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{{Short description|Monthly sports magazine in the US (1962–2020)}}
{{Infobox magazine
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Surfer
| title = Surfer
Line 10: Line 11:
| editor = Todd Prodanovich
| editor = Todd Prodanovich
| previous_editor =
| previous_editor =
| staff_writer =
| photographer =
| category = [[Sports magazine]]
| category = [[Sports magazine]]
| frequency = Monthly
| frequency = Monthly
| publisher =
| publisher =
| circulation_year= December 2011
| circulation_year= 2014
|total_circulation= 101,270<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp |title= eCirc for Consumer Magazines
|total_circulation= 96,402<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp |title=CONSUMER MAGAZINES - SEARCH RESULTS |date=June 30, 2014 |website=[[Alliance for Audited Media]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223190629/http://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp |archive-date=December 23, 2014 |accessdate=May 6, 2022}}</ref>
| publisher= [[Audit Bureau of Circulations (North America)|Audit Bureau of Circulations]]|accessdate=April 28, 2012}}</ref>
| founder = [[John Severson]]
| founder = [[John Severson]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1962}}
| founded = {{start date|1962}}
| firstdate =
| firstdate =
| finaldate = 2020 (print)
| company = [[American Media, Inc.|American Media]]
| company = The Arena Group
| country = United States
| country = United States
| based = [[Carlsbad, California]], U.S.
| based = [[Carlsbad, California]]
| language = English
| language = English
| website = {{URL|http://www.surfer.com}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.surfer.com}}
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| oclc =
| oclc =
}}
}}
'''''Surfer''''' is an American monthly [[periodical]] focused on [[surfing]] and surf culture, founded in 1962 by noted surfer, writer, photographer, artist and humorist, [[John Severson]] (1933–2017).<ref name="SFChron">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/nation/article/John-Severson-trailblazer-of-surf-media-and-11180873.php|title=John Severson, trailblazer of surf media and culture, dies|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|date=2017-05-29|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=2017-05-30}}</ref><ref name=mpub>{{cite book|title=Magazine Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yf9ydWlErLoC&pg=PA16|accessdate=30 November 2015|publisher=Clinton Gilkie|page=16|id=GGKEY:84J4SXB4BU6}}{{dead link|date=May 2017}}</ref>
'''''Surfer''''' is an American quarterly magazine [[periodical]] focused on [[surfing]] and [[surf culture]], founded in 1962 by noted surfer, writer, photographer, artist and humorist [[John Severson]] (1933–2017).<ref name="SFChron">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/nation/article/John-Severson-trailblazer-of-surf-media-and-11180873.php|title=John Severson, trailblazer of surf media and culture, dies|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|date=May 29, 2017|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=May 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="dates">{{cite book|title=Magazine Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yf9ydWlErLoC&pg=PA16
|publisher=Clinton Gilkie|page=16|id=GGKEY:84J4SXB4BU6}}</ref> The magazine went on hiatus from 2020 until August 2024.


⚫
''Surfer'' began as a quarterly publication, then a bi-monthly, subsequently becoming a monthly.<ref name="dates"/> When Severson sold ''Surfer'' in the late 1960s to ''For Better Living'',<ref name="capistrano"/> the magazine had around 100,000 active world-wide subscribers.<ref name="SFChron"/>
The magazine has changed ownership and management numerous times over its history and is currently published by [[American Media, Inc.|American Media (AMI)]]. AMI purchased the magazine in 2019<ref name="amermedia">{{cite web
|title = American Media buys Surfer Magazine
|publisher = Surfing Today
|author =
|date = February 4, 2019
⚫
|url = https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/american-media-buys-surfer-magazine}}</ref> from [[Motor Trend Group|TEN: Publishing]], a division of Adventure Sports Network (ASN).


⚫
The magazine changed ownership and management numerous times over its history. [[American Media, Inc.|American Media (AMI)]] purchased the magazine in 2019<ref name="amermedia">{{cite web|title=American Media buys Surfer Magazine|publisher=Surfing Today|date=February 4, 2019|url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/american-media-buys-surfer-magazine}}</ref> from [[Motor Trend Group|TEN: Publishing]], a division of Adventure Sports Network (ASN).
⚫
''Surfer'' began as a quarterly, subsequently growing to a bi-monthly and later a monthly publication.<ref name=mpub /> When Severson sold ''Surfer'' in the late 1960s to ''For Better Living'',<ref name="capistrano"/> the magazine had around 100,000 readers.<ref name="SFChron" />


The magazine's [[editor-in-chief]] is Todd Prodanovich and its photo editor is Grant Ellis.{{When|date=May 2017}}
The magazine's last [[editor-in-chief]] was Todd Prodanovich and its photo editor was Grant Ellis.


==Background==
==History==
John Severson originally created ''The Surfer'' as a collection of prints of his still surfing photography used to promote live screenings of his surfing movies. He gave them out as flyers at the shows, then after heavy requests for more decided to sell them. His first quarterly issues had a cover price of 75 cents and at the time the Surfer was the single most expensive magazine in the country.
⚫
John Severson created ''Surfer'' to counter the depiction of the sport and surf culture in the 1959 film ''[[Gidget (film)|Gidget]].'' He later said "surfers hated those Hollywood surf films, and I could see that ''Surfer'' could create a truer image of the sport."<ref name="SFChron" /> Severson's photography, art and humor set the tone for the future of ''Surfer'', which quickly grew to reflect the sport and the culture, as well as become a voice for [[surfer]]s and [[environmental activists|environmental activism]].


⚫
Severson also wanted to counter the popular depiction of the sport and surf culture as seen in the 1959 film ''[[Gidget (film)|Gidget]].'' In his 2014 book ''John Severson Surf,'' he wrote "surfers hated those Hollywood surf films, and I could see that ''Surfer'' could create a truer image of the sport."<ref name="SFChron" /> Severson's photography, art and humor set the tone for the future of ''Surfer'', which quickly grew to reflect the sport and the culture, as well as become a voice for [[surfer]]s and [[environmental activists|environmental activism]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Freeman|first1=Mike|last2=Robbins|last3=Gary|date=October 6, 2020|title=Surfer magazine, iconic touchstone of Southern California beach culture, shuts down|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-10-06/surfer-magazine-ceases-publication|access-date=October 7, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫
Severson sold ''Surfer,'' the date reported variously as "in 1970;" alternately "in 1971" directly to Steve Pezman;<ref name="dictates"/> and alternately also directly "in the late 1960s" to ''For Better Living,'' an [[Auburn, California]]-based company founded by F.G. “Bud” Fabian.<ref name="capistrano"/> Bud Fabian had retired from ''For Better Living'' in 1996, a company whose primary business was precast concrete.<ref name="capistrano"/> At the time, the magazine was produced by ''Surfer Publications'', a subsidiary of ''For Better Living'' and at least the late 1990s, was based in [[ San Juan Capistrano]].<ref name="capistrano">{{cite web
|title = Surfer Magazine Owners Are Considering a Sale
|publisher = Los Angelas Times
|author = ROSE APODACA JONES
|date = June 30, 1998
|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-30-fi-8459-story.html}}</ref>


Surfer Magazine became the de facto 'Bible' of the sport, and for decades was the number one source of inspiration and surf culture news in the world, The magazine was revered not just in the US, but in Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and all of Latin America & the Pacific. John Severson was also a talented graphic designer & painter, and Surfer was a visual treat, on trend, and groundbreaking in its design. Severson also established a tradition of including fiction, and from the very beginning, Surfer Magazine published short stories as a regular feature.
⚫
Noted writer and surf historian [[Matt Warshaw]], wrote for ''Surfer'' beginning in 1984, becoming the publication's editor in 1990.<ref name="break">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/jenkins/article/Surfer-found-his-big-break-in-S-F-2595738.php|title=Surfer found his big break in S.F.|website=SFGate|access-date=2016-05-10}}</ref> At ''Surfer,'' Warshaw mentored numerous journalists, giving them a place on the editorial staff and connecting independent authors with editors and surfing personalities.<ref name="warshaw">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/09/the-glory-of-the-digital-encyclopedia-of-surfing/280120/|title=The Glory of the Digital Encyclopedia of Surfing|last=Lukach|first=Mark|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-10}}</ref>


⚫
Severson sold ''Surfer,'' the date reported variously as "in 1970;"<ref name="dates"/> alternately "in 1971" directly to Steve Pezman;<ref name="dictates"/> and also alternately "in the late 1960s" to For Better Living, an [[Auburn, California]]-based company founded by F.G. 'Bud' Fabian.<ref name="capistrano"/> Bud Fabian had retired from For Better Living in 1996, a company whose primary business was [[precast concrete]].<ref name="capistrano"/> At the time, the magazine was produced by Surfer Publications, a subsidiary of For Better Living and at least the late 1990s, was based in [[San Juan Capistrano]].<ref name="capistrano">{{cite web|title=Surfer Magazine Owners Are Considering a Sale|work=Los Angeles Times|author= Rose Apodaca Jones|date=June 30, 1998|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-30-fi-8459-story.html}}</ref>
⚫
In 2019, Warshaw, when asked about 2019 purchase of ''Surfer'' by [[American Media, Inc.|American Media (AMI)]], widely known for its ''[[National Enquirer]]'' publication, Warshaw said, "Surfer, best-case scenario, is in for a very rough year or two, then American Media puts it up for sale and it gets bought as a vanity project, the way [[Jeff Bezos]] bought the [[Washington Post]]. Surfer will at that point be reborn in whatever form the rich benefactor dictates."<ref name="dictates">{{cite web

|title = Warshaw on Slow Death of SURFER: “Surf media is always 95% crap and 5% great!”
⚫
Drew Kampion was editor of the magazine from 1968 to 1972.<ref name="SFChron"/> Noted writer and surf historian [[Matt Warshaw]], became a writer for ''Surfer,'' beginning in 1984, becoming the publication's editor in 1990.<ref name="break">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/jenkins/article/Surfer-found-his-big-break-in-S-F-2595738.php|title=Surfer found his big break in S.F.|website=SFGate|date=13 November 2005 |access-date=2016-05-10}}</ref> At ''Surfer,'' Warshaw mentored numerous journalists, giving them a place on the editorial staff and connecting independent authors with editors and surfing personalities.<ref name="warshaw">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/09/the-glory-of-the-digital-encyclopedia-of-surfing/280120/|title=The Glory of the Digital Encyclopedia of Surfing|last=Lukach|first=Mark|website=The Atlantic|date=30 September 2013 |access-date=May 10, 2016}}</ref>
|publisher = Beach Grit, February 2019

|author = Derek Reilly
⚫
In 2019, when asked about 2019 purchase of ''Surfer'' by [[American Media, Inc.|American Media (AMI)]], widely known for its ''[[National Enquirer]]'' publication, Warshaw said, "''Surfer'', best-case scenario, is in for a very rough year or two, then American Media puts it up for sale and it gets bought as a vanity project, the way [[Jeff Bezos]] bought the ''[[Washington Post]]''. ''Surfer'' will at that point be reborn in whatever form the rich benefactor dictates."<ref name="dictates">{{cite web|title=Warshaw on Slow Death of SURFER: "Surf media is always 95% crap and 5% great!"|publisher=Beach Grit|date=February 2019|author=Derek Reilly|url=https://beachgrit.com/2019/02/warshaw-on-slow-death-of-surfer-surf-media-is-always-95-crap-and-5-great/}}</ref>
|date =

|url = https://beachgrit.com/2019/02/warshaw-on-slow-death-of-surfer-surf-media-is-always-95-crap-and-5-great/}}</ref>
Editor Todd Prodanovich and the other four full-time staffers were furloughed October 2, 2020 and publication was halted.<ref name="end">{{cite web|title=Iconic SURFER magazine publishes last issue after 60 years|work=The Orange County Register|date=October 5, 2020|author=Martin Wisckol|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2020/10/05/iconic-surfer-magazine-publishes-last-issue-after-60-years/}}</ref> In 2022, The Arena Group acquired the ''Surfer'' digital brand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2022/12/13/arena-group-buys-mens-journal-adventure-sports|title=Arena Group buy digital assets of Men's Journal, Adventure Sports Network|date=13 December 2022 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 65: Line 56:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.surfer.com}}
* {{Official website|http://www.surfer.com}}

{{American Media}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:American bimonthly magazines]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Surfer}}
[[Category:American monthly magazines]]
[[Category:American quarterly magazines]]
[[Category:Bimonthly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:American sports magazines]]
[[Category:Defunct sports magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1959]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1962]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2020]]
[[Category:Magazines published in California]]
[[Category:Magazines published in California]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Quarterly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Surfing in the United States]]
[[Category:Surfing in the United States]]
[[Category:Surfing magazines]]
[[Category:Surfing magazines]]

Latest revision as of 10:22, 29 December 2024

Surfer
Surfer Magazine Cover April, 2011
EditorTodd Prodanovich
CategoriesSports magazine
FrequencyMonthly
Total circulation
(2014)		96,402[1]
FounderJohn Severson
Founded1962 (1962)
Final issue2020 (print)
CompanyThe Arena Group
CountryUnited States
Based inCarlsbad, California
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.surfer.com
ISSN0039-6036

Surfer is an American quarterly magazine periodical focused on surfing and surf culture, founded in 1962 by noted surfer, writer, photographer, artist and humorist John Severson (1933–2017).[2][3] The magazine went on hiatus from 2020 until August 2024.

Surfer began as a quarterly publication, then a bi-monthly, subsequently becoming a monthly.[3] When Severson sold Surfer in the late 1960s to For Better Living,[4] the magazine had around 100,000 active world-wide subscribers.[2]

The magazine changed ownership and management numerous times over its history. American Media (AMI) purchased the magazine in 2019[5] from TEN: Publishing, a division of Adventure Sports Network (ASN).

The magazine's last editor-in-chief was Todd Prodanovich and its photo editor was Grant Ellis.

History

[edit]

John Severson originally created The Surfer as a collection of prints of his still surfing photography used to promote live screenings of his surfing movies. He gave them out as flyers at the shows, then after heavy requests for more decided to sell them. His first quarterly issues had a cover price of 75 cents and at the time the Surfer was the single most expensive magazine in the country.

Severson also wanted to counter the popular depiction of the sport and surf culture as seen in the 1959 film Gidget. In his 2014 book John Severson Surf, he wrote "surfers hated those Hollywood surf films, and I could see that Surfer could create a truer image of the sport."[2] Severson's photography, art and humor set the tone for the future of Surfer, which quickly grew to reflect the sport and the culture, as well as become a voice for surfers and environmental activism.[6]

Surfer Magazine became the de facto 'Bible' of the sport, and for decades was the number one source of inspiration and surf culture news in the world, The magazine was revered not just in the US, but in Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and all of Latin America & the Pacific. John Severson was also a talented graphic designer & painter, and Surfer was a visual treat, on trend, and groundbreaking in its design. Severson also established a tradition of including fiction, and from the very beginning, Surfer Magazine published short stories as a regular feature.

Severson sold Surfer, the date reported variously as "in 1970;"[3] alternately "in 1971" directly to Steve Pezman;[7] and also alternately "in the late 1960s" to For Better Living, an Auburn, California-based company founded by F.G. 'Bud' Fabian.[4] Bud Fabian had retired from For Better Living in 1996, a company whose primary business was precast concrete.[4] At the time, the magazine was produced by Surfer Publications, a subsidiary of For Better Living and at least the late 1990s, was based in San Juan Capistrano.[4]

Drew Kampion was editor of the magazine from 1968 to 1972.[2] Noted writer and surf historian Matt Warshaw, became a writer for Surfer, beginning in 1984, becoming the publication's editor in 1990.[8] At Surfer, Warshaw mentored numerous journalists, giving them a place on the editorial staff and connecting independent authors with editors and surfing personalities.[9]

In 2019, when asked about 2019 purchase of Surfer by American Media (AMI), widely known for its National Enquirer publication, Warshaw said, "Surfer, best-case scenario, is in for a very rough year or two, then American Media puts it up for sale and it gets bought as a vanity project, the way Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post. Surfer will at that point be reborn in whatever form the rich benefactor dictates."[7]

Editor Todd Prodanovich and the other four full-time staffers were furloughed October 2, 2020 and publication was halted.[10] In 2022, The Arena Group acquired the Surfer digital brand.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "CONSUMER MAGAZINES - SEARCH RESULTS". Alliance for Audited Media. June 30, 2014. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Goldstein, Richard (May 29, 2017). "John Severson, trailblazer of surf media and culture, dies". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Magazine Publishing. Clinton Gilkie. p. 16. GGKEY:84J4SXB4BU6.
  4. ^ a b c d Rose Apodaca Jones (June 30, 1998). "Surfer Magazine Owners Are Considering a Sale". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ "American Media buys Surfer Magazine". Surfing Today. February 4, 2019.
  6. ^ Freeman, Mike; Robbins; Gary (October 6, 2020). "Surfer magazine, iconic touchstone of Southern California beach culture, shuts down". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Derek Reilly (February 2019). "Warshaw on Slow Death of SURFER: "Surf media is always 95% crap and 5% great!"". Beach Grit.
  8. ^ "Surfer found his big break in S.F." SFGate. 13 November 2005. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
  9. ^ Lukach, Mark (30 September 2013). "The Glory of the Digital Encyclopedia of Surfing". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  10. ^ Martin Wisckol (October 5, 2020). "Iconic SURFER magazine publishes last issue after 60 years". The Orange County Register.
  11. ^ "Arena Group buy digital assets of Men's Journal, Adventure Sports Network". 13 December 2022.
[edit]
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