THE WORLD STORMRIDER GUIDES [21.08.2009] Category: Surf guide

Key Features & Benefits:
    •  Deep insights on over 240 surf destinations around the globe
    •  Well written and documented information throughout each volume
    •  An awesome planning tool for any surfer heading out 'on the search'
    •  Learn about wave propagation, how to read swell maps, surf cultures and more

Possible Improvements:
    •  Make some of the information a mobile offering & maybe a pocket guide series
    •  A symbol 'key' for sections of the book that are missing
    •  Actual contact information on things like lodgings, food places etc rather than just a name
  
Bottom line:
    •  If there was an encyclopedia for surf this would be the start of it! With more information than your last high school gepgraphy project, The World Stormrider guides are the ultimate surf trip planning tool. They're also a great read for surfers of all levels where you can learning something new everyday.


mesurf Review:
Combined, the three volumes cover 240 dynamic surf zones from famous beaches right through to obscure and almost secret reefs. Every zone within the regions includes a detailed analysis of the actual surf spots, plus the low down on getting there, getting around, accommodation, food, culture, hazards, the local scene and more.

One great feature on offer, is you can download the issues online and you can purchase just a specific continent. A great alternative if you just want information on a particular continent before you head off on your trip.

Each of the volumes is broken into continental regions:
Europe, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, East Asia, Australia, Pacific Ocean Islands, North America, Central America & The Caribbean, South America.

Each continental region is then divided into 'zones'. In the volumes, each zone is given a 2 page spread outlining:
- Summary of what the zone offers (world class spots, break variety, uncrowded/crowded, and what to expect overall)
- An in depth overview of the zone including breaks what to expect and what's happening around the location.
- Travel information - Getting there, getting around, weather, nature and culture, hazards, handy hints, lodging & food
- More detailed maps pointing out the best breaks in the area
- Images from around the area to see what it's all about
- Surf stats - monthly breakdown so you know winds, swells, water temps etc
- Spot description (added in volume II + III) looks at the various spots within each zone showcasing max wave heights, ocean floor (reef, sand etc) and type of break (beachie left/right, point right handers etc)

Each volume has a specific 'theme' that runs throughout each book. I've broken the following review into the three separate volumes looking at the themed focus and giving you an insight into each of the books.


VOLUME I: Meteorology & Oceanography

Volume i has it's theme based around 'meteorology and oceanography'. Looking at the worlds different oceans, the creation of wind, how swell is produced, the formation of surf and the cause and effects of tides. While this might sound trivial to a lot of surfers I can guarantee there's something in here for surfers of all levels. The Low Pressure team have put in a lot of research and have done the hard yards by digging deep to bring you all the essential information that a surfer could ask for.

Each continental region gets a 2 page spread that looks at the meteorological and oceanographic conditions giving you crucial facts on when and where to go depending on the time of year. You also get a large map that showcases the various 'zones' within each continent to give you an indication of where you're heading in relation to the rest of the country. Information that's vital when traveling various parts of the world.


VOLUME II: The Ocean Environment

Volume II is produced with the same well put together style as Volume I. This book has a slight tweak in layout & design and each continent has a 'surf travel resources' section showcasing country stats along with things like surf schools, accommodation places and various other resources. I found this section was missing the key element of contact information, instead it only lists business names and offers a broad location.

Volume II has a focus around the 'Ocean Environment' and its opening chapter has 2 pages devoted to information that looks at - Pollution, Access, Erosion and Hazards. This section is great for those that want to get further in tune with the oceans and what's going on in and around them.

As discussed above the locations in Volume II are all different to that in Volume I and Volume III. Each volume contains 80 different zones making up 240 of the planet's premier surfing coastlines across the three volumes.


VOLUME III: Surf Culture

Volume III completes the trilogy and this time they take you off the beaten track, showcasing breaks where few have surfed before. Exploring 80 entirely new surf zones, volume III investigates some of the truly 'out there' surfing destinations on the fringes of the known surf world.

This volumes theme focuses on the 'Surf Culture' of each of the regions looking at where it began and where it's at today. Volume III also offers a page that outlines 'surf resources' similar to that of Volume II, but still missing contact details?

The information is delivered very well and gives you a clear indication of where the surf focus is within that region and a great way to get a taste of different surf cultures around the globe.


SUMMARY

QUALITY

The quality of all 3 Volumes are great with a lot of time and effort going into layout, design and content. Each area is very well written and contains a lot of valuable information that will help you enjoy your next surf trip even more.

USABILITY

The usability is pretty good, the main issue I had was there were no 'keys' for some sections to outline what the little symbols meant? You could kind of make them out, however it would be great to have a section dedicated to what each of the symbols actually represent. Other than that the book is very easy to use and understand.

COMPREHENSIVE

A very comprehensive book on a macro scale. As discussed above this goes hand in hand with the wavefinder series that looks at surf spots in finer detail. The information outlined in the Stormrider guides is up to date (as of 2009) and covers all the details you'd otherwise spend days and days searching for elsewhere.

PRICE

The price is fair for the resource and information you're purchasing. One thing to note is that they offer the option to purchase digital versions of specific continental regions and zones, allowing all budgets to be suited. This is great if you're after information aligned with one particular location.

OVERALL

Overall I really liked what The Stormrider guide offers. They're almost like the 'lonely planet' for surfers. I found these books are great for planning and learning about the different cultures, waves, breaks, winds & swells before heading on your trip. Once you're at your destination you may want to look into a more in depth surf resource such as a wavefinder.

The World Stormrider guide is very well written, well designed and a great book for all surfers. You'll learn something new every time you pick it up and you'll be inspired to get out there and explore the world of surf. An awesome book that is a great read for grommies and adults alike.



NAME: THE WORLD STORMRIDER GUIDES
STYLE: Surf Travel Guide
CATEGORY: GUIDES
RRP: $75 each or $179.50 for all three

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