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THE SECOND COMING: JULIAN WILSON
Julian returns to the fold and everyone is watching.
Written by Luke Kennedy
“I just really appreciate any form of opportunity I get to compete now… If I was to give it up tomorrow, like, it wouldn’t change who I am or how I feel … Obviously I wasn’t done yet. That fire is still there, and that’s why I’m walking down this road again.” Julian Wilson
MARTIN POTTER’S LIFELONG ACT OF DEFIANCE
When you start to analyse the life of Martin Potter it doesn’t take long for a reoccurring theme to emerge – You don’t tell Pottz he can’t do something unless you really want him to do it!
Written by Brad Sterling
“While there can be little doubt that Pottz’s success in the contest arena can largely be attributed to a unique natural talent and an inherent competitiveness, it is difficult to ignore the ever-present thread of defiance weaved throughout his story; a raw edge that may have provided the extra spark needed to fuel his early dominance.”
THE REVOLUTION CAME IN A CARDIGAN
Devon Howard and Simon Jones on the subtle endurance of the mid length revolution.
Written by Tay Kitts
“Like all heroic revolutions, this one began on the couch. Most of us were stuck at home watching freesurfing on YouTube as Covid bopped around outside. While competition surfing was put on pause, we switched our attention to alternative surfing. Two distinct figures were capturing a lion’s share of attention, both of whom were riding longer, fatter boards that drew lines in a way that tickled our heart-strings. It was like the noise settled down, and a more dignified style of surfing rose to popularity.”
LILLIANA BOWREY: THE RIGHT LINE
The talented goofy-footer and actor, with the world and various craft, at her feet.
Written by Jake Stolte
“I’m not chasing acting, I’m lucky in the sense that I can fall back on that, but surfing is my priority. It’s a side hustle for me, right now my priority is pushing my surfing to be the best I can be and inspiring other young girls.”
COLIN MACLEOD: THE NAKED THRILL
How bodysurfing helped to save Colin MacLeod’s life.
Written by Tom De Souza
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t gas me up a bit being the only one out there at a slab where there are a bunch of dudes on boards. I kind of get a little smirk on my face when I get a crazy one, and people are like, ‘What the f***?’” he says.
SAM AND LUKE EGAN
The lifetime hand-shaper and the Hall of Fame surfer.
Written by Luke Kennedy
“The collaboration arguably reached its pinnacle at the ’97 G-Land event where Luke rode a quiver of his dad’s boards to victory in the Quiksilver Pro. Alternating between a 6’6” and a 6’10” in flawless, eight to 12-foot G-Land swells, Luke had a dream run, defeating Slater and Machado on his way to a finals victory over Chris Gallagher.”
JOHN COLLINS: THE BELL MUST BE RUNG
How a kid from Port Phillip Bay became the contest director at pro-surfing’s most fabled event.
Written by Sarah Lindbergh
When the final siren went, that was it. Richie won, but instead of celebrating, we were carrying him off on a stretcher. I ended up presenting his trophy to him as he was being loaded into the back of an ambulance.
NICK GREEN IN BLACK AND WHITE
Allowing the lens to tell a story.
Interview by Luke Kennedy • Photography by Nick Green
“The whole lifestyle resonated with me immediately: spending time in nature, pushing yourself mentally and physically, and just the simple joy of being in the ocean and exploring new places. People loved seeing photos of themselves surfing, and that changed the way they treated me. I earned their respect, and my ego was rewarded. It was pretty addictive, to be honest, and it definitely motivated me to improve quickly. My neurodivergent brain has always been a bit like that, hyper-focused and all in.”
‘LIFE AROUND THE SEA’: RUSSELL ORD & ALEX WORKMAN
A new book by Russell Ord and Alex Workman features a tapestry of characters and images shaped by the sea, defining Australian surf culture.
Written by Alex Workman • Photography by Russell Ord
“Ord’s appetite for adventure and aversion to crowds has led him to remote corners of his home state. He’ll recount strike missions to mutant slabs – waves so raw they’re barely ridable – where the Jet Ski breaks down kilometres out to sea with no one around. His fearlessness shines when he shoots from the water, bobbing like a buoy in Australia’s sharkiest waters, determined to capture a shot no one else can. The places he likes to explore are remote, uninviting and often have an element of danger thrown in.”
THE OTHER EDEN
Raw beauty, empty barrels, and unchartered potential make the Solomon Islands an enticing surf destination.
Written by Kirk Owers • Photography by Ryan Craig
Missionaries, colonial administrators, and various entrepreneurs have tried to tame The Solomons over the centuries with very mixed results. A few mining and planta- tion ventures succeeded and Christianity eventually took root, but the archipelago remained a barely known backwater right up until World War Two when thousands of troops from America and Japan converged on the Solomons to fight for control of the Pacific.
HERE’S TO YOU, ME OLDS
A raucous Hunters and Collectors gig at the ‘Rissole’, a wild bunch of surfers and the photo of two brothers that never ran.
Written by Greg Perano • Photo by Greg Nagel
“The first two characters to burst into the band room that night at Avalon RSL , accompanied by Duke Bombora, were the brothers, Nick and Tom Carroll.“
