Twelve testers put 33 boots to rock, dirt, and sand. These nine vaulted to the top.

The best clothes for our favorite time of year

Every winter, the Pacific stirs up massive ocean swells that descend on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. For 50 years, the surf world has followed suit, coming together to crown their champions, celebrate a sport many consider a religion, and ride some of the biggest waves on the planet. Welcome to the North Shore.

The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar

After a season full of highs and lows, episode 11 of "Kelly Slater: Lost Tapes" brings Slater to his final contest on the island's North Shore

His second of the contest

Frozen dome? Try one of these.

It’s south-swell season. Make sure you have the right board.

Outside Magazine, December 2006 Table of Contents

 Outside magazine, April 1997 Life Among the Swells By William Finnegan The professional surfing circuit ends each year at the Pipeline Masters. Here the would-be, the has-been, and the already-are hero boys of the sport come to be swallowed up–and possibly anointed–by the hungry waves…