Surfing Life – Winter 2026
Summary
Lystra Rose, the first female editor-in-chief of a mainstream surf magazine, leads Surfing Life's winter 2026 issue — Issue 379 — with Leihani Zoric on the cover shot by Andrew Shield, an exploration of the "Blue Hospital" theory of ocean therapy, and a feature on PNG Surfaris' 10-day adventures in Papua New Guinea. The AU $19.85 edition runs 113 pages across six content pillars: Travel, Surfers, Culture, Waves, Technique and Boards.
The "Blue Hospital" concept — the ocean as neurological reset — threads through the entire issue. Editor Rose, a Guugu Yimithirr, Birri Gubba and Mua woman writing in Yugambeh Country, introduces the theme in "The Drop" editorial: surfing creates order from neural chaos through predictable wave patterns, horizon gazing and saltwater immersion. Features include "Wedding Postponed — Gone Surfing!" about a Kirra-Belle solo mission to the Solomon Islands; Dakota Walters, the 2019 Junior Champion balancing free-surfing with a parallel career; and Isla Huppatz leaving high school behind to chase the grom dream. The Terrys, an Australian surf-rock band, get the Culture feature, with drummer Cameron Cooper describing Port Kembla waves as his "Blue Hospital." Technique covers cold-water preparation in a 4/3mm steamer. Jason Stevenson of JS Surfboards endures an "interroview" on the Boards page. Ray Bisschop publishes, Rose edits, and Andrew Shield contributes senior photography.
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Content Guide
▸ Travel / Surfers
p.22 · Wedding Postponed — Gone Surfing!
Kirra-Belle answers the Solomon Islands call, leaving her fiance and dogs at home. A solo-travel piece that treats the decision to prioritise waves over a wedding date with the seriousness it deserves.
p.42 · Dakota Walters
A career already running on two tracks — the 2019 Junior Champion trophy plus a free-surfing career. Walters on whether having both worlds means having the best of both.
p.52 · Isla Huppatz
High school graduate turns pro overnight. Huppatz is a rising "cookie" — the grom term for a young surfer coming into their own. Her timeline from final exam to first sponsor call.
▸ Culture / Waves
p.64 · The Tezzas on a Tear
The Terrys — an Australian surf-indie-rock band — chase point breaks by day and play coastal pubs by night. Drummer Cam Cooper on why surfing Port Kembla is "Blue Hospital."
p.76 · Don't Dream the CT's Over
The Championship Tour dropped some classic stops. This feature mourns the Dream Tour calendar and builds a wishlist of venues that should return.
▸ Technique / Boards
p.88 · Not the Average Snowflake
How to prepare for cold-water surfing in a 4/3mm steamer. Warm-up protocols, wax choices and mental prep for winter sessions.
p.100 · Waterboarding Jason Stevenson
An "interroview" with the JS Surfboards shaper. Stevenson on construction philosophy, favorite boards and why he still shapes by hand.
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Editor's Take
Rose's debut full issue as editor-in-chief signals a clear direction: Surfing Life will treat surfing as a wellness practice and a cultural force, not just a sport. The "Blue Hospital" editorial framework ties seven features together without feeling forced, and the diversity of voices — a female editor, Indigenous cultural acknowledgment, an all-abilities casting in the contributor list — is a genuine shift for the category. The Terrys culture piece is the most fun read in the book. But the issue carries heavy advertorial: the PNG Surfaris feature is effectively a 4-page brochure, and Delter Coffee and Sun Zapper each get disproportionate placement for reader-funded editorial. Best for: the surfer who already owns three boards and wants to think about why they surf, not just where.
Strengths
• "Blue Hospital" concept unifies the issue
• Genuine diversity in editorial voice and subject
• The Terrys culture feature is genuinely fun
Weaknesses
• PNG Surfaris feature reads as advertorial
• Brand placement heavy even by surf-mag standards
Verdict: Recommended — A strong first issue under Rose's editorship, carrying the category forward without abandoning its core.
