Our Guest on this episode is freelance content creator, Jon Coen from Long Beach Island. Jon has been a consummate champion of Northeast surfing for over 20+ years. When the surf magazines were still in their heyday, Jon would be the go to guy for anything in the Northeast happening. He always fought to get local events, surfers, and creatives to get the greater promotion and exposure when the west coast would ignore us. 

On this episode we touch on various facets of his career, including content roles with notable brands like Jetty Surf, Vuori, and Red Bull. Jon elaborates on the unique surf culture in Long Beach Island and the community dynamics that sustain it despite challenges like beach replenishment. We highlight LBI local events like The Clam Jam and The Coquina Surf Jam.  Jon emphasizes the importance of a supportive local surf community. The conversation explores broader themes within surf culture, tracing the surf community's ties with music, and looks ahead to the potential resurgence of Surfer Magazine, aiming to prioritize authentic storytelling and diverse local voices in the surf industry. This episode encapsulates the passion and evolving nature of surf culture, emphasizing the importance of community and localized narratives. We hope you enjoy this episode…

To find Jon Coen you can follow him on Instagram @coennoinsta and check out his blog: https://daysonfile.com/ 

The Swell Season Surf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network.

For more information, you can follow @swellseasonsurfradio on Instagram or go to our website: www.swellseasonsurf.com 

Music:
Artist: Texas is The Reason
Song: It It’s Here When We Get Back It’s Ours
Album: Do You Know Who You Are? 


00:00 Introduction to the Swell Season Surf Podcast
01:18 Meet John Cohen: Champion of Northeast Surfing
01:59 John's Journey and Contributions
02:51 A Warm Welcome and Mutual Connections
03:19 Life in Long Beach Island
04:13 Surfing Stories and Local Legends
06:02 Balancing Work and Surfing
13:47 Challenges of Surfing in LBI
19:29 New Jersey vs. New York Surfing
25:44 The Importance of Surf Shops
34:32 Surf Industry Pioneers and Challenges
35:39 Jetty: A Brand with Heart and Soul
37:15 The Essence of Jetty's Philosophy
38:17 Community and Connection through Surfing
44:56 The Clam Jam: Building Bridges Across Generations
51:14 The Impact of Superstorm Sandy
52:28 The Evolution of Surf Culture and Media
59:24 New Jersey's Influence on Surfing
01:05:11 Introducing Jake: The New Editor
01:05:31 Reflecting on Kevin Welsh's Legacy
01:06:29 The Future of Surfer Magazine
01:08:10 Surfers and Their Musical Influences
01:10:03 The Evolution of Music and Surf Culture
01:14:25 The Role of Music in Surf Films
01:15:46 Punk Rock and Surfing: A Cultural Analysis
01:18:47 The Influence of Sublime on Beach Culture
01:21:24 Final Thoughts and Future Projects