Longboarder's Start-Up: A Guide to Longboard Surfing

I highly recommend this book for people getting started in the world of long boarding. Lot of good information.

...there is some significant information in this book that doesn't show up in other fluffy beginner's books.For example, I'm new to surfing (been out about 8 times), and I've reached the point where I'll get killed if I continue doing push-ups through waves of any reasonable size. I keep coming back to this book because this is one of the few beginner's manuals in my stash which tells you about "Scoot 'n Shoot" and "Slice 'n Duck" to deal with paddling out through larger and larger waves.The book is essentially split into a beginner's section (on how to catch waves, paddling out, being in trim, etc...) and then an intermediate/advanced section on cross-stepping, turning, cutting back, noseriding, etc... I mean it's really wonderful to have a book that shows me what I can look forward to, even though I don't expect to be doing 360's or floaters anytime soon.I've yet to find a book this comprehensive on longboarding - I dare say that if I were stuck on an island in the South Pacific with nothing but my stick and one book, this one would be it.If you can overlook the shortcomings of this book, I'm sure you'll get something out of it.I continue to get hints out of the book after every reread... ...advice in the book begin to make a lot more sense after some experience.Oh yeah - the lingo in the book makes it a little difficult for the first time read, but with the glossary in the back, it's not that bad. In fact, wouldn't you rather learn what "digging a rail" really means so you can communicate with your fellow surfers in their language?

This has a lot of interesting and useful information on techniques to make a better surfer out of a beginner to intermediate level surfer - The comparison of short vs long board techniques were pretty good. I consider myself intermediate and when spring rolls around next year, I will read this again to improve my surfing.

A good, no-nonsense book that should have beginning longboarders up and annoying shortboarders in no time flat. Werner covers the basics without any mystification, cutting through the crap and helping people understand just what that 747-sized piece of expoxy doing under their feet.Two (I lied) quick caveats:1) Werner's style isn't for everyone, however, replete as it is with somewhat self-conscious "wannas" and "gottas" and "doyas." You either nod along, or toss the book across the table. 2) For a beginner's book, it is somewhat strangely deficient in really getting inside how a board is trimmed. From Werner's point of view as a long-time surfer it may feel as straightforward and logical as he describes it, but from a beginner's point of view there are all sorts of painful subtleties that Werner glosses over. Too bad.

Doug Werner has written a wonderful beginner's guide to anything and everything to do with longboarding. An extremely easy read, Longboarder's Start-Up has photos and descriptive text that literally walks you through the basics of longboarding. From the design of the board and how it effects different aspects of your ride to paddling out to standing up to shredding the wave on a vicious cut-back, Doug's casual style and crisp humor give the feel of receiving a world-class surfing lesson from your local surf bum. Interviews with pros and loads of great action shots make this as interesting a read as your favorite surf mag, only you don't have near as many pictures of beach babes. Altogether, this is a great addition to your library. Don't forget to bring it on your next beach trip.