Our Favourite Magazine Features Of 2017

As 2017 disappears into the rear view mirror we take a look back at some of our favourite stories printed in the magazine this year.

Amongst the rich mixture of grass roots, professional, British, European, international, travel-centric, longboarding, hard hitting and light hearted stories which have graced our pages, these are the features that well and truely stood out.

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Morotai D’Aloha. Issue 253

In this long-form feature from the most recent issue, Lizzie Murray tells the story of Morotai, a remote Indonesian island, rich in wildlife and waves, where locals have developed a unique surf culture, after learning to ride waves from soldiers during World War Two.

Recently Morotai has been earmarked by the government to be fast-tracked for development, with a view to increasing tourism. Through her extensive knowledge of the the local communities and the government and non-government organisations with their fingers in the pie, Lizzie explores how the island can develop a model that protects both local people and the ecology from the damaging effects of tourism suffered elsewhere in Indonesia.

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Eye For Emptiness; Victor Gonzalez. Issue 252

In each issue, we showcase the work of one of surfing’s finest lensmen, and of all the excellent photographic material published this year, Victor Gonzalez’s portfolio undoubtedly features some of our favourite work. His series of intriguing and context rich images draw you in and encourage you to explore them, which in today’s word of infinite scroll is a true testament to their quality.

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Brilliant Corners In Mauritania. Issue 252

In this feature from 252, we join Sam Bleakley, Jack Johns, Mike Lay and Easkey Britton for a thoughtful journey through the rich culture of Mauritania, a country scarred by colonialism and being dragged in opposing directions by industrial progress and tradition. The story takes us along the vast land-mine strewn coastline, ripe with world class sand bottomed potential, to bustling markets and villages reclaimed by the desert. We encounter local surfers, contemporary artists and the soldiers manning check-points.

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Fickle Frontiers; The Snow Capped Northern Isles. Issue 249

After spotting a set up on Google earth, British surf explorers Oli Adams and Egor Harris set out on a strike mission to meet a giant Atlantic swell in the northern-most reaches of the British Isles. After a fruitful excursion conversation turns to the ethics of these sort of discovery missions, with a photographer in tow. Is it contemporary imperialism; a chance for modern man to stick his flag in the land? Or one of the least commodified, most authentic forms of travel left.

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Tall Tales. Issue 250

To celebrate our 250th issue, we invited four of Wavelength’s long time contributors to regale us with a series of tales from their colourful careers. Tim Nunn tells of a hair-brained trip to the Canadian wilderness, with only wolves, bears and a lot of beer for company, following up with the time an Icelandic volcano turned an arctic mission into a logistical shit show. Ben Selway recounts a trip where Andrew Griffin broke his neck in France, Sam Lamiroy remembers his first trip to Kangaroo Court as a grom with the British team in Rio and Alex Wade details a debauched excursion to Orkney as well as a dreamy one to Barbados.

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The South China Sea Surf Club. Issue 251

This feature tells the story of the soldiers in Vietnam who used surfing to escape the horrors of combat, as told to Jade Bremner by five Californian veterans.

Many of those stationed near the coast of Vietnam hailed originally from California or Hawaii, bringing with them a love and passion for surfing. Boards were given to those tasked with lifeguarding the beaches visited by soldiers during time off, while others were shaped using materials intended for fixing boats. Surfing became so popular among the soldiers during the war that a club was set up on China beach, with membership cards for renting the closely guarded collection of craft. In this feature, the five men recount stories from this time, detailing how surfing provided an important distraction from the horrors of the war and how it has continued to help many veterans deal with trauma and PTSD subsequent to their home-coming.

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Cover photo: Jack Johns