Zigzag

Zigzag is one of South Africa's oldest niche titles, and the third longest running surf magazine in the world. For more than four decades we've been delivering surf journalism of the highest quality, stunning surf imagery and world class magazine production values.

Zigzag

EDITORIAL

BIG PICTURE

FROM 1976 UNTIL TODAY • ZIGZAG HAS TURNED OUT 298 EDITIONS OVER 48 YEARS…

POLITICS DOESN'T SELL SURF MAGS • Throughout the bad old days of apartheid, Shafiq Morton was our only non-white Zigzag contributor. These are some of his thoughts and memories from those days, and how Zigzag navigated them.

SEX SELLS SURF MAGS • PAGE THROUGH BACK ISSUES OF ZIGZAG, AND A PATTERN IS OBVIOUS. MEN SURF, AND DO ALL THE IMPORTANT STUFF THAT CREATES AND DEFINES THE CULTURE OF WAVERIDING; AND WOMEN, BY AND LARGE, ARE REPRESENTED AS SEXY BYSTANDERS IN BIKINIS – MORE A PRIZE FOR THE SUCCESS (AND GRATIFICATION) OF THE MALE HEROES THAN PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. THIS IS THE UNFORTUNATE HISTORY OF ZIGZAG’S REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN.

BACKHAND COMPLIMENTS • LUKE SLIJPEN WON THE INAUGURAL CLUTCH! PRESENTED BY MONSTER AND EARNED HIMSELF A LITTLE JAUNT TO INDO WITH ELI BEUKES AND BRENDON GIBBENS. ZAG’S MAN DAVE ARMSTRONG TAGGED ALONG AND FILED THIS REPORT.

JUST NOW • While we dig into our past and rub the crystal ball to predict the future, it’s good to remember that surf culture happens in the present. All we have is right now. Same as it ever was.

He’s an Island Boy… • AT A RELATIVELY YOUNG AGE, JOSH MALHERBE HAS BUILT A FEARSOME REPUTATION FOR CHARGING SOME OF THE MENTAWAIS’ HEAVIEST WAVES. NOT SURPRISINGLY, SINCE HE WAS RAISED EXPLORING THOSE REEFS. Now Josh is back in SA, about to start a new life as a student at Stellenbosch. On the cusp of this turning point, here are some of his thoughts…

ZIGZAG SummER GuIDE 2023

PARTS UNKNOWN • FORMER ZAG EDITOR WILL BENDIX WITH LONG-TIME PHOTO EDITOR & STAFF PHOTOTOGRAPHER GREG EWING REFLECT ON THE MAG’S INEVITABLE AND GRAVITATIONAL PULL TOWARDS REPORTING ON SURFING IN AFRICA.

Patina • On a trip to Seneqal, Will Bendix meets the pioneer of N'Gor’s Endless Summer waves.

OFF THE Leash The Ben Trovato Column

WHY THE PRINTED SURF MAG STILL MATTERS • In an age of digital disruption feeding 30-second attention spans, Zag’s guiding guru Dr Craig Sims explains why the magazine you’re holding remains the finest medium for appreciating surfing’s most powerful content – the still image.

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