In The Mix Flashback Fridays - 1992 Riptide issue 15

In: In The Mix by philgallagher 8 Comments Fri 14th May '10
Tags: Riptide magazine , Hawaii , Ross Hawke
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Today we randomly pick up issue 15 of Riptide magazine published March 1992.
With its hot pink cover and bright yellow cover lines it screams look at me. The cover itself features Hauoli Reeves in a backwash flawed pipe beast ( apparently).
Not sure who's job it was to caption this issue, but I am guessing it fell on the shoulders of the editorial assistant at the time Simon Ramsey. Simon has some amazing ones in this issue.

The first thing I notice is the adverts in the issue are strange and sometimes odd companies. Sure there is some names in there who you can pick up any recent magazines and see them still advertising but Mike Stewart riding for O'neill, Richo a paddling glove with a Ben Severson model and before this crazy thing called the internet there was a company called Surf Alert where you could ring a hotline and get up dated surf reports and long range forecast.

The major feature in this issue is Hawaii and the 1992 season. The Riptide team sends Ross Hawke to witness the hottest bodyboarders in the world surf in the most perfect waves in the world and compete in the biggest bodyboarding contest in the world (their words I swear). Some big moments on the strip for 92 were Mark Foo naming Mike Stewart, Hauoli Reeves and Kainoa Mcgee alongside Gerry Lopez and Derek Ho as the new rulers of Pipe. The Pipe comp is run is perfect conditions, Hauoli Reeves beats Mike Stewart in the early rounds and claims it as one of his life long dreams come true. (Hauoli 1st, Mike 2nd both moved on) Steve Mackenzie makes the semi finals. The final sees two Brazilians vs two Hawaiians. Final placing for the final is 1st Mike Stewart, 2nd Kainoa Mcgee, 3rd Alex De Pontes and 4th Guilherme Tamega.

There is a trip to the South West Western Australian coastline. These road trips were back when every spot was being seen for the first time and you could call any spot any name and hope that it would stick. In this feature we see Steve Mackenzie, Ross Hawke, Matt Percy and Ross Graffin explore Rottnest Island and Margaret River.

There are some amazing departments in this issue also. Shockwaves, tackling the pressing issues like professional sponsorship in Australian bodyboarding and Rip Tips. Ross Hawke reveals his secrets . Last Splash also deserves a special mention as it sees two men collide in mid air off backwash. Now when isn't that funny?

The average board price in 1992 is around $250. The top of the range board on the market is a Morey Mach VF for $449. Underground tapes has just been released on VHS and Doug Robson claims " It goes off". Alex Gibbs is the national champ and apparently its a plus to stock the biggest boardyboard on the whole market 'Super Turbo' 48" the final shop advert in the magazine has in big bold print.

 

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