"A voodoo wave." "The Everest of the ocean." What surfer in his right mind would choose to surf Maverick's with its 50-degree murky water, 60-foot faces, punishing rock bottom, and shifting Central California currents over riding the warm, blue, big waves of Hawaii? But Maverick's presents a surfing challenge like no other. Each winter, starting in October, an elite corps from around the world journey to Maverick's to test themselves on its cold, forbidding wavesbecause challenge, above all else, motivates the big-wave surfer. With heart-stopping photography and an exceptional, driving text, Maverick's tracks the 1/2ve most dangerous days in the break's history, including its first casualty: big-wave celebrity Mark Foo, who died on the morning of his very first visit. Surf journalist Matt Warshaw weaves into this vivid record the complete and unconventional history of big-wave surfing, from its ancient Hawaiian origins through to the modern drama of tow-in surfers. Like Into Thin Air, Maverick's promises to transcend its core audience, appealing to the huge armchair market that is enthralled by the sporting life lived at the extreme of danger.

Reader Reviews

Jessica Carr

(5/5)

Jan 01, 2022

Anyone looking for the ultimate book on big waves, look no further. The combination of breathtaking photography, beautifully reproduced, and thorough reporting on the history of big waves can't be beat. The photo of Flea on the cover has got to be the scariest surf photo ever.

Robert

(4/5)

Dec 21, 2009

Like many books - it was a 7 out of 10, not 8. But no 3.5 choice, so I give the benefit as it is cool...

Susan

(3/5)

Sep 29, 2015

good, sometimes wordy, organization is only fair

Dimas

Nov 20, 2012

Rock

(1/5)

Nov 03, 2010

Markus

Sep 28, 2021

Bethany Harms

Nov 08, 2016

John

Mar 18, 2021

Courtney Perry

Mar 28, 2020

Michael McGee

May 15, 2014

katarzyna bukowska

Mar 20, 2022

Jared Brzenski

Aug 16, 2011

M Forward

Mar 03, 2014

Aaron Richardet

Jul 12, 2015

Eve Orio

Jan 01, 2018

Florence

Jan 26, 2011

Koja

Nov 03, 2011

Matt Paz

Jan 27, 2010

Joni Taylor

Oct 03, 2020

Brian

Apr 08, 2008

Pam Laine

Oct 08, 2018

Hasan

Sep 19, 2008

Warrick

Feb 05, 2008

Carolyn Cooper

Mar 17, 2014

Samantha

Nov 20, 2011

Erick

May 26, 2014

Keith Wilson

Jul 24, 2019

rj Clayton

Jul 13, 2015

Annie

Apr 03, 2008

Pictures and history is rad.

Sarah Blinkhorne

Sep 25, 2018

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Maverick's: The Story of Big-Wave Surfing

Maverick's: The Story of Big-Wave Surfing

Maverick's: The Story of Big-Wave Surfing

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