This is a great starter book! It covers everything from choosing a board to paddling out and catching your first wave. It is loaded with pictures, diagrams and lots of information that will help the beginner feel safe and informed. It even includes helpful hints, waves and weather, history, boogie boarding, competition, longboard riding, kneeboarding, wave ski riding, and even "things that bite and sting". This book has it all. Written by one of Australia"s greatest surfers....Nat "the animal" Young.