The Complete Guide to Surfing [Hardcover]

Peter Dixon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001

A fully illustrated, full-color, how-to guide to the fun and challenge of surfing--from beginner to elite.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Comprenesive. Surfing lingo gracefully spices Dixon's text and adds to the allure of the waves themselves."--Woodland Hills Daily (Los Angeles, CA)

From the Back Cover

With its comprehensive text and brilliant full-color photos, The Complete Guide to Surfing clearly and vividly explains the world of surfing. Here is everything you need to paddle out and join in. Veteran surfing writer and California surfing pioneer Peter Dixon takes the reader step by step through basics such as choosing the right board, reading waves, paddling out, and from making your first ride through intermediate and advanced techniques. You'll learn the subtleties of board design, etiquette on the waves, safety maneuvers, how to deal with the inevitable wipeout and other hazards, moves to add power and grace to your rides, and tips on dealing with - and maybe riding - the really big waves. Here also is detailed expert advice on body-surfing and bodyboarding, and stories of surfing adventures in exotic locations around the world. The Complete Guide to Surfing also provides a loving portrait of the sport, from its humble beginnings to its resurgence at the beginning of the last century to the world's stage today. (7 1/4 x 10 1/4, 224 pages, color photos, b&w photos, charts)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585743461
• ISBN-13: 978-1585743469
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,691,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars watery anecdotes do not make a complete guide, October 2, 2003

By 

D. Nagle "Kegani Mongo Shrug" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Surfing (Hardcover)

My main complaint about this book is it's misleading title. Dixon's anecdotal style of writing had me skimming the fluffy text for bits of information that were actually useful to me. There was information that I needed and my surfing did improve, but the information was sparce and buried in prosaic whitewater. Now, here I am at Amazon looking for another book to answer my basic and intermediate questions about surfing. Thought I'd drop a review by.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good reading, February 6, 2009

By 

Bruno Castello da Costa (Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Surfing (Paperback)

Mr. Dixon indeed has a lot to share with those interested in the studying and practice of surfing.
It brings significant information regarding bodysurfing and bodyboarding as well.
I also recommend his "Men who ride mountains", which brings thrilling stories of some California/North Shore pioneers.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well designed and informative, June 29, 2003

By 

Kenneth J. Williams (San Diego, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Surfing (Hardcover)

Dixon provides the necessary information on surfing with clear text and pictures. His style varies between anecdotal and concise. However, this book is far from comprehensive. The culture involved requires that this reference be supplemented with various other volumes with differing tacts. I recommend that the reader purchase this and several more prosaic works to get the complete view of the surfing world.