Whether you’re a kook or a soul surfer, sometimes we all need a bit of extra inspo to get us fired up.
Dive into a line-up of resources from across the seven seas.
I was a late starter when it came to learning to surf. 42 to be precise. It just goes to show that you’re never too old to learn new skills or sports activities. All you need is an adventurous spirit, a devil-may-care attitude and oh yeah……. the ability to swim might be helpful. If, like me, you also love reading about epic surf trips and lesser-known surf spots, then you may have already subscribed to a few well-known blogs. But it’s always interesting to find others that give you that froth. So, here are a few you may or may not have come across.
US-based
Surfer.com
It’s an online surf magazine and has some great features and the latest surf news. Covering topics such as surfing forecasts, surfing personalities, equipment, clean-up initiatives and more. It’s a US surf news site and focuses on up-to-the-minute info if you are Stateside or heading that way on a surf trip. The “how to” section has lots of great content that you could easily browse for hours. There is something for everyone, including surfing as a family. So, even though you may not be in the US, there’s still plenty to keep you motivated and interested. It is one of the oldest and most respected surfing publications.
Theinertia.com
Established in 2010, it has risen to prominence catering to surfers as well as outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. The Inertia covers both surfing and environmental and social issues relevant to the surfing community. It’s a US-based magazine but covers global stories, making it relevant to surfers everywhere. The platform features a mix of news, opinion pieces, feature articles, interviews, videos, and photography. There’s a wide range of topics including surfing culture, lifestyle, travel, social justice, and more. It’s one of the most popular blogs, so you may have already come across it.
UK-based
Carvemag.com
Carve Magazine was founded in 1994 by surfers, for surfers. It has since grown to become one of the leading surfing magazines in the UK. It’s known for its quality content and comprehensive coverage of the UK surfing scene. The site covers a wide range of surfing-related subjects. Including surf news, features, interviews with top surfers, travel destinations, gear reviews, and surf culture. It doesn’t restrict itself to UK surfing though, it’s also a global magazine. By the way, the video section of the site is awesome and will have you transfixed for hours.
Surfgirlmag.com
SurfGirl Magazine is dedicated to celebrating and empowering women in surfing. It provides a platform for female surfers to share their stories, experiences, and perspectives on the sport. This online magazine features a huge mix of editorial content. Interviews with female surfers, profiles of inspiring women in the surfing community, travel guides to surfing destinations, and environmental conservation initiatives. The magazine aims to inspire and inform women who love surfing or aspire to become surfers. A great site that promotes gender diversity and representation in this male-dominated sport.
Australia-based
Tracksmag.com.au
An Australian-based publication covering surfing news, culture, and lifestyle from a global perspective. There’s so much great content and news articles on this site. With glorious photography and attention-grabbing titles, it’s an Aladdin’s cave for all things surfing. It is an Australian-based publication, but does cover all locations, including my bucket list destination: Namibia’s skeleton coast. With striking photography, insightful articles, and an irreverent spirit, it continues to capture the essence of surfing. Inspiring all levels of wave riders to seek adventure and embrace the ocean’s endless possibilities.
Surfingworld.com/.au
Surfing World Magazine was first published in 1962, making it one of the oldest surfing publications in Australia. Its legacy spans six decades of providing surfers with engaging and insightful content. It has a strong focus on Australian surfing, covering the local surf scene and surf culture. It provides readers with in-depth coverage of Australian surfers and surfing in Australia. Over the years, the magazine has featured contributions from some of the most influential figures in the surfing world. These have included surfers, photographers, writers, and industry insiders. This has helped to shape its identity and maintain its reputation as a trusted source of surfing information and inspiration.
Weather and conditions
Surfline.com
Some people may remember a surf forecasting site called Magic Seaweed. Founded in Devon in 2002, it was taken over and merged with Surfline in 2017 and lost its name in the merger. You can still see 16-day forecasts, surf cams and surf ratings as before.
Surf-forecast.com
The site provides surf forecasts and surf reports for over 7,000 of the world’s best surf spots. You can get wave and wind maps and the site provides a custom e-mail surf and wind alert system.
Windguru.cz
Windguru was one of the first online weather forecasting websites for surfers, windsurfers, and kitesurfers. The site provides wind, wave and temperature forecasts for anywhere in the world.
There are heaps of online magazines and blogs that cover specific destinations and particular surf schools but these choices above will hopefully give you a more independent view on the global surf scene.
