TransWorld SURF’s Year In Covers: 2009
Justin Cote
- October 22 2009
- 473 views
- 20 comments
We know, it’s only October, but for reasons I can’t explain, most surf magazines date their issues a couple months ahead. For instance, subscribers are getting the December 2009 issue of TransWorld SURF before Halloween. With that said, it’s been a monumental year for us here; we’re growing in a shit economy, Web numbers continue to climb, and we get better looking everyday.
Okay, maybe only two of those are true.
Anyway, here are the 12 covers we’ve done this year—love ‘em or hate ‘em, here they are.
Which one was your favorite? Why? Best (meaning well thought out, funny, or just plain spot on) comment wins a Sticky Bumps care package (Tour Series day bag, hat, traction pad, tee shirt, etc.) that’s been sitting in my office for two months… Don’t sugarcoat anything, like water off a duck’s back, we can take it.—JC
Kelly Slater, Kandui. Photo: Pat Stacy
Slater made this month’s cover pick easy after winning his record 9th ASP World Title. It didn’t hurt that we were sitting on a ton of Kelly photos from the Andy Irons/Slater super trip to Kandui Resort in the Mentawais.
Dane Reynolds, Bali. Photo: Damea Dorsey
Dane at Canggu on the island of Bali. You pretty much can’t go wrong with putting a surfing superstar on the cover. On a sidenote, the new ASP format was explained in this issue…six months later we finally get it.
Cory Lopez, Pipeline. Photo: Seth Stafford
After an amazing run of macking Pipeline last December, we were sitting on choke Pipe shots. The dealmaker on this was Cory’s soul arch in the face of death from an angle most would never see in their lifetime.
Kelly Slater and Andy Irons. Photos: Pat Stacy
How do you highlight the biggest surf trip in the history of TransWorld SURF? Put both of the stars on the marquee. That way there are no hurt feelings either…
Pat Gudauskas, Backdoor Pipeline. Photo: Dave “Nelly” Nelson.
The most controversial issue of the year. We got a lot of hate mail for our first ever Buyers Guide, but according to the stats it sold really well. What to do next? Welcome to our world…
Alana Blanchard/Joel Parkinson. Photos: Bielmann and Jones
Alana Blanchard’s first cover! And oh yeah, Parko’s on there too… This is our annual Who’s Now/Who’s Next issue where we call out the best 20 and under surfers in the world. Alana’s photos were so hot!
Kai Barger, Outer Island. Photo: Epes Sargent
I’ve surfed this wave and trust me; it’s the heaviest, sharkiest, scariest, and most remote death-pit-hell-slab ever! Those fear factors did little to scare off Maui’s Kai Barger though; the kid had a huge 2009! Hey is that weed growing on the cliff behind him?
Mitch Coleborn, Surfer’s Paradise. Photo: Damea Dorsey
One of the more unique covers we picked this year was Mitch Coleborn soaring above the Surfer’s Paradise, Gold Coast of Australia skyline. This photo proves that average waves can make for great images; it just takes some creativity on the photogs part and one hell of a surfer.
Wade Goodall, Teahupo‘o. Photo: Tim Jones
Wade Goodall isn’t your ordinary human being and this isn’t your ordinary Teahupo‘o shot. Kinda almondy and not that big for Chopes, but I’m stoked for Wade; he’d paddled way up the reef to escape the crowd and scored the minty shot.
Jordy Smith, Mentawais. Photo: Brian Bielmann
The rodeo flip heard around the world. This past summer, Red Bull organized a trip to the Mentawais aboard the massive Indies Trader IV and our main man Brian Bielmann got on board. We weren’t sure if running a cover that everyone had already seen via the Web was a good idea but in hindsight it was a no brainer. This photo was later blown up to fill an entire room at O’Neill Headquarters in Irvine.
Bruce Irons, Indonesia. Photo: Damea Dorsey
A week before this photo was snapped at an unknown spot in Indo, Bruce was in the TransWorld SURF office asking to be put on a trip. One thing let to another and the next day Bruce was jetting off to meet Rizal Tanjung and crew for a super secret strike mission. How’s the “Nudity, Puking, Ripping” Cali Rally cover blurb? I wonder how many people bought the mag just because of that…
CJ Hobgood, Sebastian Inlet. Photo: Pete Hodgson
The most recent cover of TransWorld SURF features CJ Hobgood blasting off in Hurricane Bill generated surf at Florida’s legendary Sebastian Inlet. One thing we loved about it was how the kid behind the wave is watching (what we’re assuming is one of his heroes) CJ in awe. I guess this kid could say he got the cover too…
So, which was your favorite? Which did you hate? Remember, best comment wins a goody bag from Sticky Bumps!
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October 23rd, 2009 at 12:22 am
I like two of them. The one of Kelly because I can see both of his nipples so clearly and the one from the Oz issue. I love Oz and there's something about pumping surf in the middle of a bunch of high rises that seems just off enough that it's on.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 am
Hands down Surfer's Paradise!!! On the photo end of things lighting, color, action, composition are all spot on without having to use some "Cover"filter, as I like to call them. The clouds look completely PS'ed in, I'm hoping they aren't (they aren't, right???). And the fact that Damea decided to get on a ski shows tons of forethought about how he wanted the finished product to look, not just grabbing the fisheye and pressing the shutter button like some 18 yr. old hillbilly with an AK who just got called up to Iraq. Not to mention it's Mitch Coleborn who probably knows of some of the dirtiest clubs in SP where I'm sure the boys spent their lunch money partaking in debauchery while barking at the under 18 female crowd. Sounds like a pretty solid day if you ask me…
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:51 am
the parko one because he is spraying his load all over alana blanchard….
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:39 am
hahaha townboi won hands down, contest is over
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:45 am
For sure Bruce Irons in Indo. The shot is amazing the perfect barrel, perfect stance and beautiful scenery in the background. The photo is amazing as well as the surfer. That TW surf issue was the best all year it had the best articles u guys have done and and the wetsuit guide was pretty sick. Keep up the good work!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:13 pm
HATE the first cover get the suit with the fucking phone off my mag..and layout colors all wrong loving cover. Tahiti unseen..raw powerful natural fulfilled dream just great layout and surfing!
October 24th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
the Bruce Irons indo "last secret spot" issue
for MANY reasons
surfing is about having fun, and due to so many populated spots these days, getting snaked and dropped in on. thats not fun
but the secret spots are really about adventure and exploration to find these places
and its great to know people all over the world to find these spots!
bruce is getting shacked too so its sick
October 24th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
da money shot right on da rump
surely it was in the mind of a certain cote brother during placement… C__i______er
October 25th, 2009 at 1:48 am
I think the shot on the August cover is one of the best I've seen in a long time - it's a completely unique perspective that's got - hands down - probably the dopest background ever. The layout is sick, and it's some of the more creative magazine title blending I've seen as well. Solid work!
October 25th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
i Jordy smith one it shows his butt perfectly, i think he may be flexing it.
October 26th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Someone better do something better than Townboi by the end of the day or he wins…
October 26th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
THEYRE ALL GOOD TWORLDSURF OWNS!
and so does chris cote
October 26th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
the decoding dane
u can see dane's tan from his waist down to his ass
EMBARRASSING DANE!
but then again he rips so he deserves the cover
October 26th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Damea owns. Skyline shot is epic, Bruce in Indo is unreal as well
October 27th, 2009 at 12:09 am
bruce irons porsupuesto, quien masssssss solo bruce braaa.
October 27th, 2009 at 3:31 am
townboi is actually hoofcovers…
I'll be in touch.
November 4th, 2009 at 4:18 am
so wat? dis going happen o wat justin?
November 4th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
yep, contact me at justin.cote@transworld.net
November 9th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Damea/Colburn #1, Damea/Irons #2, Stafford/Lopez #3, Epps/ Barger #4, Bielmann/Jordy #5, mine #6, etc.