The Kook's Guide to Surfing

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 the full spectrum of what 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

Most surfing books fall into two camps: dense instructional manuals that read like textbooks, or memoir-style narratives that inspire you but leave you no closer to actually catching a wave. The Kook’s Guide hits the sweet spot between the two. Borte writes with humor and honesty about the reality of being a beginner, while delivering genuinely useful instruction on every aspect of the sport.

The book is organized around the progression a real beginner follows. It starts with equipment: how to choose a board for your size and skill level, what wetsuit you need, and why wax matters more than you think. Then it moves into water skills: reading the break, timing your paddle, positioning yourself in the lineup, and the mechanics of the pop-up. Each skill builds on the last, so you are never thrown into deep water (figuratively) without preparation.

What sets this book apart is its coverage of the unwritten rules of surfing. Lineup etiquette, right of way, and how to share waves without causing conflict are topics that most instructional books gloss over but that matter enormously once you are in the water with other surfers. Borte treats these social skills as seriously as the physical ones, which saves beginners from the awkward and sometimes dangerous situations that come from not knowing the code.

The illustrations by Matt Brown add a lighthearted touch and make complex concepts like wave anatomy and board positioning easy to visualize.

What to Expect

A 192-page guide that you can read in a few sittings before your first surf trip. The tone is casual and encouraging, like getting advice from a friend who happens to be a surf instructor. Borte does not pretend surfing is easy, but he breaks it down into manageable pieces. You will come away understanding how waves work, what board to rent or buy first, how to paddle efficiently, and what to do (and not do) when you are sharing a break with experienced surfers. The book works well as both a pre-surf primer and a reference you return to as your skills develop.