Matt Rohrer shares some of the highlights of his conversations with Bay Area surfer Jimmy Holt, focal point of one of the few surfing photos to ever appear in National Geographic Magazine. Selected photos: Jim Shaw

A worthy addition to European surfing culture, the surfilmfestibal festival attempts to connect the global surfing community through moving picture, art and education. Words: Howard Swanwick. Photos: surfilmfestibal

Rebel wave riders on a mission to enlighten the Western world to the true culture of the Middle East, blakkbox redefine the notion of surfers as beach bums who only care about the next wave. Photos: Cole Estrada & Anthony Allen

Mark Leary's latest work deviates sharply from the usual surf photography portfolio, celebrating as it does the commonplace, everyday aspects of surfing instead of monster swells and awesome barrels. Chris Preston chats to him about moments captured.

Surfboards come in all shapes and sizes, but none quite so unusual as the Meyerhoffer Peanut. Is this revolutionary design born of genius or madness? Chris Stevens finds out. [Photos 1, 3 & 8 by Chris Stevens; 4 & 7 by Nick Allen]

Mat Arney hooks up with some old friends to go feral on the Arabian Peninsula and hunt down some truly isolated swell. Words & photos: Mat Arney


The Saviour!

August 02, 2010 | Words By:

Contrary to some mis-interpretations of my recent irony-laden post on El Salvador, it was one of the surprise highlights of my recent global trip.

Surprise because of the bad rap El Salvador receives from all and sundry, a deep-rooted prejudice I played-up with all the subtlety of a pantomime dame in ‘that’ post in the hope that readers would see both sides of the coin.

Perhaps irony and blogging are mutually exclusive, or perhaps we’re are so used to hearing El Salvador maligned that negative asssumptions were made – making an ass out of u and me.

I write this in a high-back Chesterfield chair in the heart of the astoundingly beautiful Sussex countryside as I try (and so far fail) to acclimatise to the voracious consumption-driven society of modern Britain – if you’re not spending then you’re asleep – and The Saviour’s absence makes my heart grow even fonder.

God, I’m missing those waves, those people, those avocados and the most valuable commodity of all, that delicious, engulfing, luxuriant time. Precious time. Even though this is, in essence, just the UK leg of another trip before we head back to post-monsoon India to open the Soul & Surf House in Kerala, there is something about this society that rips the hours and minutes from your grasp.

How on earth I ever managed to hold down a job as well as jumping through all of the hoops it takes to exist here I will never know.

Oh, for the simple life – simple pleasures.

Good food.
Good company.
Good health.
Good heart.
Good waves.

Now how do I integrate that into life back home?

Answers on a postcard please (or by mail to hello@edtempleton.net).


0 Comments


  1. Check out our post about El Salvador, a trip we did a couple of years back.
    http://lacasadelasalgas.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/el-tiempo-juega-a-tu-favor-time-is-on-your-side/

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