A sign on the 130-year-old pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea warns people not to jump off it. On a big surf day surfers make their way to the end of the sturdy 206 metre structure and jump like lemmings into the cold, murky North Sea. Words: Simon Palmer Photos: Ian Forsyth

From cliff-top vantage points to harbour hop-offs, beach-side hammocks to unglamorous car parks, Mat Arney raids his photo archive to document a different perspective in surfing

Mat Arney hooks up with some old friends to go feral on the Arabian Peninsula and hunt down some truly isolated swell. Words & photos: Mat Arney

Rob Lion of Royal Surfboards and Paul Smith of Glide Surfboards in Cork, Ireland meet with Zephaniah Carrigg, purveyor of functional and beautiful surf craft, on a recent visit to the island. Photos: Danny O'Callaghan

Drift caught up with big-wave surfer Carlos Burle on home territory in Brazil to find out why he considers big-wave riding to be a playground for the few who have earned the privilege. Photos: Al McKinnon

Meeting a legend is something few people have the opportunity to do. During a short stay in California last winter Dave Muir created his own luck in finding Skip Frye at home. He was welcomed in to take a look around. Words: Dave Muir Photos: Dave Muir and Skip Frye


Chasing Dean by Tom Anderson

July 05, 2009 | Words By: Howard

opener20Tom Anderson is fast becoming a major writing voice of his generation. First he brought us ‘Riding the Magic Carpet’ (Summersdale, 2006), his story of the small-town Welsh guy who dreams of riding Jeffrey’s Bay and after many roads less travelled fulfils it in fine style. Book review by Tim Kevan..

This time we have him taking on no less of an epic journey as he leaves Porthcawl in search of hurricane surf up the East coast of the United States. Once over there he meets up with a childhood friend and it is the dynamic between the two which takes this book well beyond an ordinary travelogue. In many ways it reads more like a novel and the humour in Anderson’s voice keeps the pages turning as he covers issues ranging from growing up and friendship to the obsession that is surfing and the moral issues this can raise, particularly when you’re chasing waves that come from such a destructive source. It’s definitely a classic and should appeal not only to surfers but to anyone who enjoys a cracking yarn well told.

‘Chasing Dean’ is out now in paperback, published by Summersdale.

Tim Kevan is the author of ‘Why Lawyers Should Surf’ and ‘BabyBarista and the Art of War’. Find out more at www.timkevan.com.


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