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Wave Action Surfer Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 12, Surfer: Mark Caffey, Photo: Less Walker

Wave Action Surf Magazine - Volume 2, Issue 9 - Surfer: Maikai Makena at Newport, Photo: Mike Moir

Wave Action Magazine began in a small apartment in Huntington Beach, California through the vision of Mike Freihofer and Pete Rocky. Both surfers had been working at a local Southern California Surf Magazine called International Surf, published by Steve Zeldin (who now publishes Foam and Water magazines). The two, along with friends Tracy Mikulec and Jake Knight came together to create a simple yet important print media business. Wave Action was the first title that emerged from the World Oceans Media brand. September of 1993 was the launch with Wave Action Surf Magazine {the late Todd Chesser was on the cover) started with a micro sized budget and support through industry friends.

Rich Wolcott Volcom was the first to believe in the creation of an entirely youth based surf publication. Danny Kwock Quiksilver was also willing to lend support. Wave Action eventually spun off three sister publications (Plow Snowboarding Magazine, Pit Bodyboarding Magazine, and Launch Wakeboarding Magazine) and graduated from that small apartment in Huntington Beach to a larger one in San Clemente. The support behind Wave Action continued to grow and in the process made an impact on the two other giant publications within the sport, Surfer and Surfing. Wave Action's “All Grom Issue” set the footprint for Surfer Magazines “Hot 100”. It also led Surfing Magazine to devote a great deal of attention to the future champions of the sport rather than only covering the ASP contenders of the day.