In our six decades of print publication, during the selection process for every one of its hundreds of covers, there have been safe options and not-so-safe options. Playing it safe typically looks like a guy getting nicely barreled with something interesting in the foreground, accompanied by text meant to ignite your curiosity about this heavenly setup. That’s fuel for surf fantasies, it’s the model to which our most iconic covers adhere, and it doesn’t hurt that it typically sells pretty well. Yeah, these aren’t those covers. The seven covers above fell into the “Too High to Feel My Face Covers” category. To look at all 33 covers that made “The Hall of Strange”, hit our link in bio. All hail the weird!

In the digital sphere, a month seems like an eon. So give January's "Clips of the Month" a rewatch above and have your jawdropped all over again. Now that February is about to wrap, who do you think should make the next cut?

Camp Shred, the world's largest surf demo, is this weekend and the surf forecast is looking fun. Head to our site for the full list of board builders and gear makers on site with their latest and greatest for you to try, for free! See you Saturday and Sunday. . . . . . . . Camp Shred is presented by: @pacificobeer @mercedesbenzsd @nixon @ashlandhardseltzer @nanocraftcbd @paumauivodka @beagans1806 @surfride

We can’t really think of a better surf coach than aerial pioneer and ‘CT alum @josh_kerr84. That’s why we’re excited to announce our new partnership with @stompsessions, where Kerrzy shares his 30 years of surfing genius through online tutorials to you. Watch the trailers to Kerr’s videos in the “How-To” section of our site and click over to @stompsessions to get your all-access membership to over 60 pro tutorial videos, digital coaching and DIY tools from champion athletes in surf, skate and bike. . . . . . . #joshkerr #surf #surfing #stompsurf #stompsessions #surfer

An unknown surfer takes his turn on a conveyer belt-like slab. Shot by @lancemorgan_.

@aliciiakelley, sliding into Waikiki's golden hour. Shot by @tommypierucki.

@midgetmagic chased Cyclone Uesi into a cranny free of section droppers and blatant burners. Watch the dreamy full cut on Brent Dorrington's Youtube. Filmed and edited by @mister_clips. Music: @booseeka.

"I did't want to let hesitation and fear dictate where I wanted to be or stop me from fulfilling what I visualized," young Irish slab hound @gearoidmcdaid says. "So this year, I didn't forget hesitation and fear, I embraced it and used it to push myself to see where it would take me." Based on his new edit, it looks like McDaid's was taken on a wild ride through Europe's most hallacious slabs. Watch McDaid's story, "Over the Ledge", in full on our site. Video by @clemmcinerney.

A torrential downpour of lips over @mikeybrennan. Shot by @lancemorgan_.

For the past year, Australian surfers and environmental activists have been locked in a battle with Equinor, a Norwegian oil company that held plans to drill in the Great Australian Bight. But as of this morning, thanks to the thousands of tireless souls who have been fighting to protect their country’s coastline from a potentially devastating operation, that battle has come to an end for now. According to ABC News, Equinor has officially cancelled all plans to drill in the Great Australian Bight. Hit our link in bio for more. Photo by @nathanoldfield.