PACIFIC LONGBOARDER MAGAZINE #108

PACIFIC LONGBOARDER MAGAZINE from Australia is the ONLY magazine worldwide dedicated to long boarding. For 25 years they’ve aimed to be all things to all longboarders: female, male, youth to boomers, world beaters or weekend warriors, hip or not particularly. It’s all surfing, it’s all good. Intelligent, funny, often provoking, the stories are always well written and well researched, plus stunning photography. They love the beach, they love the culture. 

Issue #108

• TO BE HERE
  This somewhat esoteric title of 14 pages of absolutely fabulous East Coast Oz pics is reflected in the ed’s most impressive flash of creativity where he’s matched lines from the unforgettable Desiderata to each spread. Who would have thought a 1927 poem most of us last saw in laminated form on a wall in the ’70s would appear in a surf magazine in 2021? Desiderata means “desired things”, and you’ll definitely be desiring to be where these waves are. Inspirational!

• TOFINO TAKE 1 - A LAND UP OVER 
  “Up over”! The sub-editors here are geniuses! Anyway former born-and-bred Byron local Robbie Ferguson, for some reason not explained, moved up to freezing British Colombia and continued the surfing lifestyle in the town that could possibly be best described as Canada’s frigid version of Byron. Robbie offers interesting takes on comparing living in both spots and there’s some fabulously evocative surf shots from his mate Marcus Paladino.

• TOFINO TAKE 2 – CANADA’S WILD WETSUIT WOMEN
  One of the most amazing features of the surf scene in freezing Tofino is the number of women braving the conditions. Local Bryanna Bradley explains what it is about this place that attracts her and so many like her. Sure it’s cold, expensive and somewhat remote, but enchanting rainforests, mesmerising sunsets, captivating wildlife together with the camaraderie of this thriving community of women certainly make Tofino Canada’s surf capital. Bryanna took the photos too.

• REPUBLIC DOMINICANA
  Going back a few years we regularly featured the work of gun US-based photographer Chris Klopf. Chris always manages to put together a crew of the hottest longboarders in the country for his trips to tropical Central America, and the epic waves and exotic settings made each of his photo spreads a highlight of the issue. No different this time when Tommy Witt, Cody Craig, Hanna Scott, Grant Noble, Justin Quintal, Tyler Warren and more join Chris on this trip to the somewhat dodgy Dominican Republic. Everyone survived and it's a very warm welcome back to Chris and his mates.

• LENS FLAIR
  As always, lots of outstanding photos in this issue – opening the mag with six pages of totally unrelated shots from around the world. The best of the best!

• THE USA’S SIGNATURE MODEL ERA
  The Phil Edwards article last issue was a massive hit and prompted experienced US surf mag contributor Jim Lucas to send us the info on the best and most popular signature models that followed the Phil, plus some contemporary pics of these collectables.
   
• CAMPING, VANNING, MEH!
  Former staff photographer Moonwalker offers his more than quirky opinion on the current camping and vanning trend.
   
• UNDER MOUNTAINS FAR FROM SEA
  John Chapman is an expat Aussie living in Austria but that doesn’t stop him sniffing out a sneaky river wave. Here he reflects on some of the unlikely places a dedicated surfer can indulge in the middle of Europe.
   
• THE BREAST COMP EVER
  20-year-old Emma Perrier lives at Kirra but regularly surfs at Evans Head. When a family tragedy struck 2 years ago she decided to organise this comp for a very worthy cause with outstanding results.

• UPFRONT
  This issue's featured surfer is Megan Godinez aka Aunty Megz from Oahu – who’s the lone surfer in a family of Hawaiian water people. And she rips!
  Das Magazin ist auf Englisch.

• THE ENDLESS SUMMER LITHOGRAPH
  Noosa Longboards stocks a range of works by John Van Hamersveld, arguably the world’s greatest living pop artist and the creator of the incomparable Endless Summer image. And you could even score a signed copy. Find out in this PLB issue.

• THE GREY GURU
  The GG gets a bit hot under the collar about other gurus and one in particular who leads his followers in the wrong direction. Unlike our hero of course!

• CUTTING EDGE
  Also a bit different this issue where Crooksy reviews two fiction books revolving around the surfing lifestyle, Waves Are Calling by Jim Lucas and Mundaca by Owen Hargreaves.