Surf's Up: The Girl's Guide to Surfing [Paperback]

Louise Southerden (Author), Layne Beachley (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

CATCH THE WAVE

Have you always thought surfing looks like so much fun but lacked the confidence to try it? Do you dream of having sun-bleached hair and surf-toned arms? Maybe you’d like to join those surfers you watch from the comfort of your beach towel? With women’s surfing booming as never before, now is the perfect time to grab a board and get out there! If you’re a girl who longs to mix it up with the boys in the surf, carve graceful lines across the face of a wave, and feel the exhilaration of surfing, this book is for you. Surf’s Up has it all, including

• what to look for when buying a surfboard
• how to find the right waves
• how to paddle out, catch waves, stand up, and turn your board
• a colorful history of women’s surfing, from Gidget to Beachley
• where to find North America’s dream surfing spots

Writing with the passion that comes from living the surfing life for more than fifteen years, Louise Southerden brings her love of surfing to every page, offering a glimpse of surfing subculture, surf lingo, the rules of the waves, and helpful tips from other surfer girls who have survived the learning-to-surf journey. Surf’s Up is encouraging and empowering: a book no surfer girl should be without!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A surfer and writer from Sydney, Australia, Southerden speaks from the point of view of a woman who taught herself to surf without how-to guides and magazines to aid her. She learned the sport comparatively late in life, at age 24, and at a time when there were more sharks in the water than women. She wore wetsuits designed for men, surfed at non-crowded breaks at undesirable times and had no female pros to model her riding after. The author wants the next generation of wave riders to learn from her novice mistakes; she also hopes to give girls the early confidence that she lacked. "You can't learn to surf from a book!" she acknowledges early on, and no one should expect to. But readers can learn drills to practice on days the ocean is flat, techniques to test the next time they paddle out to the lineup and the kind of information (the correct way to attach your leash, how to tell if you're regular- or goofy footed, how to select the right swimsuit) that is otherwise gained only by years of experience. She tackles girl-specific issues most learn-to-surf manuals neglect. ("My boobs get squished when I paddle my board"; "Do girls need different surfboards?") and peppers the guide with tips on surf etiquette and advice from female pros. The research text at the end of the book provides a comprehensive list of women's surf organizations, camps and contests, as well as a dictionary of surf terms to help newbie surfers learn the lingo, maneuvers and equipment they'll need to look and sound like a pro. If you've always wanted to learn how to surf, but don't have an experienced friend to learn the ropes from, consider this progress-at-your-own-pace book your safety vest.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up -This manual includes a history of women in the sport, information on current champions, and plenty of black-and-white photos to help girls get up and go on a surfboard. It is more detailed and gives substantially more instruction than Sanoe Lake and Steven Jarrett's Surfer Girl(Little, Brown, 2005). Southerden describes how to read the weather and wave shapes, and presents quite a bit of advanced instruction and tips, such as "dropping in" on someone while catching a wave. She also addresses sensitive issues women may face while surfing. The author's encouraging tone and the experts' anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book will comfort novices, and there is plenty of advanced information for experienced surfers. With lists of organizations, schools and camps, and shops (all slightly biased toward the West Coast and Hawaii), this book will be a popular choice where interest in this sport is high.-Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345476611
• ISBN-13: 978-0345476616
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for anyone learning to surf, guys as well, May 7, 2007

By 

Ronald F. Dimauro (East Coast - USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surf's Up: The Girl's Guide to Surfing (Paperback)

I bought this book for my 11 yr old daughter who started surfing with me a couple of years ago. When she was finished, I read this book to see how it was. It was one of the best surf books I ever read. I think that the fact that it was geared towards women by a women, it made it more relaxed and fun. We (men) tend to get to serious and lose the point of it. Anyway, Louise (the author) was playful as well as insightful. You can tell by this book that Louise really loves surfing and her whole souful lifestyle. Her kind and warm personality shown through by her writing.
I would highly reccogmend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to surf or just be part of the relaxed surf culture.

P.S. I bought a copy for myself and refer to it all the time. Great job Louise. I am now a big fan of yours. Aloha

Ron DiMauro

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for begginers, April 5, 2008

By 

Jethrie A. Alfau - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surf's Up: The Girl's Guide to Surfing (Paperback)

I'm 30 years old female and new to surfing i bought this book before i started my first surf lesson and really help me a lot. This a great book,
i seriously recommend it for begginers any age, is very well detailed and many helpfull tips..
If you get this book you wont regret it.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I had this book when I started surfing!, June 6, 2005

By 

S. Haumueller "kai wahine" (san francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surf's Up: The Girl's Guide to Surfing (Paperback)

this is an excellent book for surfers of any level, but focuses on beginners. There's a great history of women in surfing and profiles of today's up and comers. The book is well written and well designed, there are great photographs throughout. I wish I would have had this book when I started surfing, I had to learn the hard way! It's great to see the women of surfing getting the attention they deserve.