04/07/2025
Two favourites from the RUSSI RADNESS feature in the new volume 3 of Longboarder Magazine celebrating the timeless work of , flooded with natural light, expert timing and soulful surfing. Jim has been the photographer of so many iconic Roxy campaigns, senior photographer at Surfer magazine, and stalwart cover shooter and feature filler for the unforgettable American Longboard magazine. In this article Jim narrates 18 of his all-time favourite longboard images, featuring Beau Young, Jay Adams, Herbie Fletcher, Joel Tudor, Wingnut, Rabbit Kekai, Kelia Moniz, Monyca Eleogram, Aaron Abbey, Keoki Saguibo, Kanoa Dahlin, and Rell Sunn and Josh Baxter pictured here
First image… Jim explains, “The Queen of Makaha. Miss Aloha. Rell Sun, 1993. Champion surfer, Hawaii’s first female lifeguard, BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Hawaii. In 1983 Rell was diagnosed with breast cancer, aged just 32, and given months to live. She lived for 15 more years and touched so many with her aloha spirit. Thousands gathered for her beachside memorial when her ashes were scattered into the Makaha surf in 1998, aged 47. She loved this photo. It brings me to tears looking at this. This was one of her very favourite images. God bless Rell. Her middle name, Kapolioka’ehukai, is Hawaiian for ‘heart of the sea’.”
Second image… Jim explains, “Josh Baxter, springboard, 1994. This ran as one of the early covers on ‘Longboard Magazine’. I shot this at Makaha. It just hit the back wash right there and I called this one ‘the diving board’. He’s just elevated and levitated. I probably got more comments on this image than any other longboard image I’ve ever done. People just love the carefree feel and energy and the cool board spray. I always had a great time with Josh Baxter, and with his dad Jackie as well. Josh is just really a great surfer, great longboarder and great to travel with.”
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