The Surfer's Journal

The Surfer's Journal is a publication

based out of San Clemente, California.
Founded in 1992 by Steve and Debbee
Pezman, the reader-supported magazine
comes out six times a year. It is edited by
Alex Wilson and published by Debbee
Pezman.
 The Surfer's Journal

Editor Alex Wilson

Categories sports magazine

Frequency Bimonthly

Publisher Debbee Pezman

Founder Steve and Debbee

Pezman

Founded 1992

First issue Spring 1992

Company Journal Concepts,

Inc.

Country United States

Based in San Clemente,

California

Language English
Website www.surfersjournal
.com (http://www.sur
fersjournal.com)

Primarily reader-supported, the magazine

focuses on waterman culture—primarily
surfing—with emphasis on long-form
journalism, high-end photography, and
ocean-inspired art.

“People, Culture, Travel, Art” is the tagline

of the magazine, but sometimes it's also
“Authentic, Adventurous & Downright
Weird.”
History
Founder Steve Pezman, a former
publisher of Surfer Magazine, and
Debbee Pezman, former Marketing
Director of Surfer Magazine, started the
publication for lifelong surfers of all
ages. At that point in time, there were
dozens of surf magazines internationally.

“Once a surfer learns to ride, what else is

there?” asked Pezman in the opening
statement of Issue 1, Volume 1. “My
answer: a surfer grows into a waterman
or woman. A person with a multi-
dimensional relationship with the ocean.
Surfing, sailing, diving, paddling, fishing,
boating, beach-combing, marine
sciences, all become tools of a
waterman’s ocean relationship. This
publication is made for those grown-up
surfers.” (The Surfer's Journal, 1.1. 1992)

Former Longboard Magazine editor Scott

Hulet took over as Editor in 1999, holding
the role until 2019, when he transitioned
to Creative Director. (*This is the longest
uninterrupted editorship in surf publishing
history.)

In 2014, former Surfer Magazine editor

Brendon Thomas took the role of
Publisher. In Summer 2017, Brendon
Thomas launched The Golfer’s Journal (h
ttps://www.golfersjournal.com/) under
the same publishing house, Journal
Concepts, Inc.

In 2022, Alex Wilson took over as Editor.

In 2022, Debbee Pezman resumed the

role of Publisher of The Surfer's Journal.

In 2022, The Surfer's Journal is the only

surf periodical in the US. The magazine
publishes in three countries and three
languages.

Of the magazine, Patagonia founder Yvon

Chouinard has been quoted saying, “My
house is on fire, my wife runs in and
grabs the photo albums, I run in and grab
my collections of Surfer’s Journals.”[1]
International Editions
The Japanese edition of The Surfer's
Journal is published by Outdoor Japan
Media.

The French edition of The Surfer's

Journal (since 1994) is operated by
Gibus de Soultrait and published by Vent
de Terre.

Books
In 1998, Journal Concepts, Inc. published
its first large-format, photo book, Photo:
Grannis: Surfing’s Golden Age 1960-1969,
edited by Brad Barrett.
They continued with the Masters of Surf
Photography Series, with photo books of
Jeff Divine (2000), Art Brewer (2001),
Warren Bolster (2002), Tom Servais
(2003), Ted Grambeau (2003) and Surf
Fever, John Severson Surf Photography
(2004). Each volume featured only 500
limited edition copies.

Journal Concepts, Inc. continues to add

large format photo books to its
catalogue, including Authentic Wave: The
Surf Photography of Tatsuo Takei, HI1K:
Ten Years, Ron Church: CA/HI 60-6 5, and
Surf Book: Michael Halsband and Joel
Tudor.
Television
In 1998, The Surfers Journal created their
own TV series for Outside TV , with 3
seasons of 10 episodes. The seasons
were "50 Years of Surf on Film" (1996),
"Great Waves" (1998), and "Biographies"
(2001).

The series was directed by Ira Opper,

written by Matt Warshaw, narrated by
Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, and produced
by Steve Pezman, Debbee Pezman and
Ira Opper.

"Biographies" episodes (2001):

-Gerry Lopez
-Robert August

-Terry Fitzgerald

-Barry Kanaiapuni

-Cheyne Horan

-Jeff Hakman

-Larry Bertlemann

-Rabbit Kekai

-Wayne Lynch

-Shaun Tomson

-Mark Richards

-Kelly Slater
-Nat Young

-Joel Tudor

"Great Waves" episodes (1998):

-Pipeline

-Narrabeen

-Kirra

-Bells Beach

-Waimea

-Honolua Bay

-G-Land

-Tavarua
-Maverick's

-Huntington Beach

"50 Years of Surfing on Film" (1996):

-Bud Browne

-Bruce Brown

-John Severson

-Bill Delaney

-Greg Noll

-Hal Jepson

-Scott Dittrich

-George Greenough
-Greg MacGillivray

-John Witzig & Albee Falzon

References
1. How to Make a Surf Magazine: The
Surfer's Journal (https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=WEpkT84T1LM) , archived (h
ttps://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/
20211215/WEpkT84T1LM) from the
original on 2021-12-15, retrieved
2020-01-28

External links
Official website (http://www.surfersjou
rnal.com/)
Official website (http://www.surfersjou
rnal.jp/)
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=The_Surfer%27s_Journal&oldid=116888662
7"

This page was last edited on 5 August 2023, at

18:10 (UTC). •
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