The old website of Australia’s surfing magazine offers a jarring contrast, featuring a ten-year-old banner that boasts “news, blogs, video and girls.” Within the girls category, there are links to terms like “vixen,” “poster girls,” videos, and an individual known as Miss Bintang. “That was inappropriate,” acknowledges Luke Kennedy, the magazine’s long-time editor. “Currently, there […]
The old website of Australia’s surfing magazine offers a jarring contrast, featuring a ten-year-old banner that boasts “news, blogs, video and girls.” Within the girls category, there are links to terms like “vixen,” “poster girls,” videos, and an individual known as Miss Bintang.
“That was inappropriate,” acknowledges Luke Kennedy, the magazine’s long-time editor. “Currently, there are remarkable stories emerging in women’s surfing, and as an editor, that’s thrilling,” he states.
A decade after prioritizing eroticism, Tracks – now under new management, including Kennedy – has reached the milestone of its 600th issue, marking 55 years of authoritativeness in surfing worldwide and as a staple in Australia.
In keeping with contemporary trends, the cover features Australian surfer Stephanie Gilmore, executing a turn that has earned her eight world titles. “There’s a wish to rectify past mistakes to a degree, and to level the playing field for sure,” Kennedy remarks.
A fresh ownership team acquired the magazine from corporate publishers in 2021, recognizing its cultural importance and aiming to integrate a stronger social awareness into its content. When compared to the edition from 2014, now archived on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, the tone has evolved.
Historically, the magazine has expressed a subversive and anti-establishment voice, but its emphasis on environmental issues primarily focused on clean oceans and the ecological impact on readers’ lives. The revitalized brand has moved away from risqué content and embraced climate change as an issue at the forefront.
In the August edition, Tracks highlighted individuals in the Surfers for Climate initiative and published an article by Simon Bradshaw, research director at the Climate Council. “When we identify a cause where we believe we can make a significant impact, we’ll engage,” Kennedy states.
The 600th edition’s cover features a striking phrase, continuing Tracks’ long-standing tag-line of “the next best thing”: “The next best thing to not destroying Earth.”
Surf publications have been foundational to the community and its development since the 1950s, with several titles existing prior to Tracks’ inception in 1970. However, Kennedy proudly emphasizes that none have achieved the 600-issue milestone that this bi-monthly release will celebrate in December.
“It’s incredibly fulfilling, personally, I feel honored to have acted as a steward of an iconic Australian brand,” he shares. “This represents a vibrant Australian surfing culture, deeply ingrained within Tracks’ pages.”
This special issue designates Gilmore as the “surfer of the new millennium,” honoring her perseverance through eight championships over 16 years, while also detailing her 2024 sabbatical for travel and freesurfing, alongside her intentions for a competitive return.
“Women’s surfing is definitely experiencing an exhilarating period right now, with female surfers making significant strides in performance and visibility globally, so we felt it was crucial to feature a woman on the cover to reflect that,” Kennedy adds.
The landmark release also features an article from Guardian contributor Kate Allman, who documents the evolution of women’s surfing. It also looks back, showcasing quotes from previous issues of Tracks, such as world champion surfer Nat Young’s support for the anti-Vietnam movement in the first issue: “By simply surfing we are supporting the revolution.”
In recent times, the new ownership team has worked to stabilize the magazine and pursue further investments for a digital revamp. Currently, around 10,000 copies are printed, with plans for online sales and video collaborations to generate additional revenue. Yet, with digital competition already wreaking havoc in this market, success isn’t guaranteed.
Kennedy remains captivated by the magazine’s print history and aspires for another 600 issues. “It’s about pushing forward while keeping an eye on the past; that’s always been Tracks’ philosophy,” he states. “In 600 issues’ time, I hope it’s still in print, still passionately reflecting surf culture, and still preserved. Some aspects are irreverent, with a touch of larrikin spirit. I hope that continues as well.”
