Louise Southerden is a surfer, writer and former editor of Waves SurfGirl magazine. Having lived the surfing lifestyle for more than 12 years and ridden waves all over Australia as well as overseas, she is now based on Sydney's northern beaches where she divides her time between her laptop and the waves.
This cute book from Southerden, former editor of Waves SurfGirl magazine (Australia), accomplishes the tricky feat of creating a beginning surfing book aimed at teenage girls without being condescending. Reading this book is like having a best girlfriend share the secrets of surfing-not only the basics but especially the things boys couldn't tell you, such as how to keep your bikini top from falling off, how to change clothes at the beach, or how to find a board the right size if you are petite. There's also helpful advice on locating girl-friendly surf shops and schools and overcoming machismo in the water. The book is presented in a relaxed style with lots of pictures and tips, all featuring female surfers. In general titles, female concerns are, at best, included as a sidebar, but this book is focused squarely on an important demographic where surfing is rising in popularity. Recommended for public and school libraries-especially where there's good surfing nearby.-Christina L. Hennessey, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Gr 9 Up-This manual includes a history of women in the sport, information on current champions, and plenty of black-and-white photos to help girls get up and go on a surfboard. It is more detailed and gives substantially more instruction than Sanoe Lake and Steven Jarrett's Surfer Girl (Little, Brown, 2005). Southerden describes how to read the weather and wave shapes, and presents quite a bit of advanced instruction and tips, such as "dropping in" on someone while catching a wave. She also addresses sensitive issues women may face while surfing. The author's encouraging tone and the experts' anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book will comfort novices, and there is plenty of advanced information for experienced surfers. With lists of organizations, schools and camps, and shops (all slightly biased toward the West Coast and Hawaii), this book will be a popular choice where interest in this sport is high.-Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
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