January 19, 2023
Linda Bumgarner
Maybe you’re wondering: books and surfing – do they really go together?
Absolutely!
Surfbooks keep you afloat as a surfer!
If your next surf road trip is still a long way off, but you can hardly stand it without your beloved sea, then surf books are your salvation!
Surfbooks catapult you directly into the line-up with their stories, sometimes taking you to the most exotic places and to the biggest waves on earth.
You can immerse yourself in the most beautiful stories, sometimes literally feel the sand between your toes and taste the salt on your lips.
When I came back from my first surf holiday in France, I devoured almost every surf book I could find. I wanted to learn as much as possible about surfing, just absorb all the surf adventures I could find!
I have compiled a list of my favorite surf books and give you the guarantee of 100% surf passion.
But if you don’t like reading as much as I do, that’s ok too. You can also give away these surf books and make other wave junkies a lot of fun.
Boarderlines – Andreas Brendt and Fuck you happines
I started Andreas’ book shortly before my first surf holiday. At that time, I had never stood on a board, but through his words I was right in the middle of it. I was with him in France, Australia and Bali. The surfbook is about the meaning of life, the insatiable search for adventure, the perfect wave, friendship and love.
What makes this book so special? – It is autobiographical. Andi really experienced all these magical moments. He’s writing the sequel right now and I hope he’s in a hurry, because I want more of it!
Breath – Tim Winton
Tim Winton is one of Australia’s great writers, but in his surfbook “Atem” you will search in vain for the sugar-sweet surf romance. Instead, it is about fears and limits that have to be overcome. You get an unvarnished load of life, with all its facets. Two best joys push each other to the limit and lose each other in the process. This was my first book by Tim Winton, but certainly not the last!
Surfing. 1778-present – Jimm Heimann
This wonderful book, which TASCHEN has published here, can be called a surf bible for good reason, because on almost 600 pages you will be told the history of surfing in epic breadth and also beautifully illustrated! You will be able to spend hours with this book and lose yourself in the pictures and the surf stories. I wish you a lot of fun!
Surfing Buddha – Jaimal Yogis
I am currently reading this surf book. So I haven’t read it in its entirety yet, but it already deserves a place on this list.
As you may already know, yoga and meditation are just part of surfing for me!
Jaimal is absolutely out of taking you on a little spiritual journey. He tells you his coming-of-age story. It’s about breaking out, finding his own way and how he found home and peace in his heart.
Zen and surfing are an important and constant companion for him. Furthermore, wonderful Zen quotes are woven into the surf book, which stimulate reflection without being instructive.
The sea is always in flux and if you spend a lot of time in it, you become a kind of message in a bottle containing a message; you know that you are drifting somewhere, you feel that you have something like a goal, but you are also aware that you are dependent on the winds and the current, and that the best thing you can do is simple surrender.
JourneyBook – Surf Travel Diary
The JourneyBooks are not ordinary books, but beautiful travel diaries for your next surf holiday! However, the notebooks are not completely empty, because depending on the destination country, they are equipped with suitable pictures and quotes that bring you perfectly into the travel mood or revive your travel memories.
Surf books for your head
Now let’s get from the heart to the head, because surf books not only sweeten the waiting time for your next surf holiday, but they can do a lot more than just create dream beaches in your head.
You can learn a lot from them! They can give you knowledge so that you learn to surf faster and easier or they make it easier for you to spot search on your next surf road trip.
Stormrider Guide
I’m a big fan of the Stormrider Guides!
- Stormrider Guide France
- Stormrider Guide Europe
- Stormrider Guide Indonesia
- Stormrider Guide Central America
- Stormrider Guide Portugal
- Stormrider Guide Spain
- Stormrider Guide Java and Bali
In the guides, you will find compressed knowledge about individual surf spots and the surf region. The maps are detailed and offer you a lot of information, such as which wind conditions are the best at the respective spot, or whether it is a beach or reef break.
Very helpful if you are planning a surf holiday or road trip and do not have so much time to test each spot yourself.
Wave Culture and Wave Culture Surfcoach
The surf book Wave Culture is the best you can buy as a beginner! You will get an excellent and very accurate insight into surf theory.
The book is well structured, and very vividly and comprehensibly explained. A great preparation before you stand on the board for the first time or after your first surfing experience to deepen your acquired knowledge. I was able to learn a lot from the book!
Bali Surf Guide and Bali Travel Guide
My dear and good friend Melissa owns the travel blog Indojunkie. This blog is a bible, a compendium about Indonesia, where you will find endless tips and recommendations for your trip. In the meantime, however, she has also published her extensive knowledge as a book. I can fully recommend and recommend her two books about Bali. She is an expert on Indonesia and has designed the two books with a lot of love!
Portugal Surf Guide
If you are planning a surf holiday in Portugal, then I can recommend the extensive surf guide Portugal by Julian. For over 15 years he has been spending his surfing holidays in Portugal and knows this part of Europe like the back of his hand.
What you will find in his Portugal surf guide:
- Spot info with surf level
- Surf Camp Recommendations
- Bulli pitches
- and many more tips and information to make your surf trip unforgettable
Surf books for your lifestyle
I can hardly classify these surf books into only one of the two categories “heart” or “head”. And pigeonholing actually sucks too.
The Rolling Home
This wonderful photo book documents the journey of a couple in a converted campervan. All the photos, texts, and illustrations were created over the course of over 6 years. During this time, the two have covered over 80,000 miles across Europe.
In The Rolling Home, the two document their very special life and it should encourage people to break out of their everyday lives and go on trips.
This book puts my little surfer and road trip heart on fire!
If the book isn’t enough for you, you should definitely follow them on Instagram!
Surf Shacks
Surf Shacks shows you how surfers live and how they creatively design their living spaces. From the apartment in the big city, the house in the National Park or the converted bus, everything is there. In each of these unique places, the love and passion for surfing can be felt.
The book captivated me tremendously because you get a very private and intimate insight into the beautiful “Surf Shacks” of exciting people from the surf scene. Among others, the brand founders of ROXY or the producer of the surf film “Given” are there.
When reading and leafing through such books, I am always inspired to lend a hand in my own apartment and to make it even more individual.
Eat Surf Live
In this travel photo book about Cornwall, it’s not just about surfing, it’s also about the people who live there, their local cuisine, and the wonderful scenery.
The love and enthusiasm of the two authors for Cornwall literally jump in your face on every page. It is a surf book to dream about, to be inspired, and less suitable for classic holiday route planning or the like.
Nevertheless: By page 10 at the latest, Cornwall was on my surf travel wish list!
Travel Surfing Cooking by Salt & Silver
I’ve been following Jo and Cozy’s journey for quite a while and was on fire for their culinary surf trip through Latin America from the beginning. At that time I hadn’t quit my own job to swap my desk for my surfboard, but the travel reports and videos of the two definitely inspired me to just follow his heart.
So attention, I warn you, if you read this book you could also quit your permanent position!
After a year across South America, the two boys are now back and in their luggage, they have an amazing book (published by Umschau Buchverlag), in which they have packed all their stories, recipes, and surf spots. Let the two Hamburg boys catapult you from 0 to 100 to Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru, and taste the spicy salsa and the salty sea on your lips.
The two have not only dived deep into the sea but also into different cultures. They took enough time to get to know the respective country and the people there.
And they were sufficiently rewarded with local recipes, hospitality, and awesome surf spots that they would never have discovered on their own.
I hope it wasn’t the last big trip of the two, because I definitely want more of it!