The Encyclopedia of Surfing

by Matt Warshaw, William Finnegan

Everybody's going surfing. Each year, the surf industry brings in $4.5 billion, and more than two-and-a-half million Americans, from California to Delaware, have caught the wave. Surfers have popped up on postage stamps, in television commercials, and in Hollywood movies, and the sport has developed the remarkable depth, color, and history that can only be cataloged in encyclopedic form.

With 1,500 alphabetical entries and 300 illustrations, The Encyclopedia of Surfing is the most comprehensive review of the people, places, events, equipment, vernacular, and lively history of this fascinating sport by "one of surfing's most knowledgeable historians" (San Francisco Chronicle). A remarkable collection of expert knowledge, spine-tingling stories, and little-known trivia, this is a book that no surfer-or armchair adventurer-will be able to resist.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

752 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2003

About the author

Matt Warshaw is a former professional surfer, former writer and editor at Surfer magazine (1984-1990), and the author of dozens of feature articles and large-format books on surfing culture and history.
Warshaw currently curates the online Encyclopedia of Surfing and History of Surfing, each website based on expanded material from the archives assembled for their print companions. He has 1 child.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dream job would be to help Matt Warshaw update this book.

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is great. I first saw this one at my boyfriend's house. I used to read it before bed when he'd fall asleep before me. I dreamt about the most beautiful turquoise waves!

[BarbaraW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book from the male side of surfing. Not much on females who excel in this sport. Plus I was hoping for a more thorough analysis of how waves form and what surfers look for out there. Not enough pictures. What is inside is very interesting and well written.

[Jon-michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

[Slash Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars for its comfort food value like eating bowl of Mac n cheese, but the content gets 2+ stars because it's in need of an editor and a couple dozen interns to keep it up to date.