Captions and Photos by Steve Sherman
When the time came to decide how we’d cover Kelly Slater’s obviously monumental feat, it didn’t take long for us to call Steve Sherman. For more than 25 years, Sherm has been shooting surfing and skating like it was radical art. His portfolio consists of enough iconic photojournalism, portraits and legends of the sport at their most intimate times to fill myriad books and museum walls. So it was pretty easy to get him on the front line in Puerto Rico. He’s done this before. Sherm has been documenting Kelly Slater very closely for 18 years and they’ve developed a fantastic working and personal relationship, allowing Sherm access to photographing Kelly all over the world, way behind the scenes. For a fan of surfing, this collection should bring back some memories and hopefully supply a few new ones. Here Sherm narrates us through a few outtakes of the issue. Grab a copy at your local shop — these are only available on newsstands and at surf retailers.
Related Posts
Kelly Slater // San Clemente, California // 13:11
posted by Sherm / Video / November 15, 2012
Sherm captures a day in the life of Kelly Slater during the 2012 Hurley Lowers Pro from 6:15am to 7:25pm
Breakfast (no cereal), culinary news (yum) and Trestles
Kelly Slater Wins in Portugal
posted by Jason Miller / News / October 14, 2010
Sherm’s photo gallery from the final day at the Rip Curl Pro
The best on the best.
AI’s lightbox would of been way cooler. Now that hes won 10
can u guys start stroking him off in private???
i wonder if there are any photos of kelly standing against
a wall ?
The Kelly thing is kind of cool but what is with the last
photo? Is it meant to be that out of focus?
Two people with narcissistic personalities come together once again to explore the incredible importance of, um, themselves….While photojournalism opportunities abound in the world, said photographer likes to point his lens at subjects that truly don’t matter. Take comfort in the fact that your photo do not have the power to change to world, that is unless you are a Dana Point wanker.
Great job Steve and Surfing. Love it!
What the f*&% do I have a subscription for if its only on newstands & shops.
Screw Slater, and pro surfing, if you follow this crap, you
have been brain washed by these big surf companies, and your
wasting too much time on a sofa watching it, instead of being in
the water doing it. Phil Edwards, (one of the greatest surfers of
all time), when asked who the best surfer in the water was, his
reply was, “the guy having the most fun”, which is really what
surfing is all about. If you follow this pro surfing crap, your
missing the whole point of being a surfer, catching waves, hanging
out at the beach with your friends, feeling the salt water and the
sand beneath your feet, and all the other good vibes that go with
it. Tony {Ty} Carson Big Island
Go Carson!
“Good vibes”? far from Ty..Perhaps some people have “fun” watching Kelly.Why are you even looking at this site if you feel this way?Phil Edwards would not have been a grumby blogger!He’d just go surfing.
I’m not a grumpy blogger, far from it. But after years of
watching surf companies use contests and pro surfing to prostitute
and sell surfing to the masses, just to make a profit for
themselves, I just can’t turn a blnd eye and not speak up for what
I believe is the truth. If you have “fun” watching slater, go for
it, it will probably leave a few more waves for rest of
us.
Then Tony, why are you on this site? To tell people not to
read it?
It’s a free country, people can read whatever they want,
but they don’t have to believe what it says. I surf these spots out
of curiosity and obviously don’t believe everything I read. That’s
part of the problem today, young groms and others, are being
brainwashed by these surf mags, and big surf companies, into
believing that what they say (that competition and big bucks are
good, ect.) is true, and because of this, they are missing out on
what the real surfing experience (lifestyle) is about.
JUST DONT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HATERS WANT TO PUT DOWN A
LEGEND LIKE SLATER AND HATS OFF TO MR.SLATER FOR DEDICATING IS WIN
TO ANDY IRONS THATS A CLASS ACT
JUST DONT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HATERS WANT TO PUT DOWN A
LEGEND LIKE SLATER AND HATS OFF TO MR.SLATER FOR DEDICATING HIS WIN
TO ANDY IRONS THATS A CLASS ACT
I’m not a hater. I’m just taking a stand for what I believe is the truth, that these big surf companies, mags., and pro surfing, have been trying to brainwash the groms and others, by prostituting surfing to the masses to make a profit for themselves. Surfers should be more concerned about what ‘they’ are doing in the water, than what somebody else is doing. It’s about ‘you’ and the ‘wave’. If you are an armchair surfer, maybe something like pro surfing would appeal to you, you don’t even have to get wet. The real surfing experience, (lifestyle}, is not about idolizing some guy, it’s about catching waves, hanging out the beach with your friends, feeling the salt water and sand beneath your feet, and all the other good vibes that go with it.
Tony,
Why does it sound like you’re trying to sell us on a Corona commercial? Also appears that you idolized Phil Edwards for being the “best surfer ever.”
We’re all a bit skeptical of your banter and skewed vision of what surfing is. Thanks anyways.
thats it ty you got it just you and the waves.I am not idolizing just showing some respect so you just keep on catching waves 4 all us soul surfers out there bro.much repect and thanks 4 not hating bro.peace out
Tony, you realize that by coming on this site and getting out “your” message out, you’re supporting the industry you’re condemning? The more people you spread your message to, the more traffic comes to Surfing Magazine, and the better their numbers look to advertisers, and they make more money. By coming on this site and complaining, do you expect to change anyone’s opinion? No way; when was the last time anyone on this site changed your opinion about anything? All you’re do is get people pissed off at you, which means more traffic, and more money for the industry. If you really wanted to have an impact, you wouldn’t post on, or visit, this site at all. No traffic = no revenue = all the soul you can handle at Pinetrees, bro.
And Tom, what’s wrong with enjoying watching someone else surf? When you “hang out at the beach with your friends”, which you point out a couple times as part of the big picture, don’t you enjoy watching them surf?? I don’t care if Slater was an unsponsored Aborigine who cam out of the woods riding a carved tree; I’d still enjoy watching him surf. Truthfully, I don’t care what brands Slater rides for or what contests he wins (or doesn’t win); I just enjoy watching him ride waves. I’m pretty sure I’d rather watch Parko surf than some grouchy random from the Big Island, too. But just because I like watching these guys surf and enjoyihng their talent on waves doesn’t mean I’m going to buy Quiksilver or Billabong product just because they are sponsored by them. Give people a little more credit.
Sorry Tre, I don’t drink Corona, and I never idolized Phil, but I did appreciate his insight, and quoted what he said to make a point. A gremmie on the beach could have had the same insight and said what Phil did, and it would have been just as true, Phil just gave the statement a little more visibility. If you read my posts, I’ve actually been pretty specific on my vision of what surfing is. I’ll quote my posts again, “surfing is about catching waves, hanging out at the beach with your friends, feeling the salt water and the sand beneath your feet, and all the other good vibes that go along with it”.
Hey Tim, never felt like I was complaining, just taking a stand for what I believe, just like you are. I just can’t sit back and do nothing though, (whatever effect it may have on the mag.), while these people try to prostitute surfing to the masses. I may not change anyone’s opinion, but maybe get them thinking a little, I’ll try to keep an open mind too. Good call on Pinetrees.
Tony, I know you are not complaining,but you have to know that this MAG.is not thinking of you, but what they are doing is thinking of the next issue.That’s just the way it is so what you really can do is start up your own magazine. (GOOD LUCK)
Jerry, your right, not everybody buys into the Quickdollars or Billabog products scheme. And Joe, I have actually thought about doing that, but for now, I guess I’ll just have to take a stand for what I believe, and stay underground, hopefully, though, the tide is going to change.
[...] a peak inside the pages, SURFING Magazine shares a few images and [...]
To surfing mag. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves, for trying to brainwash gremmies and others, to think this stuff, (pro surfing), has any real value to anyone, (except maybe Quickdollars, who basically just cares about making a profit}. You guys should be more concerned about catching your next wave, but I guess you have to make a buck some how, even if it means selling out on what the true surfing experience (lifestyle) is really about.
Where’s all the love. When I started surfing I loved my weekly mag. Cats like Sean Thompson, MR(Mark Richards),Simon Anderson,
Cheyne Horan, Wes Lane, Tom Curran, Tommy Carroll were tearing the tops off waves and checking in deeper in the green room then was thought possible at the time. I started surfing in 7th grade and was in the water every chance I got, or surf permitted. By the time I graduated I was the best guy in the line-up 99% of the time. I surfed because I loved it, period. But if one of my friends wanted to surf a contest it was all good, just not my scene. We all have more in common then we realize. We all surf because we love it. Dropping in a clean 6ft wall is like an empty canvas, waiting for us to paint however we choose. Love your brother who has something so important in common, the love to paddle.