Review
WL Rating
Since I was a kid growing up in Southern California, I’ve always been a fan of former surfing world champion Shaun Tomson. His face graced the covers and inside pages of all my favorite surfing magazines as a kid, but it had been nearly 20 years since I saw his name in print. Unfortunately, when I finally did see his name, it was tagged to a heart wrenching letter from Shaun and his wife mourning the loss of their son. As a parent myself, I felt a deep sense of grief for what Shaun and his wife must have endured. To his credit though, Shaun managed to paddle back into life and the results can be found is his wonderful book. While at times it borders dangerously close on being preachy, it’s obvious that Shaun has opened himself to the public and poured his heart into this book. Some lessons in the book resonate more than others, but that’s likely due more to my own personal issues and experiences rather than to any single lesson’s poignancy. Each lesson, if you’re open to it, forces you to think about how you go through life and how you act in the water. I really enjoyed the book, but my favorite passage by far was Shaun’s description of his horrific wipeout at Waimea Bay. That bit alone was both terrifying and exhilarating. Surfer’s Code is a book that I will return to annually for that little bit of guidance I need. It’s a very fast, easy read and well worth having in your library. (August 2008)
Surfer’s Code - Shaun Tomson
