Surfing: The Manual: Advanced [Paperback]

Jim Kempton (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2008

The definitive guide to surfing from the world's leading extreme sports publishers, Wavefinder. Never before has such an esteemed assembly of the world's greatest surfers come together to provide the deepest insights and secrets of surfing for surfers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jim Kempton served as the editor and then publisher of Surfer magazine for 8 years from 1978 -1985. He has had articles published in Surfer, Surfing, TransWorld, Surfing World, Surfer’s Journal, Surfing Life, and many others. He is one of the few people capable of doing this book justice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Hedonist Surf Co. (May 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977556913
• ISBN-13: 978-0977556915
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Extreme Sports
  • #81 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Surfing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Manual Breaks the Mold, January 6, 2009

By 

Jaimal Yogis "Author of Saltwater Buddha: a s... (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surfing: The Manual: Advanced (Paperback)

You know what would be really awesome: if you could sit down in one room - picture a classroom on a dune in front of Pipeline or something - with all of the best surfers in the world and ask them, one-by-one, every question that you'd be embarrassed to ask if you met them face-to-face. Like, I don't know, "Hey Taj - how do you approach a wave at the right angle for a good air?" "And Parko, can you add some pointers on style once I'm up there?" "Or how `bout you Andy - dude, can you stop whispering to your neighbor while others are talking? - yea you: Can you explain why you drag your butt in the wave when you're backside tube riding?"

Unfortunately that would never happen. (Even if you accomplished the impossible task of getting them in the same room, Flea and Skindog would probably throw stink bombs and run out the back.) But if it did, it would be something like having Jim Kempton's new book, Surfing The Manual: Advanced. I used to think buying any kind of surfing how-to book, unless it included a map to new breaks, would be a waste time and money. But WaveFinder has broken the mold with this one. They've gotten just about every top pro to pitch-in information on what each one of them does best. From Ken Bradshaw explaining why most surfers botch their duck dives (they use their knees or shins instead of their back foot) to Dave Rastovich discussing the nuances of fins-free reentries (it's all timing apparently), this book is like a bible for everything about surfing that you thought was impossible to explain. I highly recommend it for every surfer.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to improve your surfing-intermediates & up, July 23, 2008

By 

C. Robinson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surfing: The Manual: Advanced (Paperback)

I've been surfing consistently for over 20 years.I got this book because I felt my surfing, though good enough, has stagnated somewhat and I needed some inspiration. What a well put-together book! The title says advanced but I recommend it from intermediate surfers up. If you can stand and do a few turns this book will start you off with a solid base for bottom turns, off the tops etc. Even after so long surfing I found some flaws in my own techniques regarding these fundamental manoeuvers. If you are refining your tube riding or starting to pop airs etc there's some good tips and there are other sections on fitness, big waves, equipment, tow surfing and so on. It's stacked with beautiful pictures of waves being ripped by top surfers to illustrate technical points but this would lead to my only criticism. The pictures make it a nice coffee table book but slightly heavy (though still possible)to travel with. Would be nice if it included a paperback text only manual of techniques to take on the road. Other than that, excellent.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Next level, April 18, 2009

By 

michael (santa rosa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Surfing: The Manual: Advanced (Paperback)

This is a must have for any surfer who wants to improve their technique, and elevate their performance--as well as improve their understanding of the ocean from a surfer's perspective. My only criticism is that it includes beginner advice, which may have been smart in terms of marketing, but it gets in the way of it being a special addition to a solid surfer's library.