The Ultimate Guide to Surfing [Paperback]

Jay Moriarity (Author), Chris Gallagher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001

If you are looking for inspiration and a balanced blend of professional tips to improve your technique The Ultimate Guide to Surfing can deliver. Presented by professional surfers Jay Moriarity and Chris Gallagher. The Ultimate Guide to Surfing provides a mix of personal insight, professional tips and fantastic photography.

Early chapters provide a background to surfing and discuss the role it has in the lives of so many enlightened souls around the world. As well as tips for manoeuvres there is plenty for those wanting to read about big wave surfing and a helpful glossary for the uninitiated.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is a dream for the beginning surfer, a more concise surfing book is probably not to be found. -- Wavelength Magazine, July 2001

From the Publisher

The Ultimate Guide to Surfing

Lifestyle and passion are fundamental to Freesports and the aim of the Ultimate Guide series was to offer readers an insight into the sports through the eyes and words of some of the sports leading professionals. All participants know the addictive nature of surfing and no matter how much time you are able to dedicate to your passion everyone is certain to relate to the words in the Ultimate Guide.

Throughout the book readers are treated to outstanding photography. The Ultimate Guide to Surfing is packed with images from Alex Williams, a surf photographer with over twenty years of professional experience and a well earned reputation as a talented trigger finger and regular contributor to surf magazines and journals world-wide.

There are plenty of quotes and highlighted sections that bring out the key elements and make it easy for readers to feel they have gained an in-depth understanding of what makes the riders tick.

If you are a participant, a potential new recruit keen to find out more or if you want your friends and family to understand why they see so little of you at weekends The Ultimate Guide is for you.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585743046
• ISBN-13: 978-1585743049
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,148,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Want to know how to surf? Read this book., October 11, 2002

By 

"chris--h" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

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

On and off I have been surfing for a couple of years but I'm still not a surfer.... I can paddle, stand up and occasionally ride a wave properly but I've got a long way to go. I surf with people who are better than me in the hope that I'll learn from their experience. I am a frustrated "surfer". I read this book looking for some guidance in how to pull off some basic and intermediate manoeuvres. It's a small magazine like book that follows the standard surf book set up: getting started, choosing a board and understanding the beach but it covers one area most books aren't so strong on. It tells you how to actually surf. Its all there in sequenced photos with descriptive text. In succinct wording the authors describe how to angle your body and distribute your weight as you make a backhand turn or set yourself for a tube ride. I now know my technique has been wrong. I am landlocked, several thousand miles from a beach. Having read this book, I'm on the next plane home and heading to the nearest break.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Some of the pictures are cool..., March 6, 2003

By 

T (CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

...but not much else. After buying this book based on recommendations at this site, I was very disappointed by the absolute lack of real instruction. There was one - ONE - page on how to surf for beginners. That's it. Nothing else. Then they went on to talk about surfing waves over 10 feet and tricks and stuff like that. The "buying a surf board" section was adamant about the fact that there are many types boards to choose, but didn't go into what they were, not to mention what types are best for a beginner! I don't have another book to recommend, but really, don't buy this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is NOT a Beginner Book - It is a Work of Art, April 23, 2003

By 

LongBoardDiva (San Francisco, California USA) - See all my reviews

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

As someone who has been surfing for 30 years, and a female, I can tell you that this is one of the most exquisite books that I have had the pleasure of reading. I am fortunate to have, a few years back, surfed with Jay Moriarty and was one of the people who surfed out to help scatter his ashes... This book was never intended for beginner surfers or even those who have completed a weekend surf-camp type situation. This book is for the seasoned surfer - those of us who relish gaining a few new tips from pros like Jay. If you're looking to pick up some great "how to's" and "why'd that happen" then this is the book for you. It also, in clear and plain language, explains why this is a sport that causes all of us involved to be intensely loyal. A reader said "a man's book". Wrong. It's a surfer's book.