Tracks March - April 2021

If a good wave comes your way in a lineup, you have to swing and take a shot. When Tracks recently came up for sale, six surfers saw the opportunity to become custodians of a piece of history. Not as a chest-beating boast, but because they believed in the perpetuation of a title that offers a unique prism through which surfing may be viewed. A title that has given rise to a counterculture movement, anointed surfing icons, inspired us to roam the planet in pursuit, spurred action on the environment, and celebrated the diverse range of humans who live to ride waves. Given the weighty heritage, our aim is to continue to illuminate the stories, individuals and causes that we believe warrant your attention in a curated, sincerely considered format.…

From the moment their mum, Alex, tossed them into the Pipeline shorey as blonde-locked surflings, the Florence brothers were destined for the surfing stage. Now, John has his two World Titles and Nathan is one of the most popular surfers on YouTube – an all-round performer with a gift for one-liners. Recently younger brother, Ivan, has been claiming his share of the limelight. By far the best skater of the three, Ivan is frequently featured on social media pulling slick tricks on four wheels. The low-slung shoulders and limited upper-body movement employed by skaters often translates to a cool, minimalist approach in the surf. Ivan is a case in point, threading tubes with an economy of movement that gives his whole act a kind of stylish nonchalance. He is also the only…

In the United Kingdom in the late 18th and 19th ‘to dance upon nothing’ was one of the grizzly metaphors used to describe a public hanging. Now, surfing at Mavericks is not exactly a death sentence, but it does involve confronting your mortality, and getting hung-up is certainly a horror show scenario you want to avoid. Many Mavericks regulars will tell you that to avoid ‘the dance upon nothing’ they go looking for the roll-ins or chip-ins; that little chunk of wave that caps or lifts just enough to sling you in early; so that you can be on your feet and trimming for a split-second before things get far more vertical and suddenly you are spearing down the face of a 20-30 footer. According to Chase LaRue (pictured) the roll-ins weren’t…

Typically those Oz surfers with a lust for waves in the XXL range have a host of international options – Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, Northern California, and Portugal to name a few. However, the big C travel ban has forced all the gunslingers to look closer to home for their adrenaline fix. The roaring left bommie featured in this shot has become something of a focal point in recent times. Aided by a couple of La Nina summer swells, its profile has blown up. Not surprisingly, tensions rise a little when a certain spot becomes ‘on trend’ and suddenly everyone wants a slice of the big wave pie. Despite the crowds and the increased attention there are always standouts, particularly when the wave is so challenging. To really nail this spot, you need…

If a good wave comes your way in a lineup, you have to swing and take a shot. When Tracks recently came up for sale, six surfers saw the opportunity to become custodians of a piece of history. Not as a chest-beating boast, but because they believed in the perpetuation of a title that offers a unique prism through which surfing may be viewed. A title that has given rise to a counterculture movement, anointed surfing icons, inspired us to roam the planet in pursuit, spurred action on the environment, and celebrated the diverse range of humans who live to ride waves. Given the weighty heritage, our aim is to continue to illuminate the stories, individuals and causes that we believe warrant your attention in a curated, sincerely considered format.…

Behind the Cover - Mason Ho by Corey Wilson This day was so much fun! Best waves I’ve ever seen at Rockies. This was taken in the off-season and there were only a few guys out. I knew this was a special one for me after this wave passed and I went underwater. When I got home I showed Mason and he was so fired up! He was so stoked on the mountain in the background, said he used to play on that thing when he was a kid growing up. - Corey Wilson Craft Corner MH SURFBOARDS - CHIPPA LIMITED COLLECTION Chippa and Matt decided to work on a limited range of boards to reflect Chippa’s experimentation with shapes that are a little left-of-centre. They ended up with the ‘Out of Office’ -…