Complete History of Surfing: From Water to Snow (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Surfing has been around for a long time..." (more)
Key Phrases: finest surfers, older surfers, wave skis, Mark Richards, United States, South Africa (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In this newly revised hardcover edition of The History of Surfing, world champion surfer Nat Young explores the history, stories, and inside expertise gathered in his years of deep involvement with the sport of surfing. The History of Surfing covers the full gamut, including surfing history, professionalism, surfboard evolution, professional surfers, the Hawaiian Islands, kneeboards, wave skills, kitesurfers, and the future of surfing. Also included are discussions with some of the sports greats-Duke Kahanamoku, Kelly Slater, and Lisa Anderson-as well as exclusive rare color photos covering surfing's exciting past and present, bringing to life one of the most exciting and stunningly beautiful sports in the world.
Author Bio: Nat Young is recognized as one of the great surfers in the history of the sport, having won the world championship in 1966. At that time his new power-oriented surfing style was based on surfing a shorter board than was traditionally used. He is credited with starting the style which was the basis for contemporary surfing. He was born in 1947, and grew up in Collaroy on the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia, where he lives with his family.

From the Inside Flap

Surfing is one of the most exciting and stunningly beautiful sports in the world. The modern surfer on his small plastic board is the product of a fascinating history of development. Nat Young, one of the world's great surfers, has produced an illustrated history of the sport that is the most definitive and authoritative ever published. This book is the result of a lifetime involvement with surfing and a deep interest in its history. Nat has had discussions with the greats of the sport, from Duke Kahanamoku to contemporary stars like Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, and Layne Beachley. He tells for the first time the real story behind the remarkable development of surfing, from the ancient Hawaiians to California in the 1940s and right up until today. Spreading around the world like wildfire, surfing is now a mainstream sport, connecting skateboarding, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. Nat also examines the exciting evolution from surfing to snowboarding, tracing the original innovators up to present times. To all this, Nat brings his personal knowledge and stories, and the inside expertise gathered in his years of a deep and passionate involvement with the sport.
Nat Young is recognized as one of the great surfers in the history of the sport. He was born in 1947, grew up in Collaroy on Sydney Australia's northern beaches, and won the World Championship in 1966 in California and the Smirnoff contest in Hawaii in 1972. He was several times Australian junior and open champion -he won his first open championship at Bondi at the age of 15. In the late 1960s, he and a handful of others ushered in the 'new era' in surfboard riding, a power-oriented style that forms the basis of contemporary surfing. In 1986 older surfers began to compete professionally on longboards. Nat's unique style and good luck enabled him to become World Longboard Champion in 1988, '89, and '90. Today Nat is a dedicated surfer and family man with four children. He is the author of several books on surfing, including his autobiography Nat's Nat and That's That, and the how-to-surf book Surfing Fundamentals. He has produced two films, Fall-Line and The History of Australian Surfing.
Front and back cover photographs Jeff Divine Jacket design: Black Eye Design, blackeye.com

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith; 1 edition (January 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423602668
• ISBN-13: 978-1423602668
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #842,002 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A lively survey any library will relish, September 18, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF SURFING: FROM WATER TO SNOW offers a fine survey of surfing and surfing history, offering a survey of surfing's attractions and famous names from Hawaii to California and covering ancient Hawaiians to modern times. Color photos and vintage photos abound in a guide covering the evolution from surfing to snowboarding and more, blending stories with history for a lively survey any library will relish.

5.0 out of 5 stars To those who wonder how it all started, December 18, 2008

By	Bruno Costa (Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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I haven't had the pleasure to meet Mr. Young yet, but he sure knows a whole lot about the history of surfing, being part of it as well as probably a skilled researcher.
The Complete History of Surfing brings highlights and details regarding the evolution of the sport, insights about top athletes and some key characters profiles, which have helped me quite a lot better understand surfing, not only as a sport but moreover as a way of life.