The Best Surfing Books You Must Read
Surfers are not just about riding waves and finding the best spots in the world where the best waves are formed and enjoying them.
Fans of this extraordinary sport and also the athletes who ride waves, in many cases, are academic professionals with a broad culture, which makes them also fond of reading.
The last sixty years have seen the development of surfing literature, full of waves, salt, sea and sun; dealing with fiction, biographies, journalism, self-improvement and self-help titles.
10 Surf Books for Surfers Readers
1. Surfing. The 100 Best Waves
We begin our countdown with this issue, which is halfway between a surf photography book and a travel guide.
This book contains photographs of the best 100 waves in the world; California, Japan, Australia or Africa; information about them, details, tips, location and how to get to them.
2. The History of Surfing in Spain: From Magellan to the Eighties
From the hand of Daniel Esparza, one of the greatest and best scholars of surfing and its world, came this extraordinary book, where Esparza tells us about the history of surfing in Spain, in an academic and profound way.
It is recommended for anyone who wants to know how surfing arrived in Spain and how it evolved until it became established on Spanish beaches.
3. Leroy Grannis. Photographs of Surfing in the Sixties and Seventies.
In this book, it is possible to re-encounter the world of American surfing in the sixties and seventies.
Thanks to Leroy Grannis, who was a pioneer in the world of surfing, it was possible to take the first photographs of surfing practices in the water; although he had been a surfer since 1931, it was not until 1960 that he dedicated himself to photographing the surfing environment that prevailed at that time.
Thanks to his work, today we can admire iconic photographs that represent the surfing of the sixties and seventies.
4. Things Your Shaper Never Tells You. Bob Smith
In this book, which can be considered a manual, the American shaper and surfer Bob Smith presents in a brief and easily understandable way, the indispensable instructions for the design of a surfboard.
Basic concepts for beginners in the world of surfing, regarding the design and construction of boards for the practice of the sport of surfing, are presented in its pages in a simple and uncomplicated way.
5. Mundaka: Surf to Live. Craig Sage
The Australian surfer Craig Sage, presents from his own point of view and experience, the meaning of surfing in Mundaka. Sage gives a historical account of this town, famous for its magnificent wave, the best and most famous in Europe.
Craig has lived in the area since the mid-1980s and in his book he refers to the seafaring tradition of Mundaka, the influence exerted by foreigners in the area since the Middle Ages, important figures from the past and present, and all aspects related to the conservation of the sandbar and the environment within the Urdaibai reserve.
6. Practical Surfing Manual
This book contains all the information required to start surfing, as it talks about technical and tactical elements, as well as the required nutrition and stretching exercises before entering the water.
In addition you will find details that may be important for surfing.
7. Surf Better – Tactics and Practice of Surfing. Dave Rearwin
This manual is a must when you start surfing. It is a book for beginners, with simple and understandable language.
It contains exercises to improve technique and fitness; there is also information and advice on the behaviour of the seas and oceans in general.
8. The Surf Girl Guide to Surf Fitness
There’s a book for them too; this is the perfect guide for surfer girls and surfers.
It is an important book for its content, from exercises to promote physical condition, the best diet for a surfer girl; it also shows a stretching table to get in shape for surfing.
9. The Lover of the Waves. José Pellón
This is a novel, where surfing is one of the main characters. Its author is a fanatic in love with surfing, as well as a writer, taking advantage of both characteristics to develop this book.
Waves, beers, poetry, some ghosts, fun and a lot of imagination as well as surfing are present in The Wave Lover.
10. The Science of Surfing. Tony Butt
Tony Butt, from his position as a surfer, analyses the science of waves; it is an interesting book that will help the surfer to interpret and predict the swell in order to catch the best waves.
It is a book that fills the gap between scientific books on waves and surfing books in general.
From Surfcanarias we like to publish articles with a certain educational rigour, in this case we recommend these 10 books because reading is a process of comprehension that is very important for learning, as it allows us to expand our capacity for awareness and reasoning, thus stimulating our creativity and language.
That’s why from our surf school famara beach, apart from the books mentioned above, we bring you the following publications related to the true notion of surfing famara, a surfing lifestyle that we are very proud of, so we encourage you to read them, come to our facilities and enjoy them.
You may also be interested in: The best surfing films in history
