Where to Start with Jason Borte
Jason Borte is a surf instructor and writer who runs a surf school in New Jersey. He took the knowledge he gained from years of teaching beginners on the beach and turned it into The Kook’s Guide to Surfing, a book that the United States Surfing Federation recommends as essential reading for new surfers. Borte’s approach is grounded in the reality of what beginners actually struggle with: not the dream of riding a perfect wave, but the basics of choosing a board, understanding currents, and navigating the social dynamics of a crowded lineup. His writing is practical and funny, which makes the inevitable frustrations of learning to surf feel like part of the adventure rather than obstacles.
Start here
The Kook's Guide to Surfing
Jason Borte · 192 pages · 2013 · Easy
Themes: technique, board selection, wave reading, ocean safety, surf etiquette
The most practical and approachable instructional surfing book available, recommended by the United States Surfing Federation as essential reading for every beginning surfer. Jason Borte covers everything a new surfer needs to know: choosing the right board, understanding waves and currents, proper paddling technique, the pop-up, riding etiquette, and staying safe in the ocean.
Why Start Here
Borte writes from years of experience teaching complete beginners at his New Jersey surf school. That teaching background shows on every page. He knows where new surfers get confused, what scares them, and which skills need to be learned in which order. The book follows a natural progression from dry land to whitewater to catching real waves, with each chapter building on what came before.
The illustrations by Matt Brown add humor and clarity, making wave anatomy, board positioning, and lineup etiquette easy to visualize. Borte also gives serious attention to the social side of surfing, covering the unwritten rules that prevent conflicts in the water.
What to Expect
A 192-page guide with a casual, encouraging tone. You can read it before your first lesson and return to it as your skills develop. Borte is honest about the difficulty of surfing without making it seem impossible. The book covers gear, technique, safety, and culture in a well-organized package that leaves you feeling prepared rather than overwhelmed.