Customer Reviews

The Big Drop: Classic Big Wave Surfing Stories

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a grom, at the age of 17 right now, and I rarely read a book cover to cover.I've always been interested in big wave surfing, but never the old timer stuff. This book has revealed the truth about riding big waves in and interesting perspective to the new generation such as myself, and I will never forget some of the stories in here. I reccomend that if you're a surfer, and are even remotely interested in attempting to tackle large surf, that you pick up this book. It will give you second thoughts about venturing out at places like Mavericks, Waimaii Bay, and Todos Santos.

The stories that comprise this book cover a variety of eras, locations, and players in the arena of big wave surfing. For anyone who wants to know more about the obession of those who commit themselves down the face of monsterous, capably murderous waves, and go beyond that virtually feeling the air and water rushing around you in the midst of ocean mayhem, this book will deliver. An awesome read.

Not just a surfing book but focusing on the Big Wave surfing crew, that elite group of athletes that live to challenge the ocean's fury. This is a collection of short stories but it does a great job of covering the total history of Big Wave surfing, particularly paying attention to the heroes of the 50s and 60s the water skills necessary to challenge large waves. With complete coverage and analysis of all big wave sites and legends, I can't imagine what it left unturned.

This exciting sport has elevated itself recently with "ski in" surfing and these stories do a great job of covering the controversy of this sport's growth and it's trailblazer, Laird Hamilton.

I strongly recommend this book if you like surfing or are enthralled by the culture of these people who devote their lives to the ocean.

...of Big Wave surfing - many of the stories are haunting and memorable. It was hard putting the book down once I started reading. I actually found it more interesting and insightful than watching film of surfers going over the edge - you actually get into their excitement, awe, and fear of what they've gotten themselves into - not only when they've caught the waves, but gut-wrenching accounts of what they were thinking and feeling when driven under (or saw their friends driven under) by these monsters.

This is as close as you're going to get, short of paddling out yourself! BTW, I just finished reading "Caught Inside" before "The Big Drop" and reading these stories made reading CI seem like a waste of time.

You won't regret reading this one - highly recommended!!!

A must read for any and all surfers. This is a history book as well as a collection of surf adventures. Ever wonder what a monster wave feels like? These stories will send an occasional chill through your body with it's descriptions.

The Big Drop is by John Log. This book is a wonderful surfing book full of very colorful stories told by the people that had surfed the waves, or were there at the moment if the person had died. The way the people tell the stories make it feel like you are there feeling their pain. If you do not feel like reading the book then you might just want to get the movie Riding Giants. About fifty percent of the movie Riding Giants is in the book. In the book there is a colorful picture almost every chapter of the people riding the wave. I would defiantly recommend the book to anyone, especially if you like to surf. The book also teaches you a lot about surfing vocabulary and even has a couple pages at the end that are the glossary, in case you don't know the terms of surfing. The Big Drop shows the dangers of surfing and makes you wonder why people even risk their life just for a little thrill. I would give this book 9 out of 10, because there are some stories in there that aren't very interesting compared to others in the book. There is only a couple of the stories that are not as interesting, so it does not take away from the book at all.

Provides great insight on the pioneers of the sport, but doesn't come across like a history lesson. It makes you understand the ballz it takes to paddle into a wave the size of an apartment building, along with the consequences those guys have faced.

Thoroughly enjoyable for non-surfers too. My dad has never been on a board and he couldn't put the book down.

this is a must for anyone who has surfed or is curious about surfing. the stories provide an insight into the sport's evolution from 10 foot days at malibu and trestles to the discovery of the mountains in the late 50s and beyond. i certainally cant imagine what it's like on one of those muthas, but the stories sure make you dream on. made me want to drive to mavericks and just wait to see the big boys do their thing. great read.

I don't think it's been read yet, my husband tried to get
it through a library and couldn't. That's why I looked it
up and got it on lines

A great compilation from a variety of writers - many of them surfers themselves including Greg Noll, the late Mark Foo, Gerry Lopez, et al. This book doesn't pretend to be exhaustive but all the stories provide the reader with something intangible. I've never ridden anything bigger than double-overhead but with this book I can begin to imagine what it might be like. The pictures throughout the book convey the power and size effectively.

If you've ever surfed, wanted to surf or know a surfer this book is a great addition to your library.