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Riding the Magic Carpet: A Surfer's Odyssey to Find the Perfect Wave
 
 
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Riding the Magic Carpet: A Surfer's Odyssey to Find the Perfect Wave (Paperback)

by Tom Anderson (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
Price: £6.29 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

Riding the Magic Carpet: A Surfer's Odyssey to Find the Perfect Wave + The Endless Summer [DVD] [1964] + Big Wednesday [1978] [DVD]
Price For All Three: £15.05

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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Summersdale Publishers (5 Jun 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1840245026
  • ISBN-13: 978-1840245028
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 8,494 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #1 in  Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Water Sports > Surfing, Windsurfing & Water Skiing

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Product Description

Wales1000things.com, April 2007
Tom Anderson explored the planet looking for the elusive perfect wave.

Simon Tucker, four times British Surfing Champion
captures the real thrill of surf travel

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Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Riding the Magic Carpet: A Surfer's Odyssey to Find the Perfect Wave
70% buy the item featured on this page:
Riding the Magic Carpet: A Surfer's Odyssey to Find the Perfect Wave 4.8 out of 5 stars (14)
£6.29
Billabong Odyssey [DVD]
9% buy
Billabong Odyssey [DVD] 4.1 out of 5 stars (7)
£4.98
Big Wednesday [1978] [DVD]
8% buy
Big Wednesday [1978] [DVD] 4.5 out of 5 stars (15)
£2.98
The Endless Summer [DVD] [1964]
7% buy
The Endless Summer [DVD] [1964] 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£5.78
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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (11)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome read - whether you surf or not !!!, 12 Jun 2006
Riding the Magic Carpet tells Tom's story of growing up as a Welsh surfer with a dream to go and be talented enough to surf at Jeffrey's Bay in South Africa. First he travels to various other surfing destinations at each step growing as a surfer and as a man. The writing is fluent, honest, humorous and surprisingly intelligent, offering fascinating glimpses into both the surfing potential and condition of the countries he visits. From the first page the author pulls you into his journey making Riding the Magic Carpet a very hard book to put down. Not only a book for surfers by any means. This is a tale of obsession (you can see where the Fever Pitch link comes from), and living life beyond the constraints of the conventional 9-5 lifestyle.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Top surf writing., 24 Nov 2006
I had the slightly surreal experience of reading this deep in an African jungle while on a surf trip with 'Ed', one of the characters in the book. Very peculiar sensation to read a book describing, accurately, the chap sitting next to you.

Surf travel is one of the few ways left where you can be a genuine explorer in this connected world, looking for places and waves never ridden, and Tom has captured the feel of always wondering if there is an undiscovered Kirra just around the next point, and the reality of hardcore surf travel - the hours of slogging away in a menial job just to get money for your next fix, poring over nautical maps and bathymetric charts trying to work out where might be the next undiscovered world-class wave.

There are very few genuine surf books out there by real surfers - most are by people imagining what it might be like and getting it just wrong enough to jar. This is spot on, very readable, and very enjoyable, and maybe answers the question surf travellers are always asked..'Why on earth do you want to go THERE?'

Buy it!
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A book for the surfer and nonsurfer alike., 21 Jun 2006
By Ms. A. M. Gallagher (Wales) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
A very well written book full of fantastic charecters. Despite being a book about surf travel there is plenty for the nonsurfer for it is as much about the adventure of travel as it is the surf.
An enjoyable and inspirational read, lock up your credit card befor reading or you'll find your self on the next flight out of here.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed
I enjoyed this book and it inspired me to travel the world and learn to surf properly! But felt it lacked a little something, maybe for people who surf alot more than I do... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Road Trip Charlie

5.0 out of 5 stars You can nearly smell the sea!
Well I bought this as a present for a surfer wannabe and forgot to give it to him before he left so I ended up reading it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by V Yanzi

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading
One of the best books I have ever read. The knowledge of the author about surfing was absorbing to read (even as a non-surfer) and I felt I learned a lot without having to try... Read more
Published 1 month ago by jkennedy

4.0 out of 5 stars A really good, unpretentious surfing read
This is a great little surfing themed book, no question. The author comes across as an immensely likeable everyday guy though he was clearly an above average surfer right from... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. A. H. Culpin

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anybody even remotely interested in surf travel!
Many travellers can say they've seen the Taj Mahal, been on Safari in Kenya or done some of the Inca Trail. Read more
Published 6 months ago by M Tyers

5.0 out of 5 stars Pack your bags and board!
A very entertaining read. The book gives a great insight into travelling and reaching personal goals whether you're a surfer or not.
Published 19 months ago by Paulo Bazzerio

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational stuff
I have read a few surfin yarns in my time, and this one really stands out from the rest. It perfectly captures the obsessive devotion to surfing which many of us suffer from, the... Read more
Published 22 months ago by D. Yarrow

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific read, 100% recommended
This book is killer! It's been said already in most reviews here, but it really does make you want to pack your boards and go an experience something new. Read more
Published on 14 May 2007 by M. Evans

5.0 out of 5 stars a fantastic read
This is a book i just couldnt put down.. As a surfer myself and having read countless of surf stories by other writers in surf magaines and books, I have to applaud Tom's style... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2007 by Mr. R. Forbes-simpson

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, surf writing as good as it gets!!
I loved this book. First it was writen by a Welsh guy so (if your British) you already feel more in touch. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2007 by Peter Dalby

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