Ever had that feeling after watching a wakeboard film that just makes you wanna go ride? That feeling which makes you believe you can now do something new or go bigger? Yeah you have, everyone with a passion for riding has at some point - its why we do it. That feeling is also something that i had only ever associated with film, and riding with riders that i've looked upto from those films. But now i have a new motivation to add to the list - The Standerd 2.1

Last year, the guys at the Standerd pulled off 4 issues of pure class. I was slightly skeptical when a friend of mine gave me one and told me that it was kind of a picture book. After looking over the first few pages, i decided that the concept was just what the sport needed - a step away from the corporate side of things. Every quarter book after that was another level from the one before it, and now we're in year 2 of the project with Book 2.1.

When it came through the door, i knew that things were going to be more of the same. The front cover has a shot taken from under the water with a nice carve on some glassy water. Its a pretty unique shot and kind of sets the stage for the issue. This time of year is the time that i always start getting back into riding more and take more notice of things like this. But its what's in this issue that sets it apart from the others last year. Its almost like they have found their groove and are now running on all ten cylinders. The profile of Darin Shapiro is the main part that i want to talk about - that and Mike Ferraro.

Everyone knows Darin in Orlando, and most outside Orlando know who he is. I first met Darin on the East coast of Florida when i went surfing with Jeff Weatherall. When i first met him, it was just like meeting any other guy out there - just a normal guy who just ripped on a surfboard. From hearing the name, you know that Darin has done lots in the sport - he was one of the first guys out there to do stuff. Like the first to do a Raley and name it after the guy who told him to try it. But just reading the profile, and hearing all that he achieved not in the sport - but out of it too! From the stock market to Hawaii to his new baby son. . . . . .

Above all of those details, the main part that motivated me, was the fact that Darin still pushes himself to do the things he has always done. He still rides, surfs, rides his MX Bike and more. All this from someone who has been around the tour for years, and who might have been bored of the sport. He is now moving to Hawaii to raise his son and live a nice life on the island. Its just amazing what he has achieved just from riding on the water on fiberglass and foam. And it doesn't look like he is stopping anytime soon. . . .

Mike Ferraro too, i didn't realize he went back so far! I spent quite a few hours with Mike last summer filming from his boat. I knew he was hard working and i knew that he know his stuff - but the influence that he has had over the years has been amazing. The fact that someone like Darin speaks so highly about him also says a million things about him. But its all true and i experienced myself when filming. . .
Mike asked about how the site works, the hit counts, the editing etc and tried to understand the work flow that i went through. Then, week after week, he would come up with new ways we could film and new people to film with. It was the way things went for nearly a month, til we had some great content and had met some cool people to work with. It also helped elevate the site from a small UK site to a medium sized international one in just a few weeks. So anyone out there who is riding with Mike and associated with him, you know they're going to be good. Nicola Butler, Adam Errington and a few others are all under his wing. Nick Davies is also taking some sets with him. But i really didn't know just how much he has done and seen over the years - all credit is due for sure.

Thats what i like about the Standerd, just the way they present content to a reader. Sure, you would find the same article in any other magazine out there and it would still be good - but not as good as this. Also, the small photos of people in the front and the back, that another favorite part of it all. Overall, i'm just surprised that a magazine made me real motivated to go jump on a board and go ride. Thats a first for me and i'm now looking forward to Book 2.2.

I know some of you out there might not ever had a copy of the magazine in your hands before. This is why i decided to write this little piece to give you some more insight to the mag. It comes straight from the heart of Orlando and because its more a demonstration of media rather than a money maker, it reflects in the content.

Get yourselves over to www.TheStanderdQuarterly.com now and get hooked up with it. . . .


JP


Here are some scans of the new mag.