September Cover Volume1 Issue 9

This cover is an accident that almost didn't come about. After shooting of the Patiki Rocks at Piha I almost deleted this image. The sun was directly in my sight when I shot this, and I couldn't filter it in Photoshop. I then was playing around with the image and hit the wrong button which turned the image into a blood red, dark feel. I loved the image and played with the thought of it being a cover. I posted it as a signature on the forum and then I got the comments I was looking for. Within a week I had pulled the image as comments came flooding in to use it for a cover.

This is issue is by far the most complete issue thus far, making it the best. Inside this issue are articles from people all over the world and images from both the mountain and the ocean. The article headed 'How Big is it?' is my best and most fun piece of writing. I loved putting a sartircal twist upon such an important topic in surfing around the world. The picture below was posted but was too small to read what it said so feel free to answer this question in the comments box below.
Just a final note: This is me, attacking a cornice out in the Glacier at Turoa. I dropped higher up and bottom turned before unleashing this big hack into the lip. I love this shot it reminds me of the retro images from the early ninties. NZ Surfing Magazine had the exact opposite of this shot on their cover. The guy was surfing in boardshorts and was a goofy footer on his frontside. The captured pose of the surfer is exactly the same, facial expressions and all.

August Cover Volume 1 Issue 8

August rolled around quickly and yeilded some new suprises. One of which was a guy called Steve who emailed me with a couple of shots that his girlfriend had taken of him while in Bali and Telluride. Steve had no idea who I was but as son as I saw the photos I recognised him as a mate from the past. I emailed him back and he gave me permissin to use any photo I wanted so I immediatley picked this coffin box as the next Cover.

In the same month I morphed a picture of B-rad Buckle surfing n the Piha Bar. He saw the sequence and contacted me. We met up with a coffee and chatted about things surfers talk about and then swapped photos. This was one of the best issues we had put together for photos and had a god 50/50 split of surf and snow images.

yoga for surfers 3

Yoga is about being centered in chaos, and that sounds like surfing to me.
Yoga (stretching) is an easy way to stretch and strengthen in one movement, and is an essential tool for any surfer.
This DVD is impeccably presented by Peggy Hall, and features Tom Carroll, Garrett McNamara and Brian Conley. Filmed on the beach against incoming waves, each exercise is directly related to surfing manoeuvres.
According to experts, from the age of 14-15, we start losing our flexibility. I am a balding 37 year old, and sadly, not too flexible or fitness minded at all outside of surfing.
For me, this DVD is changing all that in challenging 20 minute increments. I do one section a day, working thru the DVD twice per week before, or even better, after surfing.
It contains 3 main sections;
The first section is my favorite. It deals with developing core strength of abs and back to aid in balance and breath control.
The second focuses on lower body strength and flexibility.
The third concentrates on upper body for developing flexible power.
To begin with, some poses are damn hard, but it’s great to watch how fast they become ‘doable’. I am also experiencing the same progression with my surfing, which is why I rate “Yoga For Surfers” a must have.
Yoga For Surfers 1 and 2 are more suitable for beginners/ intermediate, but if you’re already flexible, starting with this edition is a go.
Best watched when: You want to amaze your mates with super flexy

Single fin yellow

This surf DVD is one hell of an original concept!
Now, I’m a bit of a surf DVD connoisseur.
I don’t sell them, but I sure as hell watch them. My current favorite is “Yellow”.
Take one Malibu "old school" with 1 big skeg, and pop it in the mail to various surfers.
These include the shaper of the board, Tyler Hatzikian, Beau Young, Daize Shayne, Devon Howard, David Kinoshita and Jimmy Gamboa. Each person puts the same board through its paces in various locations like California, Oz, Japan and Mexico.
Add to all this the most mind blowing section of Bonga, Perkins trying to drop in to a good size pipeline, and what do you know?
I can't stop watching it!
After 50 odd surf movies,
I can't stop watching it!
Best to watch: When it’s 2 foot and peeling.
Rating: 9.5/ 10
Warning: Addictive

Cosmic Banditos

Allen.C. Weisbecker
192 pages

I first encountered Hunter. s .Thompson back in my teenage years ,
i was struggling through reading 'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance'
and a friend gave me Hunter's 'Fear and loathing in las Vegas' to help lighten the mood of 'Zen'
I made a complete fool of myself for the next three days as i laughed my ass off in the smoko room.
but what a book (yeah the movies okay -- 1/10th of the book) what a one of a kind author.
Until Banditos arrived in the mail that is...

This is a Hilariously funny adventure story,
featuring Mr Quark a 'down and out' pot smuggler and his dog 'high pockets' and a snake called 'Legs'
just weeks before they were rolling in millions of dollars but now they're hunted terrorists...
Meanwhile jose a 'bandito beyond belief' mug's an American family ,
among the spoils are physics books ,which lead Mr quark and jose
into their own world of 'theories on relativity', the 'nature of the universe' and
The meaning of life??
all of this is mixed with bandito morals, tequila, explosives and drugs..
Rating ; 10 out of 5
In the authors own description of the book the best he can do description wise is ;
" i suspect this tale is simply another example of something"

July Cover Volume1 Issue 7

Winter had arrived and it was time too step up to the plate with more snow in our background than ever before for this time of the year. Tommo Troy sent me this pic and a few more of him that Riki Reinfield had taken end of the season before. I had seen them on another mates computer and had been asking to use them for some time. Riki agreed and I had the next cover. Using other published magazines for inspiration I used matching coulours for the text which is now standard at Riders Anonymous.

Editors Words- If you haven't done so yet please take time to read this quick story, I thought it was quite funny and it managed to offend most people who frequent each mountain. I am a Maori and can still see the funny side of a racist joke (because it is a joke) but people are so patriotic to their own mountains.

June Cover Volume 1 Issue 6

Nathan May had come to me at work with this idea he had to travel around the North Island in search of skate bowls to ride witha bunch of mates packed intoa small car. It sounded like a great idea and I was stoked when he said he wanted to put an article together for me. I have mates tell me every week they have an idea for a article but I never get anything. So when I saw Nathan next and he said the trip was good and the photos came out sick, I thought I would be making some bullocks up about a trip I wasn't on. But no, Nana came through with the goods andhis photography stepped up to a new level. I rewarded his effort by using one of his images for the cover. Cheers Nathan keep up the good work.

May Cover Volume 1 Issue 5

Another cover donated by James crow, funny it's a shot of him pressing the June battleship. This Cover set the standard for all the covers that followed. We changed the font of the title to Brie Light, which gave the whole magazine a cleaner easier look. Opening the issue you were greated with the new set format of the magazine. The new look was met with hesitation at first but then happy acceptance with a much easier faster way to navigate through the issue. This move took Riders Anonymous to a whole new level of professional imagery. This issue also contained more editorials that delivered info and facts about products and industry talk. Another step closer to being a magazine for the readers.

April Cover Volume 1 Issue 4

The X-Files issue was an exciting issue to put together. I asked Nic Reeves the artist behind Phoam Arts if she would contribute to Riders Anonymous by designing a cover for the April issue, she jumped at the chance to give it a shot. I worked hard with my brother Kori and Web Master James to try and put together a whole new concept. Ideas were flowing left, right and centre.

When you give different people the same breif, it's funny how much of a difference each persons interpretations are. Infact that is what made this issue so special. All of us had our own image of X File, so the final product was an awsome colaberation of 5 imaginitive people. The cover really topped of the issue and when I recieved it I was blown away. Good Job Nic you did Riders Anonymous Proud

March Cover Volume 1 Issue 3

The March issue was full of firsts. It was the first time we had decided to try themeing each issue starting with this 'the dirt issue'. It was also the the first cover not chosen by myself the editor and put in the hands of James Crow the nutty web master. Being James, I knew he would do something quite fresh and new for Riders Anonymous. What he came up with was perfect to the brief I gave him. It would probably never be used ina sports edition magazine but it could make a mag like Vice. The issue also saw the First bike story making us a truly rider orientated magazine. This issue also saw the first contributions from Surfscab and he has now become a regular contributor and we look forward to this summer when I am sure he will voice his opion about surf law.

February Cover Volume 1 Issue 2

Two photos blended into one cover. I was sent the photo of Nick Recordon hitting the Snowpark Battleship one morning and could see it as the cover straight away. Dave Recordon was the photographer and captured not only the action but also a great moody background. While I was in Raglan picking my nephew up for christmas I managed to grab a couple of photos at Manu bay. Morehu paddled out and then I snapped this shot which seem to blend perfectly in with nicks image. Both pictures were going to be used for covers and then only a week before the 2nd issue went live I merged the two photos and as a result the final cover looked sick!

January Cover Volume 1 Issue 1

The first cover of Riders Anonymous featured this photo of Matariki's taken from a look out above Daniels Reef. Matariki took about 15 photos this day and then went for a surf. The waves were a solid size on the sets and the rights had a great drop. It's amazing to think how this wave is known as a right to so many people and left to so many others. This is one of the best A-frame reefs around Auckland and on its day one of the best reefs in the North Island, shame about the crowds in summer though.

This photo was probably the best cover to start a new magazine with, it has everything a surfers wants; size, holowness, and clean blue glassy water.