Customer Reviews

DA BULL

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Greg Noll is one of the best surfers in history and with the help of Andrea Gabbard, has written the best surf book EVER. Noll and his friends were the first to truly open up the North Shore on Oahu and they relentlessly pursued their passion for most of their lives. As Noll says, surfing is surrounded by so much crap these days. I couldn't agree more. Surfing is the most wonderful sport in existence, no question: and Noll helps you appreciate it like no one before or since.

Da Bull grew up in Southern Cal in the 50s at the first wave of the surf culture. Obsessed with surfing, Da Bull convinced his parents to let him attend school in Hawaii with older surfers. The Da Bull describes finding the incredible surfing spots, which are so well known to the world today.

The highlights of this book are introductions to the legends that started big wave surfing and their wild and crazy lifestyle. Da Bull may have been the wildest and does a great job of relaying the stories without appearing cocky or self-serving. Da Bull gravitated to surfboard construction through many of the evolutions of surfboards before he finally tired of the scene and became a commercial fisherman. It's always interesting to see how these young men mature and I found Da Bull's journey very interesting. Never interested in surfing competition, Da Bull has virtually no contact with the surfing community other than old friends.

Read this book if you want to know the history of surfing and the talented but eccentric men who blazed the trail.

Great life story from a great surfer. Interesting the way the book looks at different peoples versions of the same incidents. Sad to see him simply walk away from the sport that made him a legend, but good to see the sporting lineage is continued in his sons

awesome book! for surfers and non-surfers alike! i really like greg's form of writing. he makes you feel as though you are right there on those beaches with him! i liked that alot!!

this is one of the first bios from a surf legend to come out;now it seems there is someone coming out with one every week.the stories are great.if you are into surf history get this.besides being a great surfer,craftsman,filmmaker....etc....greg is as humble as they get.i had the pleasure to meet him and he is a no bulls#!t guy.add this to your collection.

If you watched the classic documentary "Riding Giants" then you've been introduced to Greg Noll, a pioneer of big wave surfing in the 1950's and 60's, who rode some of Hawaii's legendary surf spots and previously unridable 20 and 30 foot waves. This book is Greg's story, told in unapologetic tones, with commentary throughout from Greg's cohorts in the surf community, including his two wives. This isn't an introduction to surfing, and the author doesn't stoop to explaining every gremmie and green wall, but the context will explain most of those new terms to your satisfaction.

Unlike the lifestyle presented in numerous beach films (some of which Greg did stunt work, few of which he gives any praise to) Greg's life as a surfer is rawer, closer in nature to a frat house than a typical hula shack with Sandra Dee. The honesty is unapologetic, and the stories herein are worth the read. I was fascinated from start to finish, and it was a worthy and informative read about the recognized (and some unsung) heroes of Waikiki, Waimeia, and others. I'd really recommend "Da Bull".

the best surf related book ive ever read.
so funny down to earth and informative i felt i was there with the bull
buy it you wont regret

Greg is the biggest, baddest gremmie in the whole world! It seems like story telling but Greg is just re-telling his early life. Little tales throughout this book about and from his friends keep it easy to read...in fact I found myself reading it all night as I couldn't put it down. And then I found myself flipping back to chapters to re-read it time and again. If a book can do that, it's got to be a classic. And this is as classic as the man himself. If you had to have one book on the shelf, this would be it. If you have more than one, this is the benchmark by which all others are measured as to readable enjoyment.

Buy it? Heck, buy ten and get 'em for friends and family!!!

This has got to be made into a movie (especially after the success of "Riding Giants"...another "must see"!!!)

it was great to read about the roots of surfing in california. it was amazing to read how successful a group of surfers became. the names (clark,brewer, weber, ect...)that kept coming up as i read further and further into the book, made me just go wow... the book read easy and was very enjoyable. i read it about 5 years ago and some of the stories are still fresh in my mind. i reccomend this book to everyone who is even remotley interested in the surf culture. i don't surf but i loved it!!! i wish i owned the book because i would read it all the time.