The Learn To Surf Locality Guides

Introducing Learn to Surf, a new series of fun, fresh and informative locality guides centred around the pastime we can’t get enough of – surfing. From Bondi in New South Wales to Bells Beach in Victoria and Snapper’s Rocks in Queensland, Australia is bursting to share its local surfing secrets with the world – and we’d love you to be part of it.

The Learn to Surf guides are each created by a team of local surfers and businesspeople as practical and informative books offering simple tips and principles to help any newcomer to the area – or the sport – to help them find their feet, literally. But with stimulating business in mind, each title will also include information on the area, such as maps, information on hot spots and annual events, as well as a series of stylish advertisements from local businesses and organisations, designed in the fun, youthful Learn to Surf way.

The guides

It will be a tool for surfing beginners, a gift for friends and a souvenir for visitors, designed to enrich people’s experience in each area, helping them to not only pick up the skills of surfing, but also to help them better understand the location they find themselves in. It is also the hope of Learn to Surf  that we create a beautiful book that people far and wide will want as a keepsake, a lifelong memory of their time in the surf.

The Learn to Surf books will boast a full-colour design across 160 pages, each with a paperback cover with cover flaps. Initial titles within the series include Bondi, Manly and Byron Bay.

Books will be distributed nationally through a range of traditional and non-traditional avenues. It will be available in all businesses of each location (if someone walks into a surf shop, they’ll learn about your restaurant, club or service), but will be encouraged for distribution in bookstores nationally, newsagents, community clubs and groups, Australia Post outlets, independent surf stores and surf store chains.

Passionate about keeping it local

Learn to Surf books are local books, created by local people, photographing local surfers, using local products. While each book will share written content, they will all have their individual flavours to represent each location, including on-location shots, and directed by a local surfer. While we are serious players in the publishing world, it is our desire to make every book in the Learn to Surf  series a truly grassroots product that will promote each location with authenticity and integrity. For the first three titles in the series, Bondi and Byron Bay will be directed by Lisa Messenger who lives in Bondi (and is a recent surf convert) but who also spends a third of her time in Byron Bay with family and friends. Manly will be directed by Emma Cooney, who has spent her entire life soaking up the sun and surf of Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

The future of Learn to Surf

Going global: While Bondi, Manly and Byron Bay are the first three books in the series, it is anticipated Learn to Surf will be extended to surfing spots around Australia, including specialised books such as Learn to Surf Grommets and Learn to Surf for Seniors, before an international roll-out to key surfing spots across the globe.

Find out about Messenger Publishing and the Learn To Surf team, click here.