Perhaps an interesting thread for today: What is your favorite issue of The Surfer`s Journal, i.e. interview, photo essay, etc.?
Wow! That’s a tough question. It seems like each new issue is my favorite until the next issue comes out. The Greenough article from a while back stands out in my mind. I also liked “Transitions” in volume 10, number 1. I think they were both written by Paul Gross. My only wish is that the Journal was a monthly publication. I guess good things come to those who wait.
Perhaps an interesting thread for today: What is your favorite issue of > The Surfer`s Journal, i.e. interview, photo essay, etc.? One that has a special place in my heart and is always with me at work is Volume three/number three (Fall '94) “Tim Bernardy’s Mexico Memoirs”. Such a surf life I lived in the mid-seventies! Can you imagine your son or daughter telling you “Dad, I’m going down to San Blas to live in the jungle for 2 months!” Boy, you couldn’t stop ‘me’ back then, I’d quit any job and go with just minimal cash,one board, and two pairs of boardshorts! And there were beautiful chicks to meet down there too, even with my long bleached hair and no shower for weeks at a time. I’d love a pair of those Mexican Sandals with the tire tread on the bottom which proclaimed “I was deep in Mainland Mexico” Remember getting the ‘Turistas’, Petacalico, No see-um’s, Little Stoner’s, Carlos’s Cantina, Matachin Bay! What can i say I’d love to shot the sh-t with Tim Bernardy, he’s givin me back a part of my life which I will never live again,… given the current overwhelming urge to have an inkling of ‘common sense’ anyway!!!
It seems that each issue has something in it that hits a special chord. Half the fun of reading it it going back and re-reading it to discover some tidbit that you missed on the first pass. The latest issue had not one but two pieces that were special. The piece on El Salvador revisited. Remember your first trip down there either before or after the chronicles in Surfer magazine? The other article by Chris Ahrens ,I believe painted a very subtle but vivid picture of the few that continued to ride longboards through the short, single fin era. Hey Surfhungry! check this out, http://www.turnay.gob.mx/attr/en-san-blas.html (Little Stoner’s was lit up in those last two storms I’m told) Tom Sterne>>> One that has a special place in my heart and is always with me at work is > Volume three/number three (Fall '94) “Tim Bernardy’s Mexico > Memoirs”. Such a surf life I lived in the mid-seventies! Can you > imagine your son or daughter telling you “Dad, I’m going down to San > Blas to live in the jungle for 2 months!” Boy, you couldn’t stop ‘me’ > back then, I’d quit any job and go with just minimal cash,one board, and > two pairs of boardshorts! And there were beautiful chicks to meet down > there too, even with my long bleached hair and no shower for weeks at a > time. I’d love a pair of those Mexican Sandals with the tire tread on the > bottom which proclaimed “I was deep in Mainland Mexico” Remember > getting the ‘Turistas’, Petacalico, No see-um’s, Little Stoner’s, Carlos’s > Cantina, Matachin Bay! What can i say I’d love to shot the sh-t with Tim > Bernardy, he’s givin me back a part of my life which I will never live > again,… given the current overwhelming urge to have an inkling > of ‘common sense’ anyway!!!
Vol 9 #2 (late Spring 2000) - Sorry but… my first (and only) picture in ANY magazine, surf boat article by Jeff Chamberlain, surf mat/Dale Solomonson article by Paul Gross.
Volume 4, number 2- The article on one of the greatest surf photogs of all time: Ron Stoner. I sure would like to see The Journal dedicate one of those nice, hardback books to the photos Ron took. Also, and I can’t remember the volume numbers, but it was the one with the article on Butch Van Artsdalen.
Perhaps an interesting thread for today: What is your favorite issue of > The Surfer`s Journal, i.e. interview, photo essay, etc.? For me it was the one with the articles on Malibu in the 70’s by John Kiewitt (?) and Mike Perry. I even sent SJ a Christmas card/thank you for that one. It was absolutely on the mark, devoid of any “industry” spin or historical revisionism. It’s the best surf magazine out. Maybe we ought to pepper them with article suggestions…
Perhaps an interesting thread for today: What is your favorite issue of > The Surfer`s Journal, i.e. interview, photo essay, etc.? A very difficult question…without having to look back at the issues, off the top of my head the Lopez, BK and Velzy profiles come to mind…Men and Their Models revisited was cool…The Malibu…Stoner photo essay…Sometimes even the little tidbits in between articles and in the back are classic…gosh this is harder than listing your favorite videos!!! I am fortunate enough to have collected all issues, and treasure each one like the Holy Grail, a big Mahalo to Steve Pezman… FD
Vol 9 #2 (late Spring 2000) - Sorry but… my first (and only) picture in > ANY magazine, surf boat article by Jeff Chamberlain, surf mat/Dale > Solomonson article by Paul Gross. Tough one Dale.They are al pretty dang bitchin’.Probabaly like many of you I have them all.I enjoy the stuff on Mexico the featred artists, oor profiled characters, etc.However,from my perspective the one I frequent most is the issue that featured both Bob Simmonas AND George Greenough.Two independent thinkers that came up with similar design principles in different eras and toatally uknown to each other.
Perhaps an interesting thread for today: What is your favorite issue of > The Surfer`s Journal, i.e. interview, photo essay, etc.? The one with the articles about Ocean Beach and Windansea. I surf Ocean Beach but grew up in North County (SD). Never surfed Windansea but the article was just great. There are a couple of photo spreads in that one too. One of them could be the Stoner spread other posters are referring too. Great pics, almost bring tears to your eyes. On another literary subject, I just finished “Tapping the Source” by Kem Nunn and have started his book, “The Dogs of Winter”. Imagine dark, gritty Raymond Chandler stories set against a surfing backdrop. They’re not cliche and the guys a real writer. Top notch and highly recommended if you like that sort of novel.
what can I say…the Ocean Beach (SF) article was pretty bitchen. (I just met one of the original Wise Guys in the water the other day ;-)) Honestly though, my heart skips a beat when I see that envelope in my mail! Much thanks to Steve Pezman and all the folks over there who put together a great publication. S
Perhaps an interesting thread for today: What is your favorite issue of > The Surfer`s Journal, i.e. interview, photo essay, etc.? Surfer’s Journal favourites…it’s easy for me, anything at all to do with the Ranch. When there is an even a bump that might produce any swell in it’s window, I’m in there, work permitting. New Zealand swell of ‘75 was that one magic swell for me, Govs was solid 15’ backs and more perfect than I’ve ever seen it before…almost connecting thru to Perkos. The Coast Guard Cutter Pt. Judith was attempting to tow a motor sailor off the head of the point, then gave up cause it was too dangerous. Two other boats were there with a total of 8 people (including our crew) on it. The other guys in the water were AB divers and informed me that it was about 3-4’ bigger the day before and better shape…I thought to myself, how in the hell do you improve on this!!! Needless to say, we definitely had the wrong equipment, but the AB divers were tearing it up, and each and everyone of 'em was over the age of 40. Anyway, You can usually count on Pezman to toss a Ranch tidbit in there at least once a year…cause he apparently got hassled there more than once. Wonder why… Duck
. . . Surfer’s Journal favorites… I have so many. Let me discuss two that have not been mentioned: Picture . . . My favorite is the picture of the Manhattan Beach Surf Club clubhouse, circa 1950, below where the south parking lot now stands . . . Dugan Yeakel and Bobby Beathard are the kids on the beach . . . the Hawk reigns as king . . . Simmons sweeping out the clubhouse next to incredible balsa sticks . . . When is someone going to do a story on the craziness of that era? Article . . . One of my favorites is Drew Kampion’s “1969 - When The Smoke Cleared” (and accompanying picture of Walt Phillips and Drew) . . . It was the best of times . . . a great winter . . . riding a Bing Australian foil . . . one of the finest articles on the times behind California and Hawaii’s short board evolution . . . I’m a high school senior and almost free . . . The Surfer’s Journal makes me want to get in the water . . . and give aloha back to the sport. Thanks Steve and Debbee! Rory