The Waimea 5000 in California magazines, 1976-1982

Abstract

The first seven editions of the Men’s Professional World Surfing Circuit were held between 1976 and 1982. Created by the International Professional Surfers (IPS) organization, the circuit included a Brazilian leg from the outset: the Waimea 5000, held in the city of Rio de Janeiro. This report describes and analyzes coverage of the surfing event in two magazines published in the United States: Surfer and Surfing. It is divided into three parts. The first part covers the formation of the World Circuit and the organization of tours to participate in the South African and Brazilian legs. The second part focuses on the coverage itself over most of this period, which was generally scant and treats Brazil as an attractive leisure destination where the public is interested in surfing. The third part addresses the 1980 event, which was won by Californian Joey Buran. Buran's win was featured in the publications at the time and in subsequent issues throughout the 1980s. Based on these elements, the text discusses the possible implications of these representations considering the context of that era, which includes the magazines' production conditions, Brazil's peripheral role in the world of surfing and the early stages of professionalism in the sport. The article is part of a research project discussing how Rio de Janeiro and Brazil were portrayed in English-language surfing magazines published abroad.

Keywords:
communication history; twentieth century; magazine; sport; media