Surfing

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It's hard to be disappointed about a rookie year in which you defeat the defending ASP world champion at one of surfing's premier events.

CEO, Eddie Bauer, #19

Photos by Chris Straley

Cruise ships and wildlife buses? The tourist staples miss the point of Alaska: It's the last real place to find an epic, crowd-free adventure on American soil. We've scoured the state for the best wilderness lodges, river trips, lonely highways, and DIY escapes. Bear mace not included.

Masochistic surf kook bent on taming very large stand-up paddleboard seeks Graveyard of the Atlantic for island-linking expedition entirely at whim of wind and waves.

It's not enough to be at the forefront. In an era when everything has supposedly been done, these adventure icons ignore convention, court risk, and let their passion lead the way.

Photos of the big-wave skier from Jimmy Chin and Angel Rodri.

Don't like our list? Tell us your picks for the 10 greatest adventurers.

Photos of the big-wave surfer relaxing.

In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is building six soccer stadiums, investing some $2 billion in transportation upgrades, and assigning 40,000 police officers to babysit the 450,000 fans who'll descend on nine host cities this June. But thanks to now-vacant rooms at new hotels, plus an exchange rate of seven rand to the dollar, you

There's at least one major upside to the bursting of the real-estate bubble: The kind of adventure-ready second home you've always dreamed about is suddenly within reach. From mountain retreats to lakefront outposts to slopeside condos, here's your primer on where to invest for the long haul.

This ode to cutting loose could make you quit your job.

Overlooked mountain ranges, river beer, running album, gear of all time, and 47 other big ideas, accidental winners, and awesome things about the world outside we've come to love over the past 33 years. Introducing our first annual Editors' Choice Awards...

Wild weather makes the next couple of months the hardest time of the year to plan an adventure. To help you out, we've worked up game plans for all kinds of conditions. Your job? Just check the doppler—then go.

Actiona and lifestyle photos of the three-time champ.

Norway is home to some big, beautiful waves, but there's a catch: They're above the Arctic Circle. To test the chilly waters, Outside sent a crack expedition team whose members came back with ice-cream headaches, cod on their breath, and incredible tales of adventure on surfing's coolest frontier.

Yassine Ouhilal brought his cameras on a 44-day expedition to Norway.

A new travel outfitter is offering up dream adventures guided by elite athletes. Is it too much of a good thing?

Score a great deal on a tropical vacation.

Attention, all cynics: You can change the world. But don't take our word for it. Here are people combining big ideas and bold adventures, including our first-ever Reader of the Year.

Want to take an exotic trip and engage in some do-gooding, too? Check out Roadmonkey Adventure Philanthropy’s next adventure tour, which combines climbing Kilimanjaro with building a fishpond at a local Tanzanian school (June 12 26, $4,395; roadmonkey.net). And if you can’t make that journey, don’t despair.

What's more entertaining than a big-wave contest at Maverick's? The two men fighting over it.

That urban legend about Tokyo vending machines selling used schoolgirl underwear? True. Quiksilver’s new poolside boardshort dispensers, at Standard Hotels in Miami Beach, New York, and L.A., may sound like the same idea, but the trunks haven’t been worn. Promise. $75; shopthestandard.com…

How a carpentry-challenged nonsurfer built a classic wooden longboard with his own kook hands.

What are the best exercises to improve balance for surfing? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

We polled the sharp-eyed nomads we trust most and came up with a bucket list of the best trips for getting the best shots around the world.

Aspergerโ€™s turns social interaction into a source of suffering. โ€œItโ€™s like everyone else has a bucket for dealing with people,โ€ says Clay, โ€œand I only got a cup.โ€

What exercises should I do to prevent soreness in my shoulders from paddling when surfing? The Editors

I'm headed to Maui in December and would like to do more than just sit on the beach. What are some things a serious athlete could do on the island over a week's time? Mark R. Madison, WI

Slab waves bring on the next frontier of surfing.

1. FELT ZW1 BIKE It looks fast, it feels fast, and it is fastย—even if you’re not. The oversize carbon-fiber tubes are dialed for female riders; they were never too stiff, never too soft. Shimano’s finest Dura-Ace components, Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels, gel grips, and Felt’s women’s carbon saddle…

CEO, Evolve Sports and Mavericks Surf Ventures, San Francisco, CA

2009 Travel Awards

It was supposed to be a dream trip: a week along one of Europe's last empty coastlines, riding waves, drinking wine, and sleeping on the beach. And it (mostly) was.

With its SoCal sun and NoCal sensibility, Santa Barbara is about the best place in the lower 48 for an early-spring mix of surfing and cycling—and for anyone in pursuit of a good glass of wine. While last November's fires scoured 1,940 acres in Santa Barbara County, the flames spared the city center and the majority of the recreational trails surroundi

Getting far, far, far away from it all is easierโ€”and cheaperโ€”than you think. Presenting seven adventure-packed Caribbean island escapes. The Over-Under SABA, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES Netherlands Antilles (Philip Oblentz/Digital Vision/Getty) The most challenging part of a trip to Saba, a five-square-mile volcanic island 28 miles southwest of St. Maarten, is…

Gallery and Video

This simple formula is seemingly impossible to master. So how does Kelly Slater do it year after year? And how can you?

Surfing's superstars dish on waves, winning, and women

Drop into the coral reef at Pipeline and you'll probably get hurt. Drop in on a member of Hawaii's locals-only Wolf Pack and you're just asking for trouble. Here, Kala Alexander—surfer, actor, businessman, and the North Shore's most notorious enforcer—opens up about localism in the lineup, how to earn his respect, and his hopes for a m

Ah, Mexico. Land of hot sand, cheap beer, and a foolproof cure for seasonal affective disorder: endless adventure.

What do you suggest for a cheap winter trip to Baja, Mexico? Bix F. Milwaukee, WI

I'm going surfing in Hawaii. Can you recommend a bikini that will stay on? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

Kelly Slater takes time out after his ninth World Surfing Championship to answer a few questions

Behind The Scenes

Bemoaning our cultural wipeout

Get dialed for summer's coolest sport

What outdoor things can I do while in Charleston, SC? Nicole Fort Atkinson, WI

PORTSMOUTH ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA – On a weekend last summer, while the rest of the beachgoing world descended upon overrun sand traps like Nags Head and Virginia Beach, I took a 4×4 and a shortboard and made for Portsmouth Island. There are a few selling points to this skinny, 18-mile-long…

Meet the heir to the throne of big-wave surfing

1. WILSON AVP REPLICA BALL You might not be able to spike like Misty May-Treanor, but you won’t be able to blame the ball. This soft, composite-leather volleyball is a facsimile of what the pros use. $15; wilson.com Women’s Beach Gear Essentials 2. LOLร‹…

Ultrarunning ambassador Dean Karnazes shares his secrets for going, going, going …

In your dreams. (You couldn't keep up anyway.) But that doesn't mean you can't learn a few things about maximizing your summer fun from surf goddess Malia Jones.

Photo Gallery and Video

I'll be heading to London on business for a week in early September. Are there any outdoor adventures to be had while I'm there? I was thinking of rafting in Scotland, but is there anything closer? Alex N. Ann Arbor, MI

At least that's what veteran action photographer Tony Harrington told us. So when he assembled a team of world-class athletes and brought them to a secret spot in New Zealand where you can ski and surf in the same day, we agreed to send a writer. Too bad he never mentioned the midgies.

With Kelly Slater as his chief ambassador, SoCal surf legend Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz had a plan to teach the kids of Israel and Palestine how to get barreledโ€”and bring peaceful vibes to the Middle East along the way. Of course that was before the Hamas supporters, the hashish, and the paparazzi got in the way.

You skipped breakfast because you overslept because you couldnโ€™t fall asleep because you didnโ€™t have enough time to exercise. Sound familiar? Then turn the page and let usโ€”and Michael Phelpsโ€”show you how to recalibrate for your best year ever.

An Aussie filmmaker makes waves with a documentary about gang life Down Under

Hint: It's not the toboggan.

Nine all-stars tell it like it is

The next milestones of adventure aren't about reaching new heights. They're about changing the game.

Bobby Martinez turned to the waves and stayed off the street

A journey from model surfer to model/surfer

San Francisco pitcher Barry Zito on surfing, traveling, and career-ending shark attacks

In the Store: Don’t know what kind of arches you have? Dunk your foot lightly in some water and then step on a paper bag. See almost your entire foot? You’re an overpronator. See very little? You’re an underpronator (this is less common). ยป…

How do three guys who get paid to surf the world, shoot movies, and design sweet gear still make you want to pick up their tab?

Restrictions on personal watercraft threaten California's baddest wave

I need a racking system for snowboards and skis that will also work for surfboards and bikes. I’m open to a trailer hitch system for the bikes, because I’m not sure I can lift my bike onto the car. I have a 2002 BMW 530. What do you recommend? Ann Culver City, California

Get ready for the new age of adventure on the world's wildest continent. Whether it's the Ugandan National Kayak Team leading raft trips on the raging White Nile or entrepreneurial young guides building stylish bush camps with an eye toward helping local communities, a fresh generation is redefining travel in…

What's to love in 2006? How about 100 of the most newsworthy athletes, products, gadgets, bold ideas, and badass feats? From Lance's remarkable retirement (you try raising $500,000 for charity in one night) to a cell phone that logs your training run (and tells you where to turn) to a 33-item gift guide (check out Oakley's Bluetooth shades), here ar

If you follow surfing, you know the season-ending Pipeline Masters is the biggest stop on the World Championship Tour. But you also know that Kelly Slater all but secured his eighth WCT title months ago. So why watch? Because the December 8-20 contest (follow online at triplecrownofsurfing.com),…

I'll be vacationing with my parents in Cabo San Lucas and I’d like to learn to surf. Where are the best beaches to learn and who offers lessons? Jeremy Detroit, Michigan

Want to own the War Bounty surfboard, a replica of the one seen in Apocalypse Now? It was built by the original board’s shaper, and is signed by the film’s Robert Duvall and Martin Sheen. The one-of-a-kind board will be auctioned on eBay in January. Check eBay’s homepage after January…