The Big Drop: Classic Big Wave Surfing

Thoroughly enjoyable for non-surfers too. My dad has never been on a board and he couldn't put the book down.


Get inside the Big Wave Surfing Culture   July 13, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Not just a surfing book but focusing on the Big Wave surfing crew, that elite group of athletes that live to challenge the ocean's fury. This is a collection of short stories but it does a great job of covering the total history of Big Wave surfing, particularly paying attention to the heroes of the 50s and 60s the water skills necessary to challenge large waves. With complete coverage and analysis of all big wave sites and legends, I can't imagine what it left unturned.

This exciting sport has elevated itself recently with "ski in" surfing and these stories do a great job of covering the controversy of this sport's growth and it's trailblazer, Laird Hamilton.

I strongly recommend this book if you like surfing or are enthralled by the culture of these people who devote their lives to the ocean.


Firsthand accounts...   June 30, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

...of Big Wave surfing - many of the stories are haunting and memorable. It was hard putting the book down once I started reading. I actually found it more interesting and insightful than watching film of surfers going over the edge - you actually get into their excitement, awe, and fear of what they've gotten themselves into - not only when they've caught the waves, but gut-wrenching accounts of what they were thinking and feeling when driven under (or saw their friends driven under) by these monsters.

This is as close as you're going to get, short of paddling out yourself! BTW, I just finished reading "Caught Inside" before "The Big Drop" and reading these stories made reading CI seem like a waste of time.

You won't regret reading this one - highly recommended!!!


This book Rips   June 21, 2000
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I am a grom, at the age of 17 right now, and I rarely read a book cover to cover.I've always been interested in big wave surfing, but never the old timer stuff. This book has revealed the truth about riding big waves in and interesting perspective to the new generation such as myself, and I will never forget some of the stories in here. I reccomend that if you're a surfer, and are even remotely interested in attempting to tackle large surf, that you pick up this book. It will give you second thoughts about venturing out at places like Mavericks, Waimaii Bay, and Todos Santos.