This is the cover of Surfing Magazine after world famous American
surfing legend Kelly Slate had won his tenth world championship of surfing.
This picture shows the true love compassion and heart people have for the sport
of surfing. Kelly Slater has been ruling the surfing world since the early
nineties. Why did surfer magazine choose this cover? I believe they chose this
cover because of the unthinkable talent and fame Kelly Slater had going for him
after winning this World title. Surfing is becoming more and more popular
everyday, and a lot more readers in the surfing world all have been following
Kelly Slater ever since they got into surfing. Also the American flag Kelly is
holding over him shows a great sense of pride in his country and lets people
know he is not just some stoner hippy surfer traveling place to place just so
surf. He represents our country proudly doing something that almost all people
dream of. He is the best and people are always pushing themselves to be the
best, and Kelly is a great example of this, as shown in the picture. Surfers
may see this as one of the best issues of Surfer Magazine. It was the most
talked about thing in surfing at this time and fit perfect for this emotional
picture to be chosen as the cover, especially in a time when surfing is bigger
than ever. Kelly is still competing to this day and it is him and many other
professional surfers who shape the world of surfing everyday, hopefully this
cover and these surfers will help get more people into it, because once you
become a surfer you will understand the true beauty and joy of it.
I really enjoyed this analysis. I had a visual picture of it in my mind before I scrolled down to view the magazine cover. With your analysis in mind, I knew exactly what to look for so I could fully understand what each aspect symbolized. I agree that Kelly isn't just another, "stoner hippy surfer" but indeed a class-act and a professional athlete. Something that I've noticed about surfing--and I wonder if you've noticed this too--is that it's such an inclusive sport. The athletes walk right up on the beach after the heat to engage and interact with the excited fans. Such a feeling of community is generated by this. It's interesting to see that the true message of surfing hasn't changed that much--even though surfing has become commercialized. It's still something that everybody can do, or at least try. And Kelly is showing that by being a nice, down-to-earth guy. He gives surfing a face and a name.
ReplyDeleteI love surfing and really enjoy it too. It sounds like you've surfed before and maybe it would have been good to explain the "true beauty and joy" behind it. That way, someone who's never surfed before, would understand and even want to surf sometime soon.
All around, great article!