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“In the wake of the Beatles and the Stones and the infamous psychedelic “summer of love”, surfing became part of the counter culture and all it embraced, from free love and drugs to opposition to the Vietnam War, from concern for the environment to the development of lethal plastics for surfboards.”
As contrary as the times, John Witzig became the voice of the Australian surf culture and its bad boy voice abroad. Not everyone agreed with him, but he knew surfing and he understood its soul, and that was respected. And in Australia his larrikin humor was roundly appreciated, and spawned a generation of Australian surf writers who sought to entertain as much as to inform.”
Phil Jarratt (Tracks editor 1975-78)
John Witzig contributed his first piece to Surfing World in 1963. He later worked full-time for the magazine and in 1966 produced the pivotal ‘New Era’ issue that documented for the first time the rapid changes in performance and equipment taking place in surfing… and being lead by the Australians.
After Nat Young’s win at the World Championships in San Diego in 1967 he wrote ‘We’re Tops Now’ for the American publication Surfer… an article later described as “splendidly inflammatory”.
He went on to edit Surf International for Gareth Powell, found Tracks in 1970 with Albe Falzon and David Elfick, Sea Notes in 1977, and contribute occasionally to American magazines. He works in mainstream publishing and continues to take photographs for fun.