The Depth Test White Horses

In: The Depth Test by Stu Nettle 13 Comments Fri 22nd Jun '12

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"You're the only guy who actually reads the books that get reviewed. Everyone else just makes it up." So said the best-left-unnamed surf journo when we were discussing Swellnet's review section.

I'm not sure how correct his remark is concerning other surf publications but it's true that I read and consider everything reviewed here. Fair and impartial reviews being the lofty goal of The Depth Test.

I tell you this because the review I'm about to give is completely biased and openly partial. The reason? You can find it on Page 52 of White Horses. There at the top, above a tale mixing big wave heroics and the US medical system: "By Stu Nettle". While one page prior is a story by a mate of mine, Lucky Al. Also, the mastermind behind White Horses, Gra Murdoch, was very kind to Lucky Al and I when we started our own publication,Kurungabaa, many years ago.

My hands may be filthy but with that disclaimer disclosed and Media Watch on the kybosh I'll continue...

Published by Morrisson Media White Horses is a very different beast to its surfing stable mate, Australia's Surfing Life. At 144 or so pages and containing just three ads it's a damn good ratio of content to commerce. The tagline is 'The sea has stories' and here again it differs from the photo-driven ASL. There are thirty contributors, some known – Lewis Samuels, Derek Rielly, Nick Carroll – and many lesser known writers in the mix.

Each issue of White Horses will contain a writer's rally in which said writers choose from three topics. In this issue it was: Your worst decision; A grommethood memory; A story you've never told. With three common starting points the stories veer in myriad directions and told with many tones, a mixed array of humour and pathos.

Times may be tough in print but White Horses delivers what the internet struggles to or simply can't: a tactile, well-manufactured print product full of crafted stories. Looks bloody good on the shelf too.

White Horses retails for $19.95 and will be published four times yearly.

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