Australians are surrounded by beaches. But this enclosure is more than a geographical fact for the inhabitants of an island continent; the beach is an integral part of the cultural envelope. This work analyzes the history of the beach as an integral aspect of Australian culture.

Surfing has evolved from a relatively obscure pastime to one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Today, there are millions of surfers across the globe. "The Art of Surfing" was the first book of its kind to avail participants, both beginner and advanced, with the same training and coaching principles of the more established and traditional sports. It has empowered both recreational and competitive surfers to prepare for and catch the best waves. This thoroughly revised and updated new edition--with 160 color photos--covers boards and equipment, the anatomy of waves, body position and stance, and techniques for everything from paddling to walking the nose. Special chapters on competition and training, biomechanics, and the psychology of surfing round out this first-of-its-kind textbook for the developing surfer. Inside you'll find information on:
- The basics of boards and other gear, the anatomy of waves, and a review of basic maneuvers
- Advanced techniques for everything, from paddling to turning to walking the nose
- Basic and advanced exercises for improving flexibility, balance, and stability
- Strength-training and power-building routines
- Cardiovascular endurance workouts, as well as cross-training options
- Tips on performance nutrition, and the latest advances in sports psychology
A chapter on surf contests rounds out this coaching and training manual. Let "The Art of Surfing" help you develop a game plan to boost your physical, technical, and mental performance--and prepare to catch the next wave.

At a time when surfing is more popular than ever, it's fitting to look back at the years that brought the sport into the mainstream. Developed by Hawaiian Islanders over five centuries ago, surfing began to peak on the mainland in the 1950s-becoming not just a sport, but a way of life, admired and exported across the globe. One of the key image-makers from that period is LeRoy Grannis, a surfer since 1931, who began photographing the longboard era of the early 1960s in both California and Hawaii. This edition brings back Grannis's hair-raising, sold-out Collector's Edition, curated from the photographer's personal archives, to showcase his most vibrant work in a compact and affordable format-from the bliss of catching the perfect wave at San Onofre to dramatic wipeouts at Oahu's famed North Shore. An innovator in the field, Grannis suction-cupped a waterproof box to his board, enabling him to change film in the water and stay closer to the action than any other photographer of the time. He also covered the emerging surf lifestyle, from "surfer stomps" and hordes of fans at surf contests to board-laden woody station wagons along the Pacific Coast Highway. It is in these iconic images that a sport still in its adolescence embodied the free-spirited nature of an era-a time before shortboards and celebrity endorsements, when surfing was at its bronzed best.

Harvard University coach and acclaimed rowing author, Dan Boyne, tells a humorous story of his first year of freshman crew, including a sub plot of personal redemption against an insufferable football player who has bullied him throughout high school. After being accepted at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, Boyne decides to take up rowing, the only sport that takes place far off campus, on the adventurous waters of The Connecticut River. There, he quickly experiences the unique rigors, rewards, and colorful personalities of the sport, not knowing that his nemesis has decided to try out for crew, at rival school Coast Guard Academy. As racing season approaches, Boyne becomes part of an exceptional freshman lightweight boat, with high hopes to win the National Championships in Philadelphia that year, but his final fears are realized when he discovers that his old high school archenemy is also doing well, and rowing in the very same position as he is-the seven seat.

Who says you have to travel far from home to go on a great hike, paddle, or bike ride? Best Outdoor Adventures Asheville details forty of the best hikes, paddles, and bike routes within an hour's drive of the Land of the Sky (along with extra information on climbing and camping adventures), perfect for the urban dweller and suburbanite who may be hard-pressed to find great outdoor activities close to home.

*WINNER OF THE NAUTILUS BOOK AWARDS* Catering towards those who have often been excluded from the traditional yoga mat, this practical guide provides yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and rehab professionals with the skills needed to safely and effectively deliver accessible water yoga sessions. Poses, breathing techniques, floating meditation, safety, and yoga philosophy are all discussed in depth to convey how aqua yoga can improve health, wellbeing, and mind/body discipline Water Yoga is especially suitable for those with conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, joint replacements, and for those who are pregnant. The book combines water science with yoga systems to teach the eight limbs of water yoga and includes black and white photographs to clearly demonstrate poses in the water. It also includes helpful information about teaching skills specific to pool settings.