Surfing Magazine

Surfing Magazine
Title	Surfing Magazine
Frequency	Monthly
Category	Sports magazine
Firstdate	1964
Finaldate	2017
Country	United States
Language	English

Surfing Magazine

Surfing Magazine was an American periodical focused on surfing culture, surfboards, and coastal lifestyle, founded in 1964 and published until 2017. The magazine covered professional surfing competitions, athlete profiles, equipment reviews, travel features, and photography, influencing generations of readers across California, Australia, Hawaii, and beyond. It operated alongside contemporaries like Surfer (magazine), Transworld Surf, and international outlets such as Tracks (magazine) and Stab Magazine.

History

Founded in 1964 during the rise of modern surfboard design and the popularization of beach culture in Southern California, the magazine chronicled developments in shortboard innovation, the emergence of professional surfing tours, and major competitive events like the ASP World Tour. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s it documented influential riders linked to Hurricane Ridge, Waikiki, and the pipeline era in Oahu while competing with publications born from the same era, including Surfing Life and Tracks (magazine). Ownership and editorial leadership shifted through corporate transitions, involving companies that also owned titles in action sports and outdoor publishing associated with brands proximate to Quiksilver, Billabong, and Rip Curl. In the 1990s and 2000s the magazine adjusted to changes in media consumption as digital platforms from outlets like Stab Magazine and mainstream networks such as ESPN increased coverage of athletes from regions like Bali, Jeffreys Bay, and Fiji. Economic pressures in the 2010s, combined with consolidation trends affecting magazines such as Transworld Skateboarding and niche sports journals, led to reduced print frequency and an eventual cessation of regular print publication in 2017.

Content and Features

The editorial mix combined event reporting from contests such as the Shell Houston Open-era surf equivalents and tour stops reminiscent of Billabong Pro Pipeline coverage, in-depth interviews with riders associated with Kelly Slater, Duke Kahanamoku-era legacies, and technical pieces on developments in shortboard and longboard construction referencing shapers who worked in regions like Oahu and North Shore (Oahu). Regular columns addressed travel destinations including Gold Coast, Queensland, Banzai Pipeline, Snapper Rocks, and Supertubos alongside gear reviews comparing brands such as Channel Islands Surfboards, JS Industries, and Rusty Surfboards. Photo essays showcased surf photography from locations such as Mundaka and Teahupo'o, while profiles highlighted riders who competed on circuits administered by governing bodies like the International Surfing Association. Special issues explored environmental concerns affecting coastlines like Maui and Santa Cruz, California and cultural intersections with music acts tied to scenes in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sydney.

Circulation and Distribution

Circulation relied on a mix of newsstand sales, subscription models, and distribution partnerships with surf shops and retailers in surf hubs such as Huntington Beach, California, Byron Bay, and Waikiki Beach. Distribution networks paralleled those of magazines operating in action sports, coordinating with event promoters at stops in Gold Coast, Queensland and festival organizers in Bali to reach attendees. As print declined industry-wide, the title expanded online content to compete with digital-first outlets and social platforms where surf media communities congregate, similar to shifts seen at publications like Surfer (magazine) and Transworld Surf.

Notable Contributors and Photographers

Contributors included journalists and editors who wrote about competitive narratives tied to athletes such as Mick Fanning, Tom Curren, and Stephanie Gilmore, as well as columnists who contextualized eras linked to pioneers like Duke Kahanamoku. The magazine featured photography by renowned surf shooters who captured breaks at Teahupo'o, J-Bay, and Pipeline, working alongside cinematographers producing surf films screened at venues associated with festivals in Tamarindo and San Clemente, California. Photojournalists who contributed imagery also appeared in international exhibitions and collaborated with brands like Billabong and Quiksilver on campaign work. Editorial voices often intersected with those from related publications such as Stab Magazine and writers who covered board design innovations emerging from shaping bays in California and Australia.

Awards and Events

The magazine sponsored and partnered on events and award features that celebrated achievements in big-wave riding, progressive maneuvers, and surf photography, aligning with contest formats similar to the World Surf League stops and invitational events staged at locations like Nazare and Jaws (Peahi). It produced year-end lists honoring riders, images, and surf films, comparable to end-of-year coverage by outlets like Surfer (magazine) and Stab Magazine. Collaborative events and media partnerships connected the title to film festivals, surf expos, and community initiatives in coastal cities including Santa Cruz, California, San Diego, and Gold Coast, Queensland.

Reception and Impact

Critics and readers recognized the magazine for its long-form features, photography, and role in documenting shifts in professional surfing—from the rise of competitive tours to advances in board design and regional surf scenes in Portugal, France, South Africa, and Indonesia. Its influence extended to shaping consumer tastes, promoting athletes who later became household names in action sports, and contributing to archival records utilized by historians and surf scholars examining cultures in locations like Oahu and Byron Bay. While the print era waned, the magazine's legacy persists in the work of photographers, writers, and industry professionals who continue to shape coverage across outlets including Stab Magazine, Surfer (magazine), and new digital platforms.

Category:Surfing magazines