PACIFIC LONGBOARDER MAGAZINE #121

Photo Magazine

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 #121:

KIRK’S KIRK
Surfing’s notorious for attracting a wide range of obsessives and eccentrics but even in this company Kirk Jenkins can stand very tall, even while riding a longboard in a very fetching pair of red high heels. A multi-talented artist and stylish big wave surfer, Kirk has a fascinating backstory with numerous intriguing episodes including acting in a US soapie and lifeguarding at Hollywood pool parties. In this interview with PLB we get some idea of what makes Kirk tick while his friend, collaborator and widely acclaimed photographer Pete Balmer provides a trove of great shots showing Kirk's style and versatility in the water. And out.

EVERYDAY’S OVERHEAD
Top-ranked WSL longboarder Kevin Skvarna from San Juan Capistrano in California also recently won his second world title at the Kneeboard World Championship at pumping JBay. Kevin shares his thoughts on this rare combo and how it all came about while a range of the best photographers chip in with the supporting evidence.

PACHA LIGHT RETURNS TO ECUADOR
The great globetrotting pilgrim Lucy Small returns to the screen caper with filmmaker Maddie Meddings as they travel to Ecuador with Australian/Ecuadorian shortboarder Pacha Light to document Pacha’s connection to her homeland. The film is call Ciebo and you’ll have to read the story or see the movie to know why. Surfing in Ecuador, sailing to and surfing in the Galapagos, seals, and plenty more!

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE PASS
Of course there is, we all know that (don’t we?) but for South Australian-based photographer Rich Richards it was his first ever trip there. Invited to show some of his world-renowned photographs at the Byron Surf Festival, Rich bundled the wife and kids into the car with the framed images and his camera for the 26-hour (!) drive to The Bay. The surf wasn’t great but in his brief time there Rich totally “got” the place and shot a range of pics that captured the local vibe exactly.

LEE CROSS & THE AUSTRALIAN SURFER
Did you know kiddies that before PLB there were other surf magazines? Yes really. Even before Surfing World and Surfabout, in 1961 Bronte surfer Lee Cross put together the first Australian Surfer magazine pretty much on his own and distributed it himself to surf shops and local book shops. It only lasted two issues but it's an historic first they can’t take off him and Tony Haid tells us how it all went down and some info about Lee’s post-publishing career and long surfing life.

WINTER IN WAIKIKI
For a change of pace and something a bit more conventional, Kammeran Keola from Kaneohe on the east side of Oahu shares some of his recent photos from surfing’s spiritual home Waikiki and honestly is there anything more photogenic? Check it out.

LENS FLAIR
As always, up the front are 6 pages of wonderful surfers on great waves shot by our favourite photographers.

THE BUZZ
An extensive rundown of The South West Longboard Festival in West Australia. Mike Tyson the Tassie board collector. Lucas Proudfoot - from World Longboard Tour to performing for half a million kids in schools and centres around Australia. Southside Mal Clubs 40th – the gang from The Shire.

UPFRONT
Ginger Caimi is originally from Milan and now the Canary Islands and is already attracting serious attention on the European Longboard roundabout. She’s the Spanish Open & Junior Champion, the European Junior Champ and finished 21st at the ISA World Longboard Championships. She’s 12 years old!

GREY GURU
The GG takes an almost serious tour with Matty the Waxhead around Harbord Road Brookvale where the Brookie Six were operating back in the day. This naturally triggers some actually serious reminiscing on the GG's part particularly on the day he bought his first Gordon Wood’s board from the man himself. You will be moved for sure! 

+ THE 106th BOARD GIVEAWAY
A South Coast 9’6” Slasher Low Pro – the latest collaboration between South Coast shaper Ian Chisholm and Californian CJ Nelson, How’s that for pedigree!

The magazine is in English