SURFING Magazine

In late October, Balaram Stack’s homeland of Long Island was dreadfully rendered by Hurricane Sandy. Bal, being the Renaissance man he is, did everything from relentlessly advocating and donating to restoration efforts to scribbling vulgar things about Sandy on the bottom of his board to show his concern. Here he is under the lip in Costa Rica, earlier in the year.

Beau Foster grew his hair long like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin in order to figure out what the “Stairway to Heaven” meant. Photo: Taras

In a bizarre turn of events, SURFING writer Chas Smith willingly paid a visit to Florida in 2012. He returned to California with nothing but praise for Spanish moss, Blake Jones and Sebastian Inlet. Photo: Ryan Gamma

In our California issue we peered into the post-tour life of the outspoken Bobby Martinez and found a humble man who drives a white Prius and loves his dogs and wife. Photo: Struntz

We found this cover, too. Photo: Struntz

People explored new modes of transport in 2012 and found the future to be bright and green. Photo: Matt Kurvin

CJ Hobgood is not from Newport Beach. Photo: Struntz

In the summer of 2012, SURFING went to a remote part of Indonesia with Conner Coffin and some buddies to make what we call a MEGAzine. Conner was the first to paddle out to this wave, and surfed it alone until Miguel Pupo, Nate Tyler and Mitch Coleborn joined the fun.

Are the street tacos worth risking the digestive repercussions? Are the big beachbreak barrels worth chancing an encounter with banditos? 2012 was a year of dice rolls in Mexico. Corey Lopez pulls in for the view, Corey Wilson takes it on the head for the shot. Fine work, Cor(e)ys.

If Dane Reynolds were producing a movie about you, how would you surf? Craig Anderson stays casual as a sky full of pressure lurks above him. Photo: Alan Van Gysen

There will be a lot of lefts in the movie. Photo: Alan Van Gysen

When Creed McTaggart throws a big alley-oop from deep, he doesn’t need Patrick Ewing to dunk it. 2012 independence. Photo: Macfarlane

At the Volcom Fiji Pro, what would have been the biggest/best surf ever for a contest turned into the biggest/best surf ever for freesurfing. Dave Wassel draws his line onto our cover of our October issue while the jerseys stay dry. Photo: Stuart Gibson

One of the biggest discoveries of the year was the wave pool in the United Arab Emirates. With Dion Agius and Joe G, SURFING ventured to the Middle East to create a cover, feature, and the best damn web clip of the year. Photo: Struntz

2012 was the year of the stalefish. Would the gals still be fleeing if Dion Agius had that left hand clinching his back rail? Photo: Struntz

Electric blue barrels. Photo: Struntz

Andrew Doheny shapes, rides and hugs his own boards. Photo: Sherman

A great many eyes gazed toward Puerto Rico in 2012. Dylan Graves orders rice and beans with a side of enchantment. Photo: Jimmicane

Eric Snortum on a self-made board with an asymmetrical tail. San Diego. Photo: Taras

Candystripers Wade Goodall, Tyler Warren, Ford Archibold and Alex Knost in Mexico. Photo: Tom Carey

John John, come yank him down before he gets away. Gabriel Medina. Photo: Corey Wilson

We’re all a part of the tribe. Photo: Tom Carey

Conner and Parker Coffin used Indonesia as the setting for their first film, Electric Wilderness. They brought along their friend Jack Freestone, among others, and then gave you the footage for free. Did you remember to write them a thank-you note? Photo: Tom Carey

Packing tubes like this at 13-years-old, how will Jack Robinson manage to surprise us when he’s 20? Pace yourself, young charger. Photo: Chris Gurney

Jared Mell, the big pink. Photo: Taras

Jesse Merle-Jones reminds us that the real Hawaiian winter doesn’t begin until the New Year. Backdoor. Photo Tom Carey

Economists have pegged John John’s relaxed posture in heaving surf as a contributing factor to his skyrocketing stock price in 2012. And the sticker goes to…? Photo: Jimmicane

2012 marked the debut of Jordy Smith’s biopic, Bending Colours, which was directed by Kai Neville. It proved power surfing won’t die. Photo: Ryan Miller

For good or ill, 2012 was the last year that you’ll see a Nike logo on the beak of a surfboard. Julian Wilson. Photo: Taras

People traded their green currency for gold in 2012, but Jason Frederico was lucky enough to have an abundance of both. Photo: Taras

Rip Curl resigned Kekoa Bacalso last year, and Bam celebrated with a quick one at Backdoor. Photo Struntz

In Spring of 2012, Kolohe Andino pinned this mastodon as the biggest air of his life. This year, though, he’s going for a wooly mammoth. Photo: Corey Wilson

Matt Meola spent a good chunk of 2012 in Maui, rotating like a figure skater and landing with twice the elegance. Cork 360 in West Oz. Photo: Epes Sargent

Mitch Coleborn reminded us why we love Brazil. Photo: Tom Carey

And Indo. Photo: Tom Carey

Nate Tyler’s Stuff. Photo: Taras

Nate Fletcher’s board. Photo: Sherman

Pat Gudauskas, a man who pulls rodeos in heats, began the 2012 tour with this slob at Snapper. Photo: Corey Wilson.

Not a short bus, but not super long, either. A handful of good folks in Samoa. Photo: Tom Carey

Seth Moniz smiled from January until December, and was the victor in our inaugural  Grom Games  Photo: Jimmicane

Toss the keys to the Yamaha back over to Kenny Powers. People paddled the limits of big surf in 2012, shoving Jet Skis one step further away from surfing. Sterling Spencer proved that they are unnecessary in small waves, as well. Photo: Struntz

Dion Agius and Warren Smith have decided to continuously retrograde the time periods they live in. By 2023, the two men will reach the era of the Neanderthal, donning sheepskin robes and hucking rocks at Kelly Slater. Photo: Macfarlane

Just yesterday we welcomed a new photo intern to the office. He tells us that he used to live directly above this wave, but refuses to tell us where it is. We like him already. Here’s to uncovering some hidden gems in 2013. Photo: Zak Bush