THE NORTH SHORE ISSUE #124

It never stops. It never changes. It barely even evolves. The North Shore would be an interesting study for any professor of sociological transformation. Since 1938 the crucible of tough love for the surfing universe. A place that still smelts raw talent, alloys it and pours into the form of memorable surfing reputations. Bomb into Teahupoo all you want, but until you become a player on the North Shore, you may be remembered as a good surfer, but never a great one.

And so in this, our 124th issue we are celebrating the new decade with a sumptuous feast of North Shore energy. Thanks to our team of photographers that were beachside and in the water, we open this issue with a 12 page spread of the finest North Shore photography you will see this year. Or for any year for that matter. Because we believe this is the among the best photography to come out of the North Shore season in our sport’s history.

Thanks to Pete Frieden, Liquid Barrel and Damea Dorsey, who toiled away on the blazing beaches and then swam out into harms way, these images will get you on the beach and duckdiving under the best surfers in the world. Of course center stage is Pipeline. Like we said, nothing changes much on the North Shore. Though sister Sunset and brother Haleiwa and big daddy Waimea are just as prestigious, most the lenses, as they have been since the 1950’s, are trained on the Banzai Pipeline. With barrels rarely lasting more than a five seconds, Pipeline may not be the stuff of GoPro surrealism, but the power and the speed and the majesty and the danger and most of all the reputation of the place carries a staus as heavy at its pitching lips.

Of course Pipe doesn’t host the only winter games in the world. So we also bring you a naked jungle. Pepe Romo’s visual paean to Desert point. Despite the Go Pro revolution, still a site in the top three for the longest barrels on earth. And speaking of tough love we also offer Surftime’s teenage guide to being a pro surfer. Follow these steps and you’ll make it. We then travel to Africa with Michael February and learn what it is like to surf alone with the ghosts of slaves. We have a stunning Liquid Barrel portfolio that tells the extraordinary story of Indonesian surfing in three back to back images of secret spots.

Trevor Murphy is back with his kaleidoscope dreams and we are giving away a custom LOST surfboard to the lucky and very talented winner of our photo contest. And we wrap the issue up with a look back at Hawaiian surfing in 1926. And so it goes that with every issue of Surftime we proudly bring you an indelible experience from around world. And in a day and age where surfers are talking to astronauts, we remain a voice too. Because within the images of this magazine is a voice without words. And it’s your voice. All you have to do is listen.

- Editor –

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