176 - Spit! October 6, 2020

David and Scott offer a post-mortem of Surfer Magazine and their death rattle political endorsement, how dissension will affect brands who choose to weigh-in, and how Maurice Cole will save us all. Plus Dukes and Kooks! Enjoy!

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R.I.P. SURFER MAGAZINE

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This is the last issue of @surfer_magazine. The whole staff got let go yesterday (no, nothing to do with the heat from the Biden endorsement ?, just the Covid economy), but I feel like we’re ending on a high note with this one. The cover shot was taken by @donaldmiralle during the Encinitas paddle out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Inside has some of my all-time favorite features from my all-time favorite surf writers— @smashtyn_douglas , @hzahorseman and @seano888 —and a piece by me about the LGBTQ+ surf community that was the honor of my career to work on, and I’m so grateful to the subjects for trusting me with their stories. Funny how you can work a job like this for 10 years and each issue is a completely new and different journey. I’ll really miss that part, and the mag in general, which ends on this issue after 60 years of publication. Hope you all enjoy the issue and thanks for reading over the years. Lots of love to everyone I had the privilege of working with to make this thing what it was while we could: @grantellis1 @petertaras @smashtyn_douglas @quest_haven @alexkilauano @brendon_thomas @jannairons @bryce_lowe_white @donnystevens @zandermorton @benik__ @codyandchelsea @junkmail_ @thomasbpearson @leisurelabor @newittjim @joshtsaunders @jeremyschluntz @theslipperysaltwaterchronicles @tonyapolloperez @stevehawk6211 @adam_jara @theraybergman @kstravs @seano888 @hzahorseman @alexwebbwilson @aaron_carrera @toddglaser @chachfiles @encyclopedia_of_surfing @micah_abrams and so many more ??
A post shared by Todd Prodanovich (@todprod) on Oct 3, 2020 at 9:56am PDT

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It’s with great sadness that I write that today was my last day at SURFER. Between Transworld SURF, SURFER, and SURFING, that was half my life. 21 years between the three. It’s really hard for me to put into words right now the feelings. I’m a weepy mess. I taught. I was taught. I cared so much for all the creatives I worked with over the years. We were family. Thank you @fijichili for providing that 16-year old film when I needed it. @chriscote , Marc Hostetter, @the_check_republic and Joel Patterson, you took a chance hiring me as a 23 year old Photo Editor. @eslate you gave me confidence to go full bore with my visual vision. @chatoaganza , you were always the creative guiding light. @jimmicane you always brought the heat! @todprod you taught me patience and professionalism. Lastly, I want to thank my wife @grettygt123 for having to deal with it all through thick and thin. With much love – Peter
A post shared by Peter Taras (@petertaras) on Oct 2, 2020 at 5:47pm PDT

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Sad to hear that Surfer Magazine is closing its doors. A big thanks to all the passionate staff, photographer and writers that gave us all so much stoke through the years. I’ve been watching the post come through and i went into my little storage to find this issue. As i flipped through the pages it made me feel like a kid again. To the current staff, thanks for keeping that dream alive and hopefully something new and exciting will come from this. ? @surfer_magazine
A post shared by Pat O’Connell (@patchy_o) on Oct 4, 2020 at 4:11pm PDT

In one final farewell, Surfer endorses a political candidate . . .

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“Keep politics out of surfing” is a common refrain on social media these days, but the fact is the decisions made in the political realm have tremendous influence over our surfing lives and the health of our coasts. And as our window to prevent the worst outcomes from climate change closes, its more important now than ever to vote like the future of surfing depends on it. That’s why, for the first time in Surfer’s 60-year history, we’re endorsing a presidential ticket. Click our link in bio to read about why surfers should vote for @joebiden and @kamalaharris.
A post shared by SURFER (@surfer_magazine) on Oct 1, 2020 at 1:30pm PDT