SURFER MAG May Issue Sneak Peak, Hot 100 and More!

The Hot 100

"When it came time for us to sit down and assess the current crop of up-and-comers in the sport, we wanted to be sure we got a glimpse of what the future looked like from their angle, and a peek at their current map of the world. To that end, we asked many of the best and brightest for their thoughts on each other. Dozens and dozens responded; some went so far as to give us their own versions of what the rankings should look like. While no two ever were alike, in the end there were unavoidable trends and consensus opinions that proved vital when it came down to making the final calls. What’s most refreshing about this current class, however, is that, even while hell-bent on getting us to the next level, that next level looks to be a very beautiful blend of past and present. Perhaps that’s why the top two surfers on this list (go on, turn the page and you’ll see) are accomplished longboarders as well as aerial freaks. It’s OK to fear the unknown. But, in the years ahead, as you get to know these kids even better, we think you’ll be just fine with the future."

Through Cracks in the Pavement
True surf adventure is as cheap and easy as jumping on your bike

"Speed and convenience have drastically changed the nature of surf travel. We’re all familiar with how advanced forecasts allow for quick strikes timed to perfection. Pre-packaged tours remove all the guesswork and risks. Hermetically sealed environments and modern-day gadgets allow us to bring our living rooms wherever we go. Even access to the world’s most remote locations is getting easier and easier, while adventure—true adventure—is harder and harder to find…or is it? Over the past few months, a handful of surfers have walked through the doors here looking haggard and dirty, with that familiar look on their faces that says they’ve just endured something special. And each of them did, simply by jumping off the tourist bus and onto their bikes for a fresh round of travel fun.”

THE SHROUD OF ANTILIA
Hiding Out in The Mid Atlantic is a Centuries Old Affair
by
Chris Dixon

“On May 23, 1807, a British captain named Edward Heywood and his navigators mistakenly took the outline of a small West Indian island for the distant, mountainous shores of Puerto Rico. Assuming that they were in deep water far offshore, the crew turned their 32-gun, 140-foot frigate, The Astrea , on a course that should have kept them offshore. Soon afterward, however, a gunner saw a phosphorescent line of whitewater dead ahead of the ship, glowing in the dark. It was the froth from waves breaking over an unchartered reef. Lovet yelled, “Helm, hard aport!” But it was too late."

Eye of the Needle
A Year in the Life of Patrick Trefz

" On a perfect December day, with northwest swell coursing in on the California coast, light offshore winds, all the favored pros home from the Hawaiian islands, lineups teeming with talent—the type of day surf photographers cash in on, that is—Patrick Trefz bought himself a train ticket, headed down the coast, and committed himself to capturing a single image. The photograph—a peaking wave breaking beyond a field of wild grass as seen from his train window—took Patrick eight hours to render and came out arrestingly."

Joe Curren: At Home in the Shadow of the Giants
The SURFER Profile
by
Andrew Kidman

“Everybody thinks they’re a poet or a writer or a philosopher or an artist, but it’s not really that way. There’s a lot of bad art out there, and even though people like to think they’re the f**kin’ sh*t, they ain’t. That’s where it’s nice—it comes from a humble presence. Joe doesn’t say anything—he just goes about and does it. That speaks louder to me than anything.” —Art Brewer on Joe Curren’s photography