Innehållsförteckning för #360 Surfers från Surfing Life

Hasn’t our world expanded and shrivelled—together and apart—over and over in some twisted ethereal way? We are conscious the world exists outside our empty international airports. Nonetheless, the constant rumble in our bellies, to visit people and places beyond Earth’s largest island, grows louder. And as the months tick by, our anaemic bucket lists, along with optimism, become more malnourished. To thrive is to feel the enormousness of our life-supporting planet; it makes our hearts hammer and humbles us with our ant-like existence. Wants aside, an important need has shrivelled our society: freedom of choice. When will our day-to-day lives settle into a normal consistent routine? On the world’s smallest continent, each individual should be a crucial building block of our community, despite how insignificant we are made to feel…

It’s our favourite time of the year (better than Christmas, unless there’s a board-shaped present under the tree). The Hottest 100 glances into the future of Australia’s surfing talent, a pre-empting of potential where raw is regarded as refined. When it comes to our youth, their passion can’t be contained. It manifests in manoeuvres, and we watch wide-eyed, unable to blink. An ambush of questions are slung: Who detonates their turns or launches to the air the highest, quickest, strongest, most consistent? Who lands with style, power, finesse, and confidence? And who links their turns with undeniable flair, flow, and flawless technique? Groms have an effervescence that spikes our adrenaline. These 50 girls and 50 guys are 100 Mentos added to a bottle of soft drink. As a result, 2021’s…

The “nature versus nurture” discussion has circulated since the mid-1800s,1 and the surf community isn’t immune. To be a pro, is there a genetic precursor that injects raw talent? Or is it because of our environment, like being raised in a passionate surf fam with seemingly unlimited access to world-class breaks, as well as tips and tricks of the saltwater trade? Either way, the Kerr’s—dad and daughter, a.k.a. Josh and Sierra—hold back-to-back gens of pro surfing. Josh launched his career as an “air guy”, a multiple Airshow world champion. Add to that a World Surf League Big Wave World Tour event win in Mexico, and a globetrotting lifestyle including a dozen years on the Championship Tour. Now, Dad Josh is as passionate about surf progression as ever, and this freesurfer…

Rip Curl sponsor a lot of surfers, which is amazing, but there are a lot of blank noses on Tour; do you see this changing anytime soon? We do and we love to. From our next generation to our pro team, they’re a big part of who we are and how we continue to shape the Rip Curl brand. As for the blank noses, we’re always keeping an eye on these, and I’m sure the competitor brands are too. Into the future, I think we’ll see more stickers on surfboards just not necessarily always on the nose. Surfers are influencers. Curated social channels and with surfboard’s acting as billboards that’s good brand value for both endemic and nonendemic partners. Is there more or less of a market for sponsored freesurfers,…

Clearwater specialise in shaping every style of board. In the new age of surfing when there is a new shaper turning up around every corner, it is good to know you can still find quality craftsmanship. Steve Del Rosso has been shaping for over 30 years and doesn’t use a ghostshaper. Steve started shaping in WA where you had to know how to shape a good step-up board and gun, or you’d be left behind. Over a decade ago, Steve made his way to the wave-rich area of the Gold Coast to fine-tune his high-performance shaping. Since then, he has been shaping premium quality surfboards that won’t disintegrate after a couple of surfs. If you want to save money, don’t buy ten cheap boards. Buy one good one that will…

Being the offspring of a famous surfer sounds like a sweet gig, but the surf-star parent can often cast a long shadow. On the plus side, there’s plenty of evidence for the genetic transfer of surfing ability: Mason and Coco Ho and their ageless pops, Michael; Beau and Bryce Young and their legendary old boy, Nat; Sierra Kerr and her hard-charging aerialist dad, Josh. The list goes on. For Micah Margieson, 20, there’s plenty to like about following in the footsteps of his celebrated dad, Brenden, who’s one of the surfing world’s first professional freesurfers. And while the familiar surname might open a few doors, it has also made it tough to be recognised as a significant surfing talent in his own right. The comparisons to his old man are…

It’s October 15, 2018. Macy Callaghan has spent the week putting on a dynamic display of surfing. Her top-to-bottom Gilmore-esque wraps in the pocket scored Macy a second place at the Roxy Pro France as a WCT injury wildcard. That same day, with a small group of friends, Macy hightails it from Hossegor to Paris to celebrate the result and to bookmark another very special occasion. A fancy French dinner, a meander around the Eiffel Tower marvelling at its lights sparkling against a backdrop of black sky; what a way to spend an 18th birthday. It may come as a surprise that Macy shed a few tears that night—and not the happy kind. But for this self-described homebody, life on Tour away from family can be bittersweet. Macy explains this…

It’s October 1996. Kelly Slater and Lisa Andersen are dominating surfing’s Championship Tour. Newcastle has edged out Manly in a battle-of-the-coastal-clubs NRL Premiership thriller. In Sydney’s Northern Beaches, a bub named Lliam Mortensen takes his first breaths of ocean air after birthing into a blow-up pool in the backyard of his parent’s home in Avalon. It explains a lot that the boy they later called Letty—a name adopted by his four-years-older brother who could not pronounce Lliam as a toddler—entered this world via water. Letty probably swam before he opened his eyes. It also seems likely he rode the waves created by his mother sloshing around in the paddling pool that day, so in-tune is Letty with surfing beach breaks around his hometown bubble. “Growing up in Avalon, you either…

EAST COAST FORECAST Winter Motivation feels the cold; suit’s a cocoon. In six months, I’ll spread my wings. Thankful, for the struggle of June. Spring Warm air triggers hope; light lengthens our surfing days. Whales with new-born calves pass by. Still in neoprene, we wait for waves. Summer Sprinting over scorching sand; swimmers, a colourful blur. We froth on cyclonic swell but not the carnage that occurs. Autumn Offshore winds ensure waves; a glassy expression session. Ocean, warm from summer’s gaze. A year of surf progression. TRAVEL ISSUE: ON SALE FEBRUARY 3…