Surfing World Magazine

Surfing World is the oldest, deepest and most respected surfing magazine in the world. Founded in 1962, it's become a cornerstone of surfing culture both in Australia and right around the globe. It's a premium, high concept magazine, showcasing the best surf writing and photography. It's both classic and contemporary, reflecting the kaleidoscopic surfing culture of today.

THE QUEEN OF CRESCENT HEAD Jodie Barsby is a saltwater woman • It’s Sunday arvo on Waddawurrung country. One of those crispy clear days that swing by in late autumn — a slight nor-wester blowing down the paddocks, all that slow pale light bouncing off ancient orange cliffs. The swell’s dropped right off but there’s a coupla sliders rolling on through, and down on the sand at Djarruk/Bells Beach a very different kind of finals warm-up is taking place. There’s no headphones or serious faces happening here, no coaches whispering intently and pointing out to sea, tracing the shape of what high performance winning looks like with a single fingertip. Instead, the women’s longboard finalists in the Australian Indigenous Surf Titles are conducting what looks like the most joyful synchronised stretching routine in surfing history. All you can hear is the sounds of the ocean, Yothu Yindi belting out of the PA and a whole lot of wild laughter and hooting drifting up the beach stairs. You can see the finalists’ grins from right up in the car park and leading it all is an unstoppable woman in a bright red rashie, reaching up her arms to the sky.

Surfing World Magazine

Surfing World 419—

Autumn in spring

TO RUSSIA, ONLY WITH LOVE — when war breaks out during your surf trip • Earlier this year, four guys from Avalon took a surf trip to Russia. To the far east, Kamchatka. In a fateful development, as they were in the air, Russian troops crossed the border and invaded Ukraine. As the world watched on in horror, the boys landed in transit with two hours before their flight left for Moscow. Two hours to make the call. Fly to Russia or fly home? Four guys from Avalon, the safest surfing bubble in the world, were about to fly into some big trouble… and some big adventure. At a time when the world was seeing the worst of human nature, these guys flew behind the Iron Curtain and found, to their surprise, the best of it.

“THE WAVE CAN ONLY BE THERE FOR ONE PERSON” — and that was Steph • Steph Gilmore is sitting opposite with a margarita, her second. Why not? A month ago, she won the unwinnable world title, and the party hasn’t slowed up. We joke about the old days when returning home to Coolangatta with a world title saw the airport overrun, a limousine to Rainbow Bay, and Wolfmother playing in the car park. Things are a little more refined these days. Steph only got back to Australia two days ago and snuck in without anyone even knowing. She’s down at Byron to catch up with an old friend. The world title was a her eighth and has put her in rarified air, which is fitting. The old friend is Gerry Lopez. Sitting together on the other side of the table, the convergence of impossible style threatens to create a Zen singularity that may reduce all of surfing – every wave ever ridden – to a single point of light. Before that occurs, the waitress brings a bowl of fries out, and Gerry reaches for one but stops himself. “Man, they’re my weakness.” Steph takes a sip of her margarita, waves a dismissive hand, and grabs a handful. “C’mon Gerry, live a little.”

Noa Deane

WHEN IT ALL DISSOLVES, WHAT’S LEFT? — Craig Anderson on universal truths • Fluffing around in the carpark recently, I got chatting to a local teenager about to paddle out. He’d just landed a glassing job in Sydney, and was rightfully buzzing. He began recounting some of the highlights of his new gig – basically a roll call of pro surfers he’d met since being there. “I met Craig Anderson which was sick. He’s my favourite...