VOLUME SEVEN, NO. 5

In Trim: Mark Martinson  by Drew Kampion
This stylish power surfer may be the sport’s most unrecognized champion, but Mark Martinson’s best revenge is his incredible longevity on the waves. Martinson’s personal friend and famed surf journalist Drew Kampion recounts the unlikely story of the first United States Surfing Champion, including the tales of Martinson’s Long Beach, CA childhood, his father, working with MacGillivray/Freeman, Corky Carroll, winning the 1964 U.S. title, Hawaii, Butch Van Artsdalen, dodging the draft, missing World Contests, shaping, Robert August, sport fishing, golf and his “empty bowl” syndrome.

“Mentawai Marvels”  by Jeff Kramer
A dream team of surf adventurers—made up of Bonga Perkins, Jeff Kramer, Taitten Cowan, Colin McPhillips, Tyler Hatzikian and Guy Pere—assemble to sail the Indian Ocean in search of perfect Mentawai barrels. Diary excerpts by Jeff Kramer tell the two-week, seafaring tale, as 18 pages of Jim Russi’s brilliant images illustrate what Kramer’s words cannot.

“Of Reefs and Roman Ruins”  by Alessandro Dini
Take a surfing tour through Italy—one of western civilization’s most historical backdrops—as Dini offers everything a traveling surfer needs to know about riding waves in this wondrous region. Italian longboarders Carlo Piccinini, Alberto Congiu, Fransesco Farina and Cino Bendinelli are pictured.  

“First Light”  by Logan Murray
If it’s uncrowded, thin-lipped peelers you’re looking for, then New Zealand might just be the place for you. Writer/photographer Murray gives light to some of the more popular longboarding venues there, offers mouth-watering, local lineup shots and captures action from Chris Ransley, Michael Fitzharris, Wade Grave and Doug Stewart.

“Small Waves, Big Fun…”
Traveling surfers don’t always seek out double-overhead, hollow surf; sometimes perfect, tropical, two-to-three foot waves will do just fine. Photographer Warren Bolster shares a brief look at one of his recent trips to Fiji, where he, Jon Roseman and Jairus Cannon enjoyed some long, clean, blue lines at Swimming Pools and Kiddieland.     

“Recuerdos de Puerto: A Oaxaca Scrapbook”
A scrapbook-style presentation of the critical lines drawn and bone crushing barrels made on a summertime vacation to Mainland Mexico’s Puerto Escondido. In this 10-page feature, Darren Ledingham, Stephen Slater, Brendan White, Angel Salinas and Dave Ogle take longboards to their limits at Zicatela Beach, The Point and a secret spot.  

“Traveler’s Tale: Board Love”  by Sam George
A trip to West Africa forces George to depend on a single surfboard for his entire stay. Fortunately, despite suffering through board transport problems, George’s choice of a high-performance longboard pays off when he reaches Ghana, and he cannot help but fall in love with his decision.             

“Street Surfing”  by Hunter Joslin
In a special insert, Longboard  presents a return to skateboarding’s roots with “Street Surfing.” Highlighted by Michael Brooke’s 50-year timeline—noting important breakthroughs in equipment, key figures and the rise, fall, rise, fall and rise of skateboarding over the decades—and completed with a Longboard Skateboard Buyer’s Guide, Joslin investigates the long skateboard’s rise in popularity with an overview of the longboard skateboard friendly areas in the community. Stylish skateboarders Brad Edwards, Tyler Hatzikian, Dave Hatton, Rich Phelps, Julie Cox, Mark Sloan, Reina Ortner, Brian Hopper, Mike Weed, Torger Johnson, Chris Del Moro, Al Kim, René Carrasco and Jesse Fritsch are shown bringing these wooden beasts to life, while Joslin covers the vibes of cruising the strand, bombing downhill and dialing into parks, pools, ramps and bowls. 

LineUp: “Noseriding 101: Getting to the Tip”  by Devon Howard
Howard discusses the sole reason most of us longboard—noseriding—and details the importance of choosing the right board for the task, drawing lines, cross-stepping, hanging those toes over and properly retreating.

Tribe: Francois Lartigau  by Fabrice Le Mao 

Right Angles: “Folly Beach, South Carolina”  by Peter Interland

Surf Sisters: Jeannette Michaud  by Maureen Drummy

Surfer’s Ear: Fred Hemmings

Dropping In: Brett Rasby