As told by BIM Founder, Patti Serrano
In 1991, the one and only magazine called Bodyboarding published by Western Empire Publications went by the wayside due to the recession that was under way. They were hard pressed to get advertisers and not from a lack of commitment to the sport. Many people that don't know how businesses are run thought they just preferred to publish their Surfing Magazine.
Yet, it is the advertisers that keep the magazine going.
I got a call from several bodyboarders that knew I had an avid past in the sport from the beginning and at the same time was working at a publishing company. I was asked, "can you create a magazine?" I called around to Wave Rebel, Morey Boogie, Custom X and several others that were running full page spreads in Bodyboarding and asked them would they support a magazine if I created one.
I told these potential advertisers that there was no way I alone could publish a mag like the one they were used to, but that I would solicit some bodyboarders to put together a mag for the sport.
And, that we did.
We had "BIM photo nights" where Pat Caldwell, Jay Reale, Regina Monetti, Kirk Blackburn and others would load the carousel of slides sent in from big name photographers like Brian Bielmann, Hank, Joseph Libby and Neal Miyake. These were memorable nights. We would pick the cover and shots that went along with the stories.
The Mag wasn't the slick like it's predecessor, yet it was sent world wide and enjoyed a five year reign in the sport as the only publication. A sister newsprint rag mag called Hardcore Bodyboarder was printed along side of it to feature the bodyboarder that didn't compete.
During the hey day of the mag circa 1993, I decided to create a competition tour called Bodyboarder International Association. Now, we had the mag and a tour and the publication covered all the events. The BIA, as it was called even had a coveted All-Star Team of riders that were featured in each magazine.
As BIM is enjoying it's success, others were looking on with the desire to publish. Even though BIM had a arsenal of faithful advertisers, I took a break and let Riptide Magazine and PIT grovel to keep their mags afloat. PIT ultimately went under and Riptide and others publications have keep the sport alive today.
I opted in 1998 to sell the BIA to Chris Granone. He had been a faithful head judge and knew the sport inside and out. He continues to run it successfully today.
http://www.BIaTour.com
The Mag, however, I wanted to keep because I knew there was still a future for it. I would have never dreamt that we would be publishing it online.
I hope you enjoy the Online version and keep coming back. I promise there will be new just everyday....
Thank you all for your years of support, Patti
In 1991, the one and only magazine called Bodyboarding published by Western Empire Publications went by the wayside due to the recession that was under way. They were hard pressed to get advertisers and not from a lack of commitment to the sport. Many people that don't know how businesses are run thought they just preferred to publish their Surfing Magazine.
Yet, it is the advertisers that keep the magazine going.
I got a call from several bodyboarders that knew I had an avid past in the sport from the beginning and at the same time was working at a publishing company. I was asked, "can you create a magazine?" I called around to Wave Rebel, Morey Boogie, Custom X and several others that were running full page spreads in Bodyboarding and asked them would they support a magazine if I created one.
I told these potential advertisers that there was no way I alone could publish a mag like the one they were used to, but that I would solicit some bodyboarders to put together a mag for the sport.
And, that we did.
We had "BIM photo nights" where Pat Caldwell, Jay Reale, Regina Monetti, Kirk Blackburn and others would load the carousel of slides sent in from big name photographers like Brian Bielmann, Hank, Joseph Libby and Neal Miyake. These were memorable nights. We would pick the cover and shots that went along with the stories.
The Mag wasn't the slick like it's predecessor, yet it was sent world wide and enjoyed a five year reign in the sport as the only publication. A sister newsprint rag mag called Hardcore Bodyboarder was printed along side of it to feature the bodyboarder that didn't compete.
During the hey day of the mag circa 1993, I decided to create a competition tour called Bodyboarder International Association. Now, we had the mag and a tour and the publication covered all the events. The BIA, as it was called even had a coveted All-Star Team of riders that were featured in each magazine.
As BIM is enjoying it's success, others were looking on with the desire to publish. Even though BIM had a arsenal of faithful advertisers, I took a break and let Riptide Magazine and PIT grovel to keep their mags afloat. PIT ultimately went under and Riptide and others publications have keep the sport alive today.
I opted in 1998 to sell the BIA to Chris Granone. He had been a faithful head judge and knew the sport inside and out. He continues to run it successfully today.
http://www.BIaTour.com
The Mag, however, I wanted to keep because I knew there was still a future for it. I would have never dreamt that we would be publishing it online.
I hope you enjoy the Online version and keep coming back. I promise there will be new just everyday....
Thank you all for your years of support, Patti
