Surfer's Start-Up

A compact, no-nonsense beginner guide that has been recommended by the United States Surfing Federation as a book every beginning surfer should read. Doug Werner strips the sport down to its essentials and walks new surfers through gear, conditions, safety, etiquette, and basic technique in a relaxed, conversational style.

Why This One

Surfer’s Start-Up earns its place as an alternative because of its brevity and directness. At 128 pages, it respects your time. Werner does not pad the book with lifestyle photography or extended meditations on the surfing spirit. Instead, he gets straight to what you need: how to choose a board, how to read basic wave conditions, how to paddle and pop up, and how to stay out of trouble in the water.

The book is part of Werner’s Start-Up Sports series, which has the same philosophy across multiple disciplines. Assume the reader knows nothing, explain the fundamentals clearly, and make it feel approachable rather than intimidating. For surfing specifically, this means spending real time on the fears that stop most people: getting held under, dealing with currents, and handling wipeouts. Werner treats these topics honestly rather than brushing them aside.

What to Expect

A short, practical book you can finish in an afternoon. The approach is casual and uses plenty of photographs to illustrate technique. Werner’s writing style is friendly and conversational, making this an easy entry point if you want a quick overview before your first lesson or surf trip. It covers the same territory as longer instructional books but in a more condensed format, which makes it ideal if you prefer to learn the basics fast and refine through practice.