A sign on the 130-year-old pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea warns people not to jump off it. On a big surf day surfers make their way to the end of the sturdy 206 metre structure and jump like lemmings into the cold, murky North Sea. Words: Simon Palmer Photos: Ian Forsyth

A world away from the average commercial surf competition, pushy dads and nervous groms, generations share the stoke at a contest that celebrates the original Hawaiian spirit. This is truly a unique perspective in surfing. Photos: Yves S

Kye Fitzgerald recounts the tale of the unusual return of Bobby Owens' magic board. Photos: Mark Onorati, Aitionn

Chris Brunt chats to west Penwith's prodigal son and professional journeyman Sam Bleakley about his thirst for adventure and love of longboarding. [All photos by Chris Brunt.]

Dreamt up over 20 years ago by Renaud and Thomas Cardinal, two French brothers with a passion for board making, UWL has grown to become one of the biggest factories in Europe, while building a reputation based on performance and quality. Rui Ribeiro talks with Renaud about the past, present and future of UWL...

Richard James and his brother Andrew recently finished shooting their first film, a surf trip of 30,000 kilometres along the west cost of Africa. Words and photos: Richard James


About Drift Surfing

Drift Surfing is the new incarnation of a once modest British magazine started about seven years ago. Now exclusively online and with regionally focused Editions, the idea is to create an open venue for shared creative output, focusing on what’s happening both in and out of the water. We seek out the perspectives of innovators, instigators, inventors and icons in hopes of gaining a broader perspective on the continually changing culture surrounding surfing.

While the influences of Australia and North America played a key role in preaching the gospel of wave riding to Europe, it is only in the last 10 years that European surfing has grown to the point that it now boasts its own collective of individuals, talented in their chosen fields of surf writing, photography, film, music and art. Although this group has had no trouble finding its own voice, it has traditionally been marginalised by surf media. This is where Drift comes into play, stitching together this unique and diverse set of European wave riders and embracing Europe’s new movement, which can no longer be called a counter-culture. Drift’s readers are the new surf culture in European waters.

Contacting Us

People we would be stoked to hear from:
Anyone with an interesting, original surfing-related story to tell. Also advertisers looking to build their brand with us and anyone interested in licensing Drift for their own market.

People we definitely don’t want to hear from under any circumstances:
Brands looking for free coverage, advertising or marketing agencies looking for free PR, brands looking for any online content, product placement – you get the picture. Don’t contact us, as we’ll just add you to our permanent rules list and you’ll get an automated response from us every time you send something through. Please don’t waste our time coming to us cap in hand, asking for free coverage, after seven years you should know better by now. If you aren’t paying for it, we’re not running it.

Get in touch using the form below.

*(denotes required field)