Surf's Up: The Girl's Guide to Surfing

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.