Travel Writing
Synopsis
The right-hand point at Jeffreys Bay is one of the surfing world’s most exciting finds, and from the age of twelve it had been my life’s purpose to surf there. J-Bay, South Africa – the fantasy, the almost mythical waves every surfer dreams of riding once in their lifetime. But Tom wouldn’t go until he was ready. He would seek out surf-spots from the virgin reef-breaks of the Outer Orkneys to the temple point-breaks of Indonesia, from the beautiful beaches of France to the wilds of Sri Lanka, on his quest to ride the waves of his dreams. Riding the Magic Carpet will do for surfing what Fever Pitch did for football. Get on the road. Get in the water. Get stoked.
Reviews
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Surfer Tom Anderson's global odyssey to find the perfect wave.
Tom Anderson shares with the reader his enthusiasm since childhood for surfing, and the succession of trips and building experience that finally lead to his ultimate lifetime goal of being...
Alex Wade, Surf Nation, The Times
Riding the Magic Carpet is the author’s account of an odyssey that takes him far from his home surf of Porthcawl’s Rest Bay, in Wales. Summer trips as a teenager...
Elliot Dudley, European Longboard Champion
Of all the surf books available today, Riding the Magic Carpet is clearly head and shoulders above the rest - a fantastic read!
Kate Dendle, surfer, GB Women's Team
Both adventurous and exciting... makes you dream about going on the ultimate surf safari.
Simon Tucker, four times British Surfing Champion
Captures the real thrill of surf travel.
Awesome. It's not often that a book can get you as amped to travel as a good surf movie, but this one does!
Shawn (Barney) Barron, Pro Surfer
Best book I ever read
If you've spent a lot of time travelling to surf this book will bring back memories of a great many places - the experiences are real and the telling down...
Described as a surfer's odyssey to find the perfect wave, this book is a strange thing for books about surfing in that's it's actually a good read. It's full of...
There is a hidden world out there: a place of rip-curls and breaks, dreamy-eyed drifters, strange customs, odd locals and an endless quest for adrenaline. Attracted to this world is...
‘Perfect surf may have as much to do with the circumstances of your session as it does the waves you’re riding.’ Riding the Magic Carpet‘Riding the Magic Carpet’ is a...
A truly wonderful read. Anderson has pulled off with style what so many before him have failed to do. His wonderful observations add humour and his uncanny ability to take...
Bridging the gap between guidebooks and surf mag travel articles, this is a full-length account of one surfer's ascendance from beginner to expert surfer. Welsh surfer Tom's goal in life...
Books on surfing tend to take one of two forms. Either they are guidebooks, suitably illustrated with jaw-dropping line-up shots, or they are photo-histories, suitably illustrated with jaw dropping line-up,...
This autobiographical story tells the tale of a grom's Curren-inspired vow to one day surf the dreamy pointbreak waves of J-bay and the determined journeying he undertakes to be fully...
Tom Anderson, a surfer form Porthcawl, south Wales, explored the planet looking for the elusive perfect wave. “Part of the lure, besides the pleasures of actually riding a wave, was...
Planet - The Welsh Internationalist
Think of Arthur’s knights sun-tanned and hung-over, leaving a trail of boarding passes and broken surfboards in their wake – but every bit as serious in search of their shapeshifting,...
Cowbridge Gem, 22nd October 2009
'a mixture of two things – good travel writing and a successful attempt to explain the fascination surfing exerts on its disciples.'
Leek, Glamorgan Student Newspaper
His book is in the form of travel writing but with an original angle; the story of him surfing whilst travelling to all these places. He describes in great detail...
This book is akin to the epic adventure stories. In these, the traditional hero hears the call to adventure and in answering it embarks upon a journey which ultimately rewards...
If you surf, Riding the Magic Carpet will surely make you want to pack your boardbag and hit the road in search of the perfect wave. If you don't surf,...
Robert Minhinnick, Shortlisted for Welsh Book of the Year
An excellent first book that will surely appeal to more than the surf crowd. [Anderson] has a great eye for arresting detail and an ever-tuned ear for interesting remarks.
Surfer Tom rides the wave of literary success.
Anderson will do for surfing what Hornby did for football.
‘One of the best surf reads around.’
Author Info.
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