Surfing and Windsurfing

by J. Poolos

Overview

One of the most popular and exciting water sports in the world, surfing has a rich history dating back to at least the eighteenth century. The International Surfing Association estimates there are more than twenty-three million surfers worldwide. Windsurfing's popularity peaked in 1984, but by the mid-1990s, it began a rapid decline. Today, however, the sport is again gaining momentum, and younger generations are learning what a fun and exciting sport it is. Readers will learn the history of both sports, the skills and equipment needed to participate in them, and how to surf and windsurf safely.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781499435757
Publisher:	Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated, The
Publication date:	07/30/2015
Series:	Sports to the Extreme Series
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Chapter 1 The Histories of Surfing and Windsurfing 6

Chapter 2 Surfing and Windsurfing Today 15

Chapter 3 Surfing and Windsurfing Equipment 24

Chapter 4 Getting started safely 32

Glossary 40

For More Information 41

For Further Reading 44

Bibliography 45

Index 46

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2015
Gr 5–8—These overviews offer action shots and interesting facts, including a look at each sport's history. Readers will discover that surfing is tied to ancient Polynesian and Hawaiian cultures and that kiteboarding's origins date to kites in ancient China. Skydiving introduces innovator Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick, whose daring feats in the 1920s helped convince the U.S. military to use parachutes. A sidebar in Extreme Biking notes the contributions of a unit of African American Buffalo Soldiers, who in the 1890s demonstrated possible uses of military bicycles through long-distance treks, including one totaling 1,900 miles. Motorsports notes that modified race karts open this sport to wheelchair-bound participants. Straightforward prose is employed in most of the offerings, though wordy technical explanations in Kiteboarding and dense prose in Parkour make these two titles marginal purchases. VERDICT With the exceptions of Kiteboarding and Parkour, solid options.

School Library Journal