book review: the girl's guide to surfing

by Andrea McCloud
illustrations by Symbolon
published by Chronicle Books

Full disclosure regarding this review: I love this book. Love, love, love it. Objectivity may be in jeopardy. 

The Girl’s Guide to Surfing is exactly what it claims to be: a guide to beginning the sport of surfing, geared towards women. I will say, however, that anyone wishing to get a better handle on this often-elusive sport—women and men—should read it.

First off, the book is visually beautiful. The illustrations are not only functional, they’re incredibly artistic and just plain pretty to look at. But the functionality is super-important. They very clearly depict—and complement—what’s being said in the text. Exactly what you want in an instructional book.

The book is published by Chronicle Books (who also happens to produce really beautiful journals). The cover stock is thick and supple and feels as though one could easily take it to the beach and not worry about it getting a little wet or beat up.

I’m a girl. I want to learn to surf. A guide seems like a logical place to start, yet I didn’t buy it the first time I saw it. I thought maybe I could find the information I needed about what board to buy and how to read waves and what gear I might need online.

And that information is out there (and a ton more). Lots and lots of information. Most, however, seemed geared toward people who were already surfing. Or it was buried so far in a site that it took a lot of time to find it.

So I muddled through a couple of months in the water, gathering a little information from here, and a little from there, never quite feeling confident that I had all the info I needed. There was a nagging feeling I was missing some crucial piece and that was why I was finding it so difficult to learn. 

I finally picked up “The Girl’s Guide to Surfing” in a little boutique in Hanalei Bay, HI. (You can order it through chronicle books or amazon.)

I began reading it as soon as I got home and didn’t want to set it down again until I’d read it through. It’s a quick read, and as I progressed through its 132 pages, I began to feel more and more excited about getting back in the water. I’d found my stoke again!

McCloud has organized this guide in a refreshingly simple manner. Each section flowing into the next with logic and grace. She begins with an introduction to the sport itself and you immediately feel like you’re sitting across the breakfast table before hitting the waves. Her practical and compassionate voice carries through each subsequent section, guiding you through the history of women surfers, how to read a wave, choosing the right gear, the fundamental skills you’ll need and then breaks down the different types of surfing you can choose (staying objective in the long board vs. short board discussion) and closes with essential knowledge such as etiquette and safety. There are also travel tips, additional resources and a glossary of surf terms.

There are also a lot of comments and advice provided from other women surfers. The perspectives they offer have really helped me put my own experiences in perspective. I no longer feel like I’m learning on my own. I can access knowledge and insight into what learning was like for others and it’s incredibly comforting to realize that the learning curve is long for everyone (and by long, I mean really long... sometimes years).

As I finished this guide, I not only had a much better understanding of surfing as a sport, but the information I’d accumulated from my rudimentary research and experience prior to reading it felt clearer and more organized in a way that made sense to me.

So for all those out there who love the sport of surfing, are just starting out, or are simply enchanted by the prospect, I encourage you to check out this book. It’s like diving into the ocean.

Comments

[Jody Radtke]

Amy, I love your writing! And your timing for this little review is so excellent for me personally as I prepare to head to the beach & play in the surf in April. So sad that I won't be surfing with you in HI, but I will certainly be surfing with you in spirit! Hang Ten Sister! (can't wait to read about what that actually means!) ;)

[Amy C]

So glad you enjoyed it, Jody. I'll be sending you much stoke and aloha for your surf trip in April. :)