’s energy; the rest is primarily generated by coconut oil and other biofuels. The Brando also employs a low-energy desalination system, a waste treatment system that uses plants and microorganisms to transform waste into clean water, and a composting program that sells its excess nourishment back to Tahiti. Some 50,000, baby turtles started their lives from the atoll last year, so the on-island Tetiaroa Society nonprofit has created sanctuaries for them and for several bird species. The group does not allow nonindigenous plants or flowers in its landscaping. The Society annually invites dozens of scientists here to study the pristine atoll’s algae, sharks and coral reefs. And while you will want for no luxury at The Brando, its commitment to sustainability and placement at the far corner of the world means you cannot act a spoiled brat. Shrimp ran out for a day during our stay, and refillable aluminum containers are used in lieu of mountains of plastic bottles. If that’s a problem, please go elsewhere—do not bring your negative mojo to The Brando. The utter remoteness of the locale will imbue a (quite accurate) sense that you’re walking on a grain of sand on the edge of the universe. A deep tissue massage will knead your soul as you sit on a deserted motu, looking out over the lagoon and the rest of the atoll, seeing almost no signs of human activity. No distant rattle of a scooter or Jet Ski, no mansions interrupting the dense plumage of palms, no plastic bottle or stray piece of refuse to rudely pull you back into the anxieties and fears of the 21st century. It’s just you, impossibly blue water as far as the eye can see, and a sense of solace that calms even the most obstinate, difficult-to-soothe corner of your spirit. Should you be looking for something a bit more opulent and overthe-top in conventional luxury terms, perhaps the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa’s recently unveiled suites will tickle your fancy. At more than 3,400 square feet apiece, these four opulent suites cobranded with The Brando boast of being the largest overwater properties in all of French Polynesia. Impressive 22-foot windows look out onto the lagoon and Mt. Otemanu looming like a mighty sentinel; on one floor there’s an office and relaxation lounge, below them two bedrooms and a dining room in an airy, open loft layout. Subtle these are not, but with access to the InterContinental’s spas, restaurants and activities they offer all of Bora Bora’s pageantry without any lapse in luxury.

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Left: The interiors of The Brando’s villas are ﬁlled with natural wood; Above: Peaceful reﬂections from a two-bedroom villa’s pool

FRENCH POLYNESIA

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COURTESY OF THE BR ANDO

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every blink with a sense of the surreal. Bora Bora is an island of postcards—the name alone conjures up nostalgic dreams of the South Pacific and a time when men crossed oceans in steamships and propeller planes and frolicked with women in grass skirts against dazzling sunsets. Nowadays it may be difficult to find the earthly paradise that snatched the breath from de Bougainville’s lips more than 250 years ago, but you will almost certainly discover that lost utopia throughout French Polynesia. You couldn’t miss it for the world.

C O U R T E S Y O F M A R R I OT T H OT E L S T H E S T. R E G I S B O R A B O R A

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From your back deck you can slip into the largest private infinity pools of any suite in Bora Bora, and enjoy piña coladas delivered to your door. Or better yet, dive into the lagoon below—it’s up to 12 feet deep, so cannonball if you must. One element in which Bora Bora surpasses Tetiaroa is in its color palette, reaching levels of blue so electric the ocean looks as if lit from within. The water is also remarkably buoyant: simply float on your back, lolling lazily in the gentle tides, taking in the dramatic mass of Mt. Otemanu (or “The Seabird” in Tahitian); its looming tower of dark volcanic rock and thick green jungle infuses

Opposite: A postcard-worthy scene at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa; Top: The InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa’s entrancing Le Lotus Restaurant; incredible views at Lagoon Restaurant by famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort MAXIM.COM

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P h o t o g ra p h e d b y D O M I N I Q U E L I - O Ă? P E T R A S

FRENCH POLYNESIA

THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO

FRENCH POLYNESIA

Mareva Marciano, winner of Miss Tahiti (and Miss France), was born and raised on Tahiti, and continues to serve as an unoﬃcial ambassador for the islands that she loves. Here’s a comprehensive guide to visiting French Polynesia from the ultimate insider: B y M AR E VA M ARC I AN O

What makes French Polynesia special? With 118 islands boasting high, rugged mountain peaks, coral reefs, turquoise-blue lagoons, white sand, palm-fringed beaches, and luxuriously intimate resorts, each island paradise has something for everyone. But visitors to our islands create memories through authentic experiences that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. For centuries, the Tahitian people have referred to this as “Mana”. Mana is a life force and spirit that surrounds and connects all living things…. And from the moment you arrive, you will understand why we say our islands are “embraced by Mana.” [French Polynesia is] the center of the romantic universe. A place where every person that has ever experienced the Mana [of] the islands will tell you is where you find [the] happy life. And you will feel it ripple up your spine the moment you step off the plane, and it will fill your soul. How do you choose between the countless beaches and atolls? Beyond a simple beach experience, take a tour on the water. The ocean represents the complete lifecycle to the [French Polynesians], and they have a masterful, reverential and respectful relationship with it. Traditional outrigger canoes, surfing and sailing are part of everyday life. Of course, travelers can also experience sunset cruising, kayaking, jetskiing, and more. The sea, the rainforest and heaven are the realms of the gods in the Tahitian’s spiritual worlds. French Polynesia is a world of water, with dozens of unique dive sites around each island and atoll, such as the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Fakarava island. But for me, the Tuamotus Archipelago beside Bora Bora have the best beaches and the most amazing water. What about land based activities? There are amazing trails for hikers of all levels, French Polynesia offers countless hiking possibilities among diverse landscapes including valleys, cut by refreshing rivers and draped with superb waterfalls where paths wind through luxuriant tropical vegetation. For those unafraid of heights, vertiginous crests lead to summits, some of more than 2,000 meters (Aorai, Orohena, Mou’a Puta, Mount Rotui). For those wanting a more relaxing outing, I recommend exploring the seashore paths bordering remote creeks overshadowed by towering cliffs such as the Te Pari cliffs. But wherever you venture, be careful, hiking on the islands can be challenging with features such as river crossings, pathways which are slippery at times and/or carpeted with roots, and particularly crumbly volcanic rocks. But nothing that should discourage one from exploring. What’s on the menu? Traditional cuisine in French Polynesia is diverse, but I’d focus on our seafood. Fish from the lagoon or from the ocean, ranging from perch, mahi-mahi and parrotfish are often on the menu for typical Polynesian dishes. They are often eaten raw, sometimes marinated in lime juice and coconut milk as in the famous recipe for poisson cru à la tahitienne. All these tropical foods are found in traditional ahima’a or Polynesian ovens where fruits, vegetables, suckling pigs, Tahitian chicken fāfā (local spinach) and other delicacies such as po’e, a desert made with fruit. Everything is sprinkled with fresh coconut oil and turns out deliciously creamy. There are even specialized tours that let you discover the flavors of the islands on picnics organized on beaches or on a motu (islet). What’re the best options in Tahitian nightlife? Usually, people start by a happy hour in a hotel or a local bar where they

hang out, then a restaurant or dinner at home. Afterwards you can continue partying in town (Papeete) where you can find all the bars. You also can experience the roulottes [food trucks] on the port of Papeete. Tahitians usually gather in groups and sing Tahitian songs with ukuleles and guitars. They also dance spontaneously right there. This tradition is called “la bringue”. How to best navigate the waters of French Polynesia? French Polynesia is 99% ocean. Cruise ships, canoes, sailboats… there are many ways to explore our waters. In the last few years, Polynesia developed the “36-month route” throughout our islands for sailboats, with an eye to sustainable development and environmental protection. French Polynesia also promotes snorkel trails. Four trails—two in Tahiti, one in Bora Bora and one in Rangiroa—offer a unique tour of the lagoon and its biodiversity. Just put on your fins, mask and snorkel and enjoy an underwater adventure that is both awesome and informative. How does French Polynesia balance tourism with environmental protections and sustainable practices? The rāhui is a temporary, protective ban on fishing or harvesting, allowing time for species to grow. It is an ancient practice, yet very much rooted in Polynesian society. The people of Rapa (Austral Islands) and Maiao (Society Islands) were the first to reestablish a rahui, and Tahiti has followed. The environmental results are obvious, especially in the preservation of marine biodiversity. French Polynesia is one of the largest maritime areas in the world, and its entire 1.9 million square mile domain is a marine mammal sanctuary. Wildlife ecotourism is on the rise, and protecting the animals and guaranteeing their tranquility is essential. There are rules of approach and observation, in particular for the humpback whales who come to give birth in our waters during the austral winter. Is there an ideal time of year to visit? There’s no bad time to visit the islands. Cooled by the gentle breezes of the South Pacific, the climate is ideal. Being tropical but moderate, the climate features sunny, pleasant days and an average yearly temperature of 80°F (27°C). Summer is from November through April, when the climate is slightly warmer and more humid. Winter is from May through October, when the climate is slightly cooler and dryer. But again, you can’t go wrong regardless of when you visit our islands. Beyond the famous five-star resorts, where should one stay? You must try the Tahitian guesthouses experience. As unique as the islands themselves, local accommodations dot each of the islands and you’ll be welcomed into the daily fabric of life in The Islands of Tahiti. These smaller lodgings, family hotels, and guesthouses offer an authenticity and a deeply experiential means of connecting to the lives of the Tahitians. Properties usually offer from one to twelve rooms or bungalows on the beaches, in the mountains or valleys, or within a village and can range from rooms in a family home to an all-inclusive private home on a family island or motu. You will also find unique culinary experiences at Tahitian guesthouses, most often with a farm to table approach of locally sourced ingredients and traditional recipes. Nearly 300 of these Tahitian guesthouses welcome adventuresome, independent, or seasoned travelers looking to feel, rather than just see, the true heartbeat of French Polynesia.

Mareva Marciano pictured on Nukutepipi, the gorgeous private island resort belonging to Cirque du Soleil co-founder Guy Laliberté (see page 56)

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PARADISE FOUND

The cofounder of Cirque du Soleilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $1 million-per-week island retreat in French Polynesia gets top marks

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nce upon a time, Guy Laliberté was a street performer, playing the accordion and walking on stilts for whatever passersby would throw into his hat. Then in 1984, he cofounded Cirque du Soleil as a one-year project with the help of a contract from the Canadian government. These days, he’s worth a cool $1.1 billion according to Forbes. And when he’s not playing in high-stakes poker tournaments or floating in space—literally; Laliberté traveled to the International Space Station in 2009—he likes to relax somewhere really remote. He reportedly spent 10 years searching for the perfect escape before settling on a private atoll called Nukutepipi in the outer reaches of French Polynesia in 2007, noted for its pristine natural beauty, complete with a “primary forest” that’s home to rare species, as well as a white sand beach and a protected lagoon with a flourishing coral reef. He then spent another 10 years turning it into the ultimate eco-retreat, with architecture designed to make the most of the incredible setting yet never infringing on the immaculate natural surroundings. “Wood, stone, water and light come together in a harmonious ode to nature,” as the property’s website puts it. This year, Laliberté was slated to open it to well-heeled travelers who are willing to pay about $1 million per week for the privilege of having Nukutepipi to themselves, making it one of the most exclusive and expensive resorts in the world. Now home to three villas and 13 beachfront bungalows, Nukutepipi can accommodate up to 52 guests at a time, whose every need is seen to by an army of staff. The property’s jewel is Laliberté’s custom-built, nearly 7,000-sq.-ft. Master Villa, which features a private infinity pool, hot tub, and home theater. The island’s grounds are also home to original artwork by the likes of Laliberté favorites Damien Hirst and Jim Dine. Of course there’s world-class cuisine on offer as well as spa treatments galore, and activities range from tennis and archery to kitesurfing and deep-sea fishing. Condé Nast Traveler describes it as a “boho-cool” hideout—which we suppose is accurate if the boho is also a billionaire.

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“BORA BORA REMINDS ME ON A DAILY BASIS HOW BEAUTIFUL AND FRAGILE NATURE IS, AND I TRY TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE IN ORDER TO LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE”

FRENCH POLYNESIA

THE REAL BLACK PEARL

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O P P O S I T E PA G E : M A N U A D E N O U E L @ B O R A B O R A _ L O C A L _ D R E A M

Diving for treasure in French Polynesia The waters surrounding French Polynesia produce some of the most sought-after natural treasures on the planet, black pearls. While originally harvested by free-divers searching for wild oysters on the seafloor, pearl cultivation has made the process far easier and much safer. Mostly gone are the days of locals free-diving and searching for a hidden prize, or the need for scuba gear. For those without advanced free-diving or scuba experience, or to facilitate a find, today you can visit a pearl farm, where oysters are raised, and nurtured, to create these mesmerizing objects. A process more than a century old, pearl cultivation not only eliminates the need for potentially dangerous diving, but helps conserve and protect the oyster population around the islands. Bora Pearl Company operates both The Farm and Dive for Pearl on Bora Bora. They will not only educate you about pearl cultivation, but allow snorkelers to dive down and pick their own oyster, watch the extraction of the pearl, and even have a piece jewelry crafted. Despite the name, black pearls exist with color overtones that include blue, gold, eggplant, green and peacock. While values vary widely based on various factors, generally speaking, the rounder the pearl, the more it is worth. Perhaps during your travels in French Polynesia, you’ll find a perfect specimen. The pearl you take home might even be worth more than the cost of a dive, providing one of the rare island adventures that can actually turn a profit. – Keith Gordon Local Instagrammer Fiona (@travel.with.ﬁona) is pictured here in a SurfAce Apparel bikini on the motu of the Meridien on Bora Bora; Top: A beautiful shot by Fiona taken on the north of Bora Bora’s main island

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FRENCH POLYNESIA

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE Laird Hamilton made history when he rode Tahiti’s Millennium Wave

mpossible is a term that is overused, often to describe the unlikely or the improbable. In the world of big wave surfing, elite athletes tend to use the word “unrideable” to describe a wave that cannot be tamed, even by the best surfers in the world. Perhaps the epitome of this is the famous, or infamous, surf break known as Teahupo‘o, located on the south coast of Tahiti. A few times a year, monster swells form on the horizon before growing into one of the truly unique and previously “unrideable” waves on the planet. That was until Laird Hamilton, arguably the greatest surfer of all time, produced one of the most famous rides in surfing history, on August 17th, 2000, now known simply as the Millennium Wave. He had heard about the mysterious Teahupo‘o back in the 1980s, as visiting Tahitian surfers tried to convey the ferocity, energy and danger of a wave that was mythical amongst locals. “I had some Tahitian friends that used to come to the North Shore of Oahu every season and surf in the Pipe Masters,” Hamilton recalls. “Those guys had always talked about [Teahupo‘o]… It was at the beginning of it being ridden when they talked about it. Most of the time, I think people didn’t think it was that rideable when it was doing its thing.” When Teahupo‘o “does its thing,” it’s a sight to behold. Unique seafloor topography, and the shallow reef on which the surf crashes, team up to create a wave unlike anywhere else on Earth. Deepwater swells hit a steeply rising coral reef to create monsters that, while not as tall as some other famous waves, pack more energy, ferocity and destructive power due to their unique shape. Whereas many big waves are tall and thin, the waves at this Tahitian reef appear to be as thick as they are tall, increasing the wave’s power exponentially.

Add this to the concentrated time and space in which the wave forms, barrels and crashes down, and it produces a ride unlike any other. The same shallow reef that creates this supercharged wave also provides the worst possible landing zone for surfers who wipe out, as the sharp, jagged coral sits just below the surface. Simply, it’s as if Mother Nature saw the progression of big wave surfing and decided to answer the challenge with a perfect storm of risk and reward, and of skill and bravery. Hamilton finally gave in and traveled to Tahiti, originally on a photoshoot. But the week spent at a nearby Tahitian surf spot shooting images for one of his sponsors at that time only made him more determined to check out the mythical Teahupo‘o nearby. “I went there every day and we had some incredible sessions there leading up to that giant swell,” he recalls. “Then, about a day or so before I was set to leave, two guys that were on the photo shoot were like, ‘Hey, there’s a big bomber swell coming in two days!’ Being a surfer and not wanting to miss the opportunity, because you never know when they come, I postponed my trip [home] and waited.” Hamilton’s patience paid off with one of the most iconic rides in surfing history, the Millennium Wave. “Then, on the second or the third day after I was supposed to leave, that big swell came,” the Hawaii-bred Hamilton explains. “Actually, on the particular day, all the Tahitians and everybody were like, ‘Yeah, no. We don’t surf Teahupo‘o when it’s this size. We go to some other break.’” Whether through stubbornness, or perhaps thinking that his new technique of being pullled onto a wave by a Jet Ski, known as tow-in surfing, could potentially shift the line of what was possible, or rideable, he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.

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While the ride he completed that magical day will forever be immortalized in images, videos and firsthand accounts, it had the biggest impact on the surfing community by reestablishing what was rideable and opening the minds of countless other surfers. Redrawing the line in the sand of what’s possible and impossible seems to be a driving force behind Hamilton, combined with his lifelong love affair with the ocean and all of the board-related sports and activities associated with it. Now likely past his surfing prime, Hamilton is still a groundbreaker in ocean watersports, especially in the relatively new sport of foiling, or hydrofoil surfing, in which an underwater blade with wings allows the rider and his board to stay above the surface while tackling diverse marine environments in never-before-ridden ways. “Right now everything I’m doing is really focused on foiling,” he tells us.” And so, foiling is at the forefront of almost all of my ocean pursuits. I mean, first of all, my relationship with the ocean and being in the ocean and being around the ocean will always take precedent over everything. My personal pursuit in my evolution as a surfer brings me to foiling. I really enjoy being a beginner. And not that I’m a beginner in foiling, but it’s evolving quickly and we’re evolving as riders.” The one area where Hamilton is certainly not a beginner is business, as he’s crafted his personal brand for decades and was one of the few surfers to break into the mainstream. As such, it’s not surprising that one of his current ventures is Laird Superfood, born of years of traveling the world and discovering foods and recipes that fit his active, health-conscious lifestyle. “I think that coming from a culture like Hawaii, where [the concept of] aloha is all about giving, it’s all about hosting and sharing and that’s one of the great things about an island culture. That’s one of the most positive sides of it: the generosity of island culture, from which I’ve benefited my whole life. And so, to be able to kind of incorporate that into a business that makes things that are good for people and have a profound effect, it just has all of the right recipes for a very incredible kind of business.” As for Teahupo‘o, and Tahiti as a whole, there certainly exists a deep connection with Hamilton, one that goes beyond big wave surf-

ing alone. “I was raised in Hawaii and you know, Tahiti is the beautiful sister of Hawaii. It’s just that she carries a sharp knife, you know? Being raised in Hawaii, your connection with Hawaiians and Tahitians and the culture and the island mentality, the island upbringing, the values, all of those things make you feel very at home. So when I’ve gone to Tahiti, I’ve felt very comfortable there.”

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AUTO

A CENTURY of STYLE

Bentley celebrates 100 years of building the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most beautiful grand tourers

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sk any true James Bond aficionado: 007 has always been a Bentley man at heart. In the original novels by Ian Fleming, Bond owned a number of Bentleys, but his first was a supercharged 1931 4.5 Litre “Blower”, nearly identical to the car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1928—part of a string of victories at the famed endurance race captured by the marque between 1927 and 1930 by the Bentley Boys, “a bunch of wild, fabulously wealthy devil-may-carers” and gentleman racers, “united by a love of insouciance, elegant tailoring, and a need for speed” (as The Rake magazine put it). In Casino Royale, the very first Bond novel, published in 1953, Fleming writes that the Blower was Bond’s “only personal hobby,” noting that he “drove it hard and well and with an almost sensual pleasure.” An attitude shared by most Bentley owners, seduced by the brand’s unique blend of uncompromising luxury and relentless performance, be they secret agents or CEOs.

The first car built by Walter Owen (W.O.) Bentley roared into life in a London back street in 1919, exactly one hundred years ago. And while some manufacturers would be content to rest on their laurels, Bentley is celebrating its centenary—and the start of its second century—by breaking new ground in both automotive engineering and design and alternative fuel. Not only with its revolutionary new 1,400 horsepower EXP 100 GT electric grand tourer concept, but a host of new production models in keeping with the company’s ethos of creating “extraordinary cars for extraordinary customers.” For the past century and the one to come. “Bentley defined grand touring, and touring is in our blood,” as former Bentley board member Dr. Andreas Offermann writes in his foreword to Be Extraordinary, The Spirit of Bentley, published by Assouline. ”We believe life is a grand tour, an optimistic journey full of inspiration, seeking new opportunities and challenges, constantly learning and growing… From family, friendship, and entrepreneurship to

The stunning 1,400 hp Bentley EXP 100 GT concept embodies the future of luxury craftsmanship with the seamless fusion of materials and intelligent curation of technology MAXIM.COM

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COURTESY OF BENTLEY

craftsmanship, conservation, and competition.” Christophe Georges, President & CEO of Bentley Motors Inc., The Americas, tells Maxim that these days the grand tourer “is not linked to a body shape. Grand Touring is emotive and speaks to our desire as engaged drivers to enjoy the vast open roads. Regardless of body shape or even propulsion technology, that is how we see Bentley today and in the future.” The EXP 100 GT, which made its stateside debut during Monterey Car Week last month, is the world’s first electric Bentley, “as powerful and exciting as any of its conventional predecessors” according to the marque, fully encompassing all of the traits of a classic grand tourer. Four electric motors enable maximum control via torque vectoring, while a Next Generation Traction Drive system applies 50% more power, with 35% less mass, as you sweep around the curves of the road. And it wouldn’t be a true grand tourer without a cross-continental range of nearly 435 miles. The zero emissions EXP 100 GT, which is truly the shape of automotive things to come, uses Artificial Intelligence to “predict human emotions and behavior, learning from every journey to make the next one even more intuitive.” It can switch between two, three and four seat configurations depending on the driver’s wishes, and the seats “biometrically” detect the driver’s mood and configure the seat surfaces and temperatures accordingly. “Exceptional, sustainable materials” meanwhile are “seamlessly fused with tailored technology throughout the car, providing effortless interaction between human and machine.” As for the interior, “the embroidery pattern of the sustainable textile and leather complement the pattern of the grain in the naturallyfelled” British oak veneer, while “souvenirs from each journey can be captured by the car and woven into your private AI memory library, to relive in the future.” Bentley also promises “a range of bespoke services relevant to your life” to accompany the EXP 100 GT, including a “personalized concierge who will ensure your favorite items are delivered and stored in the car ready for every occasion,” while when traveling abroad you can arrange for another EXP 100 GT to be prepped and waiting, pre-loaded with your own AI content and preferences and ready for the next adventure. JP Gregory, Bentley’s dashing young Head of Exterior Design, is responsible for the EXP 100 GT’s exterior as well as that of the new Continental GT. “The Bentley EXP 100 GT is the perfect demonstration of how Bentley is going to evolve and stay relevant in the new era of autonomous cars and alternative fuel,” Gregory tells Maxim. “It is an intelligent car which captures extraordinary human journeys thanks to emotionally intelligent AI and allows them to be relived…. It is a fully-autonomous car that can be driven when one wishes to enjoy the thrill of driving. It demonstrates the future of luxury craftsmanship with seamless fusion of materials and intelligent curation of technology. And it is a physical embodiment of the future Bentley brand, a perfect blend of performance, technology and craftsmanship.” It seems that the brand has been planning this for some time; since 1919 in fact, if you take the long view. “The aim of [the] company was from then on established,” writes Count Gelasio Gaetano d’Arragona

“THE BENTLEY EXP 100 GT DEMONSTRATES HOW BENTLEY IS GOING TO EVOLVE AND STAY RELEVANT IN THE NEW ERA OF AUTONOMOUS CARS” Lovatelli in the introduction to Be Extraordinary. “To create extraordinary cars for extraordinary customers. It signposted the beginning of an epic grand tour, the Bentley marque earning legendary status on the racetrack, the road, and the red carpet.” At Bentley, d’Arragona writes, “our remarkable success lies in our DNA: a double helix comprising two distinct strands of genetic information, each entwined around the other. One delivers uncompromising luxury; the other, relentless performance. The seamless fusion of the two creates a tension that courses through our brand: our products, our philosophy, our drivers, our designers, our fame, our flamboyance, and our future.” More than just a brand, “Bentley is a destination,” Georges tells us, “and Bentley customers are very loyal. In particular, they look for this unique combination of luxury and performance that Bentley delivers, and for them, there is no sacrifice of one for the other. The product quality and features allow our customers to enjoy their Bentley as their main car. And when the time comes for their next vehicle, we collaborate to define through design and features their desired expression, and this we call ‘co-creation.’ Ultimately, our customers are very close to our brand and our company, and this further drives their passion.” Recently we had the opportunity to visit the Bentley factory in Crewe, England, as part of a VIP preview of the beautiful, brand new four-door, 626 hp Flying Spur, which Bentley’s CEO Adrian Hallmark calls “a ground up development that pushes the boundaries of both technology and craftsmanship to deliver segment-defining levels of performance and refinement.” Customers can often be seen being

Top: JP Gregory, Bentley’s dashing young Head of Exterior Design, worked on the EXP 100 GT. Above: In the car’s interior “the embroidery pattern of the sustainable textile and leather complement the pattern of the grain in the naturally-felled British oak veneer”

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given a tour of the historic plant, where the Bentley Mark VI was first produced in 1946. As the book puts it, “it’s a place where millionaires meet mechanics, where drivers meet the driven, and contrasting skill sets are united by mutual passion.” At any given time there are over 200 people stitching together the sumptuous leather upholstery that has long been synonymous with the Bentley name, while equally renowned woodworkers prepare the gorgeous veneers that make the cabin of a Bentley such a sybaritic environment. The possible combinations are astronomical, and rarely are any two cabins exactly alike. It’s a very very busy place these days; in addition to the new Flying Spur, Bentley’s technicians are building—by hand—the new Continental GT and Continental GT Convertible, third generation of the world’s top luxury grand tourer; the Bentayga Speed, which recently topped the Lamborghini Urus to take the title of world’s fastest SUV; and the new Bentayga Hybrid, billed as the world’s first true plug in hybrid luxury SUV, which will no doubt attract many new customers to the brand even given its $156,900 starting price tag, which in point of fact makes it Bentley’s least expensive vehicle. Regardless of its ultra high-tech status, the EXP 100 GT was also

will “influence future Bentleys in their design, their technology, their drivetrain and their owner experience.” Gregory says the marque is already looking ahead to the next hundred years. “We are a business that keeps innovating, keeps inspiring and thrives on vision, determination and momentum,” he tells Maxim. “We have our eyes set on the future, pioneering new experiences for those who have a clear purpose and who value authenticity and innovation in equal measure. We strive to perfect what we do today, innovate for tomorrow, [and be] the epitome of modern luxury.” Georges takes a dim view of brands that boast about “redefining luxury,” an all too common catchphrase these days. “Luxury will not be redefined,” he insists; it is and always has been “all about emotions.” However to be considered as true luxury brands these days they “must be animated by the right values. For Bentley, this means embracing new, yet exclusive, ideas for customer benefit, such as luxury and mobility services,” especially ones that are not available to the general public. “We have just launched Bentley on Demand, for our customers only. This is a service where a Bentley customer can use a Bentley while traveling or when they need, or want, a different style of vehicle for a defined period, say a weekend.” And rather than turning to a dif-

built by hand, and Bentley has no plans to automate production or do away with any of the painstaking, some would even say outmoded, method of assembling its cars, giving each of them a unique personal touch along the way. It is said that the top craftsmen and women at Crewe can tell at a glance which of them worked on the interior details of any given car. “The Bentley EXP 100 GT is a fully sustainable project, not just in the beautiful sustainable materials it uses, but in the sustaining of key crafts and skills,” Gregory says. “New technologies bring new challenges, but a large part of what makes a Bentley a Bentley is the fact that it is built by hand. As a result we will continue to build our cars by hand.” Will the storied factory soon see EXP 100 GTs queueing for its assembly line? The concept is “a beacon for the kind of cars we want to make in the future,” Gregory tells us. “Like those great cars of the past, this car will connect with its passenger’s emotions and help them experience and safeguard the memories of really extraordinary journeys they take.” He says it will not go into production in its current form but

ferent brand they stay within the fold and never regret it for a minute. “We have a clear understanding of who a Bentley owner is now, and in the future,” Gregory notes. “First, we will continue to fully engage, and be highly relevant to, our existing traditional luxury customers,” with initiatives such as Bentley on Demand and a brilliant new app for owners. “Moving forward we will also capture the attention of a younger and broader modern luxury audience, which will become the core of our business in the next 10 to 20 years.” Gregory says they call such customers “life achievers. Not just financially successful, they are driven to achieve in all aspects of their lives. They are entrepreneurs, early adopters and digital natives who like to challenge convention. They care about the world we live in and they seek our brands with a strong purpose, progressive values and a sense of social responsibility and diversity.” They also want brands who will collaborate with their customers. “Brands who don’t just build products, but also create unique, enriching experiences that go beyond the accumulation of wealth or status.”

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“The Bentley EXP 100 GT is a fully sustainable project, not just in the beautiful sustainable materials it uses, but in the sustaining of key crafts and skills,” notes exterior designer JP Gregory

COURTESY OF BENTLEY

“NEW TECHNOLOGIES BRING NEW CHALLENGES, BUT A LARGE PART OF WHAT MAKES A BENTLEY A BENTLEY IS THE FACT THAT IT IS BUILT BY HAND”

RACING

JOURNEY TO

LE MANS Making the scene at the world’s most famous endurance race Te x t b y D U N C AN Q U I N N

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have driven faster. But so has my copilot. So much faster that most of you would be blubbing like small children poked in the eye with a stick. Pleading to slow down to the point where the world made sense again. It’s Le Mans 2019. Famed racing driver Derek Bell and I are belting down the Mulsanne Straight flat out in an original Bentley from 1930. At a tear-inducing 79 miles per hour. A far cry from Bell’s days pushing the outside of the envelope going faster than almost anyone has since. Epic. Magnificent. Emotional. The “24 Heures du Mans” Automobile Club De l’Ouest’s endurance race was first held in 1923 in and around the small town of Le Mans in northwestern France. Each team of drivers shares a car, and the chal-

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Left: Le Mans contenders line up on the world-famous racetrack in France; Opposite: this year’s winner Sébastien Buemi climbs into his Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid

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J E A N - F R A N C O I S M O N I E R /A F P/ G E T T Y I M A G E S

lifting off to 70% on each take, Derek was bored. He decided full race speed was in order for the final take. Flying through the corner at Maison Blanche in his Ferrari 512 without lifting, he saw McQueen in his shadow all the way. Then as he slowed to a halt and hopped out of his car McQueen came running over, shouting, “This bloody lunatic just tried to kill me.” “You didn’t have to follow me,” Derek replied. McQueen told Derek he would get him back. And he did. Egging him on in a motorcycle challenge around the track while they were still filming the

“RACING IS LIFE,” MCQUEEN SAID. “ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS BEFORE OR AFTER... IS JUST WAITING”

Top: Derek Bell giving Steve McQueen some racing tips; Bottom: McQueen and the Gulf Racing Porsche 917 in 1971’s Le Mans; Opposite: scenes from the track at Le Mans including Princess Charlene of Monaco waving the starting ﬂag; the actor and Porsche racer Patrick Dempsey; and Fernando Alonso’s victory lap 70

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TO P TO B OT TO M : S TA F F/A F P/ G E T T Y I M A G E S ; C B S / G E T T Y I M A G E S . O P P O S I T E : 1 -1 2 L E F T TO R I G H T, TO P, TO B OT TO M : ( 1 , 2 , 5 ) J A M E S M OY P H OTO G R A P H Y/ G E T T Y I M A G E S ; ( 3 , 4 ,9 ) K E R R O B E R T S O N / G E T T Y I M A G E S ; ( 7, 8 ,1 2 ) C O U R T E S Y O F B R E M B O ; ( 6 ,1 0 ,1 1 ) C O U R T E S Y O F R O L E X

lenge of achieving as many laps as possible, without breaking down, in 24 hours. One of the first entrants was a Bentley driven by John Duff and Frank Clement in 1923. They didn’t win the first time around. But their cohort of gentlemen racers, the mythical, “Bentley Boys” went on to win five times in the next seven years. And this year, for Bentley’s 100th anniversary, one of the streets of Le Mans that Bell and I whipped ‘round was renamed “Rue des Bentley Boys” in their honor. As I sat in Derek’s passenger seat parading around this legendary track, I had a lot to ponder. Derek won Le Mans overall five times. Visions of Steve McQueen and his 1971 film Le Mans, Porsche 917s, Enzo Ferrari, Ford GT40s, and all the ghosts of legends past and present flickered through my mind. He was showing me his form at the wheel bedecked in leather driving gloves and a smile, regaling me with tales of catapulting down the same straight at 246 mph in 1971. Strapped into a voluptuous, wide-hipped, glorious, thundering, blue and orange Gulf Racing Porsche 917. A rumbling, slippery, missile that rolled and flexed and gave you a nod and a wink before everything let go. Before you smacked into the Armco barrier; or worse, the trees, engulfed in pyrrhic flames. The chicanes that were later added to the famed Mulsanne Straight did not exist at the time. And neither did safety. Or Brembo brakes. Or computers. But glory and glamour did, with plenty to spare. The aesthetics established back then continuing to inspire every brand with macho pretensions today. Just cast your eye over a photo of McQueen during filming on Le Mans, sporting a racing suit and his now iconic Heuer Monaco watch, surrounded by cars in bright popping colors and bold racing stripes. Then close your eyes and reopen them in 2019, and see. And dream of owning Count Rossi’s early 1970’s street legal Martini Racing Porsche 917. Derek Bell was there in 1970. Flying down the track through the Maison Blanche corner with McQueen tailing him just as fast. The living, breathing, flesh incarnate of a line from the movie, “Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after… is just waiting.” McQueen had convinced the 1970 Le Mans race drivers to join his crew for the movie. Who better to lap the track than the guys who actually did it for death or glory, after all? And, of course, Derek confirmed what we already knew. Steve was the real deal and could drive with the best of them. McQueen came second in the 12 hours of Sebring in 1970 with Peter Revson in a Porsche 908 and had wanted to enter Le Mans himself that year. Rumor has it the company insuring the movie wouldn’t underwrite it if he did. So he chose to film, not race. One day on set, after a day of

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“LE MANS IS A PLACE OF MISTS AND MAGIC AND PILGRIMAGE. GLORY, GLAMOUR AND LEGEND HANG IN THE AIR”

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Menacing, insanely fast LMP1 cars lap the track

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movie. Derek ended up in the garbage dump covered in rubbish. Steve ended up with a laugh, and chalked the score to 1-1. At this year’s race I was camped out in an RV by the permanent Bugatti Circuit part of the track since Thursday as it’s the only way to truly immerse yourself in something like this. It’s now 12 am on Sunday, and the cars have been racing since 3 pm on Saturday. I have an eight million calorie jamón ibérico sandwich in my hand. Procured against a backdrop of floodlights and fairground rides from a food stall of gnarly Iberians with grizzly, muscular, forearms; and a passion for black, acorn-gorged pigs. Fat, salt, sugar and protein are hitting my system and temporarily kidnapping the pleasure centers of my brain. Caffeine is sloshing around at levels high enough to erase all thought of sleep. And there is a good chance I would fail a breathalyzer test. But I am here to soak up the atmosphere. Not to attack each corner at breakneck speed with metronomic precision as the drivers are doing. In the background you hear what sounds like a swarm of steampunk flying insects. Playing a riff on Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.” With the deep thumping bass of the Corvettes, the popping tenor of the LMP cars, and the high pitched buzzing of Porsche 911s. The Brembo Racing crew and I are about to attempt to bypass security and watch the action from a corner of the track in the small village of Mulsanne. The Mulsanne. By climbing onto workmen’s cabins at the corner at the end of the infamous straight. I had been told that this was one of the best places to watch as the cars come flying out of the darkness at over 200 mph, before decelerating to a fraction of that in a few hundred feet, thanks to carbon Brembo brakes lit up like fireflies in the dark. Ferrari and Ford are again locked in their 50 year old battle, soon to be immortalized in the new movie, Ford v Ferrari starring Christian Bale. Another actor, Patrick Dempsey, is leading his own Porsche team here at Le Mans hoping for a repeat victory in their class, while at the top of the technological totem pole Toyota is racing its LMP1 Hybrids against itself.

Le Mans is a place of mists and magic and pilgrimage. Glory, glamour and legend hang in every breath in the air. Mingling with the smell of beer, sweat, grease, and high octane racing fuel. And death, and glory. This is holy ground for motor racing fans. As Harry Tincknell, driving for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing this year in their failed bid to recapture Ford’s 1960s GT glory days told me, “drivers want to win Le Mans more than at any other race.” One look at former Formula One Champion—and now two-time Le Mans winner—Fernando Alonso shoehorning himself into the Toyota Gazoo Racing LMP1 car and you immediately understand this. This race has always drawn drivers to its sadomasochistic siren call. Across disciplines, continents, and oceans. For this is the magical charm of Le Mans. A place where as another alumnus, Mario Andretti, who drove the original Ford GT40s, once put it, “If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough.”

Steve McQueen’s 1971 film Le Mans remains the definitive movie about the iconic endurance race. But that may change in November when Ford v Ferrari from James Mangold, director of Marvel’s The Wolverine and Logan, gets released. The autobiographical action flick stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale in the tale of Ford’s epic triumph over longstanding Le Mans champs Ferrari with the incomparable Ford GT40 in 1966. The GT40, designed by Carroll Shelby (played by Damon in the film) went on to win Le Mans three more times in 1967, 1968 and 1969. It all started because of a feud; in 1963 Henry Ford II had a deal in place to buy Ferrari. But when Enzo Ferrari backed out at the last minute, an enraged Ford told his lead negotiator to “go to Le Mans, and beat his ass,” whatever the cost. – Jared Paul Stern

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Racing at sunset; Above: Le Mans movies past and present; Opposite: pit stops during the grueling race are equally fraught with excitement

J A M E S M OY P H OTO G R A P H Y/ G E T T Y I M A G E S ; C O U R T E S Y O F 2 0 T H C E N T U RY F OX ; M O V I E P O S T E R I M A G E A R T/ G E T T Y I M A G E S . O P P O S I T E : C O U R T E S Y O F R O L E X

LE MANS ON FILM

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How Slack’s CEO and cofounder Stewart Butterﬁeld monetized messaging

n 1989, while working at the research organization CERN, British scientist Tim Berners-Lee developed the World Wide Web as a way of simplifying the transfer of information and data between scientists located at universities and institutes around the world. Even he couldn’t have possibly imagined that this tool would go on to impact practically every aspect of human existence in the 21st century, with the majority of its usage for purposes that aren’t scientific in the least. It’s in this tradition of indirect discovery and creation that Slack cofounder and CEO Stewart Butterfield has achieved massive success, both from an impact and a monetary perspective. After all, Slack recently went public with a valuation north of $16 billion. This comes after his 2005 sale of Flickr, a photo management and sharing application that was purchased by Yahoo for an estimated $22–$25 million. One might assume that Butterfield is another tech-savvy genius from Silicon Valley, but just like his successful ventures, his path has been a nontraditional one. Born and raised in Canada, Butterfield began coding on his family’s computer as a child, even designing websites in college for clients, but he wasn’t the traditional computer science student. In fact, in 1996 he earned his BA from the University of Victoria in philoso-

“NARROWING THE FIELD CAN MAKE BIG CHALLENGES AND BIG GAINS FOR YOUR COMPANY FEEL MANAGEABLE”

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phy. He went on to the prestigious University of Cambridge, where he received his master’s degree in—you guessed it—philosophy. With no degree in computer science, nor business administration, his education seemed to set him up for a job in academia, not Silicon Valley. At this point, Butterfield teamed with a friend to build and sell Gradfinder.com, an Internet-based alumni community offering a way for high school graduates to message one another, for what he called a “healthy profit.” But success proved somewhat elusive, as his next venture, an online gaming startup called Ludicorp—perhaps ahead of its time—failed to garner the necessary financial backing. While that may seem to some like a low point, Butterfield took the lessons from the experience in stride, and with his colleagues went on to create the photo management and sharing application Flickr. What it demonstrated to Butterfield is that even out of seeming disappointments, opportunities can exist if one knows where to look and how to identify value. Arguably the most crucial asset Butterfield took from these experiences was to see that value; even if the main project had problems, there was still the potential for something worthwhile to emerge. And that would serve him well a few years down the line. Predating both Instagram as well as the iPhone, the young entrepreneur was a founder of Flickr in 2004 and sold it to Yahoo a year later. And it led Butterfield and his team to create an application that has grown so quickly, and become so widely and fanatically utilized, that it has joined companies like Google in becoming a verb. “Slack me” has become part of our dialect in the same way as “Google it” did years back. In the aftermath of his Flickr experience, Butterfield joined with former coworkers to create a multiplayer gaming company. They worked hard on a game called Glitch, but due to a number of reasons it did not take off, and Butterfield and his team had seemingly failed. However, in order to facilitate communication between the architects of Glitch, his team had created a tool that allowed real-time chat among them. Soon Butterfield realized that the tool was essential to their work, and that they had developed a brilliant communication platform. A different kind of application altogether, it would end up becoming much more important than the original project. Known as a “pivot” in the tech and entrepreneurial worlds, this moment of genius shifted the paradigm entirely for the young creator and his team. Instead of just building a game, they had succeeded in developing something that would revolutionize the 21st century workplace. Today, more than 10 million daily users and more than 95,000 paid customers in over 150 countries have turned to Slack. While the product has expanded, advanced and added new features, it was a decision by Butterfield that laid the principles for the program. Speaking to First Round Review, Butterfield explained his philosophy for creating a focus for both himself and his team: choose a few specific aspects or traits of the product and absolutely excel at them, never letting your focus waver from those areas.

D R E W A N G E R E R /G E T T Y I M AG E S

Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

D R E W A N G E R E R /G E T T Y I M AG E S

“We had a lot of conversations about choosing the three things we’d try to be extremely, surprisingly good at,” he explained. “And ultimately we developed Slack around really valuing those three things. It can sound simple, but narrowing the field can make big challenges and big gains for your company feel manageable. Suddenly you’re ahead of the game because you’re the best at the things that really impact your users.” While a valuation of approximately $17 billion as of mid-July, a listing on the New York Stock Exchange, and its place in our professional vocabulary as a verb, things appear rosy for Slack and Butterfield. But challenges exist on the horizon. Never ones to let an opportunity

pass, behemoth tech companies like Microsoft and Google have attempted to craft and disseminate their own versions of communication platforms. It’s yet to be seen if they’ll have any success winning market share from and slowing the momentum of Slack. While the company’s financial success has almost certainly been rewarding for the young entrepreneur, it’s perhaps his impact on the business world that provides the most pride for Butterfield. Named as one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine in 2006, Butterfield’s influence can now be felt everywhere from blue-chip conglomerates to spunky, young start-ups, and he is helping the next generation of entrepreneurs better communicate with their teams.

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MAXIM COVER GIRL AUSTRALIA WINNER

SCHOLARLY SUPERMODEL

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espite being named Maxim Australia’s 2019 Cover Girl, Olivia Caneva isn’t ready to give up on her other passions. Clearly her victory will lead to an increase in global recognition, and a boost to what we hope will be a thriving modeling career, but the beauty from the Yarra Valley in Victoria isn’t willing to sacrifice her education or work ethic. “I have been keeping myself busy with my work as a bookkeeper/manager, and studying exercise science at uni-

versity,” Olivia proudly admits, joking, “Don’t ask me how I fit it all in!” While she worked hard to promote herself in the voting for the Cover Girl experience, she was still shocked when the results became final. She fondly recalls, “I think I woke up my neighbors from all the frantic screaming, and my dog had no idea why I was pacing the house whipping out a ton of crazy dance moves!” As for the prize money, she plans to travel, invest in her career and donate a portion to her local sports

Te x t b y S AN T I P I N TAD O

club in gratitude for their support. While she is a force of nature in front of a camera, this beauty also has the brains to match, for in addition to her university studies, she’d be more than happy to defeat you intellectually. “I might be a bit rusty these days,” she admits, “but I’ll probably beat you at a game of chess. I entered into the state championships in school and won!” Brains, beauty and a determination to succeed…get ready for the world to know Olivia’s name, for more reasons than one.

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MAXIM COVER GIRL AUSTRALIA 2ND RUNNER UP

SMALL TOWN, BIG IMPACT Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

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ustralia is a land of abundance. There’s endless natural wonders, numerous deadly animals and of course, countless stunningly beautiful women. That makes a third place finish in the Maxim Australia Cover Girl contest even more impressive for Aussie bombshell Soraya. Originally from Mount Isa, an outback city in North Queensland, this small-town girl is going global thanks to her contest success. But the contest meant something more to the emerging star as she worked to raise awareness of K2, a charity that has been positively impacting the lives of people

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around the world through their mission to help individuals with life challenges and disabilities realize their full potential. Her favorite part of the competition wasn’t the acclaim or recognition, but according to Soraya “knowing the money we raised went to a good cause.” When she’s not in front of the camera, Soraya is enjoying all that her homeland offers. “I love the outdoors, a nice café and a good book,” she explains. You can also find her in the gym, watching documentaries or going for hikes in the jaw-dropping natural backdrop Australia can offer. Soraya admits modeling has always

been an interest of hers, recalling her childhood, remembering “I used to dress up when I was a little girl and make my family sit down in front of me and watch me dance, sing, pose and walk down the corridor with my best strut. My poor family!” But she hopes the success she’s achieved in the contest will help not only herself, but those around her, claiming “I have faith that this [opportunity] will open doors for me to further my modelling career. I hope that I can use that status to help out in the community with our youth and teach them anything is possible.”

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