Pitpilot
Pitpilot is a British magazine focused exclusively on the United Kingdom surfing scene.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Pitpilot is a specialist British surfing magazine devoted to the United Kingdom's surfing culture, communities, locations, and scene. It was first published on 12 December 2003, making it an early-2000s publication created specifically to document surfing in Britain rather than treating the country as a peripheral market within broader international surf media. Joe Moran founded the magazine. The publication is associated with Newquay in Cornwall, one of Britain's best-known surfing centres and a natural base for a title focused on the domestic surf scene. Pitpilot was published on a bimonthly schedule, indicating an editorial model built around recurring print issues rather than a daily or weekly news cycle. Its subject matter can therefore be understood as specialist surf journalism and culture coverage, although the available reference material does not provide a detailed breakdown of departments, regular columns, product extensions, or named editorial franchises. Ownership is attributed to Arcwind Ltd, a company based in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. This separates the magazine's editorial and cultural identity, which is closely linked to Newquay and Cornwall, from the registered location of its owner. In 2009, Tony Plant was appointed editor, marking the only documented leadership change in the available material. No reliable information is supplied about later editors, circulation, revenue, distribution partnerships, digital operations, or the magazine's current publication status. Pitpilot's positioning is niche and scene-specific: it serves readers interested in British surfing and the people, places, and culture surrounding it. The title's significance lies in its specialization as a magazine solely devoted to the UK surfing scene, rather than in a broad commercial portfolio. Because the available sources contain limited information after the 2009 editorial appointment, the brand's present operating status and current ownership arrangements should be treated as requiring verification.
History
Pitpilot was established as a specialist magazine for the United Kingdom surfing scene and released its first issue on 12 December 2003. Its creation gave British surfing a publication dedicated to the domestic scene rather than a general-interest title with occasional coverage of UK beaches or athletes. Joe Moran is identified as the magazine's founder. The magazine was published from Newquay, Cornwall, a location strongly associated with British surfing. Newquay provided an appropriate cultural and geographic base for a publication focused on the country's surf communities. Pitpilot followed a bimonthly publishing rhythm, suggesting a recurring print magazine format with sufficient time between issues for feature-led editorial production, although the available references do not specify its circulation, print run, distribution network, or editorial departments. The business owner was Arcwind Ltd, whose base was identified as Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The available description therefore presents Pitpilot as a publication with a Cornwall-linked editorial identity and an owner registered elsewhere in England. In 2009, Tony Plant was appointed editor. This is the clearest documented management milestone in the magazine's history and indicates a change or formalization in editorial leadership several years after launch. Beyond the 2009 appointment, the available reference material does not document further editors, changes in ownership, expansion into websites or events, commercial partnerships, financial performance, or a confirmed end date. It also does not establish whether the magazine remains in print today. Consequently, Pitpilot can be documented confidently as a British surfing magazine launched in 2003, founded by Joe Moran, published bimonthly in Newquay, and owned by Arcwind Ltd at the time covered by the reference material. Its current status requires additional verification.
- 2009Tony Plant appointed editor
Tony Plant was appointed editor of Pitpilot, the only documented editorial leadership change in the available reference material.
- 2003Pitpilot publishes its first issue
The first issue of Pitpilot was published on 12 December 2003, establishing the magazine as a title dedicated solely to the United Kingdom surfing scene.
Products and positioning
A specialist British surf publication focused exclusively on the United Kingdom surfing scene, with a strong association with Newquay and Cornwall.
Pitpilot magazineSurfing magazine2003
Pitpilot is a specialist magazine devoted exclusively to the United Kingdom surfing scene. Launched in December 2003, it was published on a bimonthly basis from Newquay, Cornwall. The title's editorial focus distinguishes it from broad international surf magazines by centring British surfing culture and its domestic communities. The available material does not specify its circulation, issue count, or current publication status.
Flagship businesses
- Pitpilot magazine
Leadership
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Plant | Editorformer | 2009– |
| Joe Moran | Founderformer | 2003– |
Sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/pitpilot · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled