Review
WL Rating
In the wake of Hobie Alter’s recent passing, it seemed appropriate to finally review this amazing biography. Paul Homes‘ book on Hobie is the most comprehensive and accurate biography I’ve encountered in the surf genre. After reading so many books over the years, a reviewer begins to notice the reused photos and retold stories, particularly among the early pioneers in the 50’s and 60’s. What separates this book is the fresh material. While there are a few revisited anecdotes, just about everything in the book will be new to the reader (unless of course you actually lived through it all). Holmes covers Hobie’s early days learning to surf, then moves into board building, and ultimately empire building. As you read the book, you start to appreciate Hobie’s brilliance and calculating nature. This was not your usual guy from the 50’s just trying to make a living so he could surf. This was a guy with the talent, intellect, and drive to do more than that. Hobie truly was a renaissance man. I’m just glad he turned his intense focal lens on the surfing world. This is as Essential a book as you’ll find in the surf genre. (May 2014)
Hobie - Paul Holmes
