Issue 16, Summer 2013 will officially be the last print version of theBOMBsurf magazine. The truth is it is no longer viable to produce a publication of that quality within the surfing niche in South Africa.
We produced 16 incredible issues and would prefer to bow out of print gracefully than to devalue that legacy by cheapening the product simply to keep it going. The reality is that the future of publishing and commerce lies in the digital realm and that is precisely where we need to focus our attention at this point in time.
To our loyal subscribers who kept supporting us even when we had to start charging for the magazine, thank you! We couldn’t have kept going for as long as we did without your support and we appreciated every bit of it. There is no way we’ll intentionally burn you so if you’d like to be refunded for the remaining portion of your subscriptions please email me (john@thebombsurf.com) and I’ll happily refund you. On that note I’d appreciate it if you could be patient as it may take me a while to work through the admin, but you have my undertaking I’ll get back to you all.
To all our advertisers who supported us over the years in print, thank you. Without your support we would never have been able to put out the quality of publication that we did. I truly believe that we set a new standard in print. Your brand messages will live on in these now collectors items.
To our contributors from all over the world, thank you for your world class contributions and for sharing your amazing work with us. Moving forward we are excited to explore the publishing opportunities in the digital realm together.
To our printers, Hirt & Carter thank you, you guys did an amazing job of printing our magazines.
Thank you all and look forward to seeing you on the www.
John McCarthy
Durban
9/05/2013
Got something to say? Then leave a comment!
Posted by Dave Renaud on the 10/05/2013 08:46
Hey Jonno
good move means us expats can get it too,all my subscriptions to any mag are now digital,also allows to link to adds and watch moves and vids,:ie waves and Fliud surf mags!
ready to pay my Subs bru! let me know when.
ps missing the coast but doing the odd trip south to Morocco! shot and good luck.
Posted by Malcolm on the 10/05/2013 09:44
This is not the end, just a new beginning.
Posted by Andrew Black on the 10/05/2013 14:09
John - atavistic it may have been at times, it was such a privilege to have been a part of the mag...and for that I'm truly grateful and I thank you!
I, for one, a ceaseless lover of print over pixel, will miss the magazine dearly. It feels like the death of romance in a way, but such is the nature of the beast.
I hope this move does nothing to change your lifestyle - it's a model of mischief, instinct and all that is golden, something most of us could learn from.
Go well, Old Man, to fortune and glory!
Posted by Andrew Black on the 10/05/2013 14:10
John - atavistic it may have been at times, it was such a privilege to have been a part of the mag...and for that I'm truly grateful and I thank you!
I, for one, a ceaseless lover of print over pixel, will miss the magazine dearly. It feels like the death of romance in a way, but such is the nature of the beast.
I hope this move does nothing to change your lifestyle - it's a model of mischief, instinct and all that is golden, something most of us could learn from.
Go well, Old Man, to fortune and glory!
Posted by Mike de Heer on the 10/05/2013 15:55
Digital is cool. keep up the quality and you will do well. Maybe 8 issues a year??
It will make the printed ones collectors items
Posted by John Haigh on the 13/05/2013 11:01
many thanks for all in the past, and good luck for the future. will treasure the printed issues that I have!!! cheers!!!
Posted by ginz on the 13/05/2013 11:35
you guys can be proud of yourselves for giving us a truly world class mag and we will miss this magazine and know your digital version will continue to bring us the best in surfing. thanks John and Ian
Posted by ham on the 13/05/2013 14:01
Hi dose this mean I will get reimburse my money.
I paid in dec/jan and never received a thing.
No response via e mail either.
Posted by John McCarthy on the 13/05/2013 20:58
@ham. Yes, email me your details and you will get a full refund. john@thebombsurf.com, thank you for your support and my apologies that we couldn't keep it going longer.
Posted by Justin on the 14/05/2013 07:09
Can't say I'm happy at all about it,I loved my mags and annoyed all my mates every time they tried to borrow a mag. They never left my sight.....ever!!!!
Much like the previous comments though which is so true in our day and age digital is the way forward.
So best of luck and looking forward to many more years of digital copies....
Posted by The Surfing Voice on the 14/05/2013 08:06
Well dude for the man in the street, or should i say the waterman in the barrel, the Bomb has been a complete let down, from first getting it in the post box for free to now not even being able to pay for a hard copy. You want me to spend more time behind a PC then?! Nah.
Posted by Rol on the 14/05/2013 09:27
Sheesh, I'm gutted! For me, every issue was like a work of art. I looked after them. Put them on display for friends to read and admire. I didn't even read them on the bog, there's the Zag for that ;) Anyway, there's nothing you can do to avoid this so thanks John. Good luck with the digital route. I'll be supporting you all the way.
Posted by Trev on the 15/05/2013 06:39
I just read that playboy Sa is doing the same thing. Sure many more niche periodicals will go the same. Hey at least it saves a few trees. Perhaps an article on how many surfers there are in Sa appossed to other countries and what economic scale this effects. The value of surfing on local commons ties and provinces might be interesting. Get some surfing actuary involved
Posted by Nigel Waters on the 16/05/2013 17:29
Very disappointing news. while I an understand the economic challenges, I am not convinced that the future is digital for any reason other than cost. I already spend 8 to 10 hours a day in front of a PC and try to avoid spending precious leisure time on line. Nothing beats print! Nevertheless, good luck in your ventures and dont bother with a refund - its not worth the admin hassle.
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