Since this is the LAST ZAG (of our quarterly periodical format), we thought it’d be fitting to dive deep into the Zag archive. Because as Maya Angelou, Moana, Bob Marley and many other legends have said: to know where you’re going, you need to know w

Brendon Gibbens steps up; definitely not his first rodeo. “Okay guys, here’s the plan: we check in as a group, and I’ll chat to the ticket agent if there’s a problem.” We’re sitting on the floor of Kuala Lumpur International Airport – with 21 boards

ZAG EDITOR 2006-2016 Growing up on the south-western tip of Africa, my favourite wave was the cold, kelpy lineup of Elands Bay on the West Coast. From here the barren landscape gives way to endless sand dunes, which eventually join the deserts of Nam

It was a privilege to be the editor of this publication, and there are many moments that stand out; but the one that perhaps helped define the direction the magazine would take over the years to come was a more understated affair. I was in Senegal, o

So here’s a collection of recent jaw-dropping moments that make the usual points: South Africa is a surfing paradise that continues to produce talent (surfers, photographers and videographers) of the finest pedigree, doing that ocean dance on planet

On the question of politics in the 80s era… those were heady times, for sure. So much was happening. Surfing was in an unusual position, existing in a netherworld not yet quite mainstream, anti-establishment but not anti-establishment… from the Gunst

A fine innings! In terms of surf magazines, the finest. Over the years, things invariably changed radically – and stayed much the same. Now, as we take stock and dream up a bold new future, we've asked the founders, editors, publishers and photograph

Hi. My name is Josh Malherbe, and for the past nine years I’ve lived in the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. I spent the early stages of my life mostly on a sailboat. I was three years old when we left Florida and sailed halfway around the world, crossin

I hadn't heard the sad news. Not surprising, really, what with being holed up in a remote Costa Rican rainforest. I did wonder, though. No word from him in a while. Reckoned I’d been ghosted; typical Andy Davis move. Write for him for what feels like

For the most part, print magazines have been ineffective in their response to digital disruption; but surf magazines have somehow remained remarkably resilient. There are many reasons for this. For example, my doctoral research demonstrated that pri

"That was during the epic week of waves we had in the Cape; we surfed really good big Dungeons a few days before this. Had an amazing session at Dunes – like, 10ft Dunes, some great barrels. Then, this was the day of the year; probably the day of the

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There’s a cool photo of Jordy Smith, holding his son Ziggy on his hip, that we were planning to run as part of our Grom Roll Call. Jordy’s basically royalty in SA surfing circles, so why not indulge in a little paparazzo snapshot of his offspring? I

As a youngster, I grew up at Ansteys on the Bluff. When I was 12 my parents made the decision to move to town. We got a spot right on the beachfront in front of New Pier – the perfect place for a young kid to get into surfing. It’s so accessible, and

Not all nurseries are equal. Some have better ‘toys’ than others. Better teachers. Better facilities. And when one nursery sticks out as better than any other around, it naturally attracts people, and fosters a dynamic and competitive environment tha

What has contributed to the Cape St. Francis and J-Bay region becoming such a hotbed of surfing talent? Is it the face-brick-flanked streets of J-Bay? The potholed roads? Or the special free-range meat the crew at Nina’s puts in their spicy lamb curr

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From the outset, I gotta say we were called ‘gremmies’, not ‘grommets’. ‘Grommets’ came a long time later – in the 70s, and out of Australia. My Dad, who had flown in the RAF’s 12 Bomber Squadron in the Second World War, bombing the Nazis and fascist

DOUGAL PATERSON INVESTIGATES. BRRURDO is the jet fuel of big-wave riders. There’s this ‘understanding’: that those willing to risk it all will be rewarded with the biggest waves. At the time of her accident, Mercedes Maidana was one of the best big-w

Managing the expectations of parents, teachers and peers – while still trying to have a jol, score good waves and get featured in Zag’s Big Grom Roll Call. This is tough. Because you gotta have Zigzag-quality A-grade surf photos to be included… Which

The reason the Garden Route is a great nursery for producing professional surfers comes down to a few things. Firstly, accessibility: we have access to a wide variety of quality waves. We have pointbreaks and beachbreaks all in close proximity to eac

PE, now known as Gqeberha, is probably not top of your list for super-hot surfers; but we’ve had our fair share. World-class surfers such as Gavin Rudolph, Warren Dean, Quinton Jones, Dylan Stone, Granville West, Matthew McGillivray, Craig Anderson a

Blessed with a succession of world-class left-handers and a dedicated and growing surfing community, Liberia is destined to produce some of West Africa’s finest waveriders. This year, the 10th Annual Liberian National Surfing Championship attracted c

The first thing about East London is that it’s a raw place. It’s a raw town that’s divided into several different areas. You have Eastern Beach, which is quite a hardcore group of guys. Then you have the Nahoon crew, which could be split into two are

GROM ABUSE IS NOW A DIRTY MARK ON THE WHOLESOME IMAGE THAT SURFING PROJECTS, SOMEWHERE IN_BETWEEN LOCALISM AND PISSING IN YOUR WETSUIT. DYLAN MUHLENBERG AND CLAYTON TRUSCOTT DISSECT THE ROOTS OF THE PHENOMENON, AND ITS EFFECTS ON SURF CULTURE AND ETI

While the story of grom abuse stretches far back in time, the era of the 80s and 90s provides an interesting point of departure. This was the time that surfing as a subculture and surfing as a sport began to merge, becoming something resembling the t