Books by Tim Baker

In 100 years, surfing in Australia has morphed from exotic Pacific Island curio to regimented training for life savers, from counter culture revolution to respectable mainstream sport. Along the way, it has shaped our coastal migrations, spawned vast business empires and design i...nnovations, produced sports stars and spectacular casualties in equal measure, helped the beach overtake the bush as our national, natural habitat of choice. No other sport has been through such profound cultural shifts or had such far-reaching influence on our national identity. Australia's Century of Surf marks the centenary of the great Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku's historic visit to Australia in 1914. Duke was not the first to ride a surfboard in Australia, just one of the historical misnomers uncovered in this comprehensive and insightful text. But Duke's historic surfboard riding displays in the summer of 1914/15 set in motion a great wave of oceanic obsession that continues to this day. The story of Australian surfing is largely one of schisms - between freedom seeking beach-goers and censorial puritans, between the quasi-militaristic regiments and volunteerism of surf life savers and the selfish pleasure-seeking pursuits of board riders, the generational and attitudinal gulf between longboarders and shortboarders, professionals and so-called soul surfers, territorial tensions between locals and tourists. Many of our most dramatic cultural conflicts have been played out on the nation's beaches - from the pitched battles between rockers and surfers in the '60s, to the teen gender politics of Puberty Blues and the racial clashes of the Cronulla riots.
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The Rip Curl Story is the remarkable tale of two young surfers who pursued an audacious dream to make a living in pursuit of the ultimate ride. The brand they built, Rip Curl, not only satisfied their own surf- and wanderlust, but also inspired countless others, both fuelling and... riding the wave of the global youth revolution of the late '60s.Rip Curl's mantra became 'the Search' - the chasing of new waves on distant shores - as they embraced new thrills such as skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing and aimed always to make better equipment to elevate the experience. Along the way, they supported the careers of many of the world's great surfers- from Midget Farrelly and Nat Young to Michael Peterson, Tom Curren to Damien Hardman, Pam Burridge to Stephanie Gilmore, and of course Tyler Wright and the legendary Mick Fanning.From the late-'60s era of peace, drugs and country soul to the birth of professionalism in the '70s; from the decadence and excess of the '80s to the new nomadic free-surfing trail of the '90s, and the bold new frontiers of surfing in the 2000s - wave pools, webcasts, Olympic acceptance - The Rip Curl Story explores both the evolution of a world-leading surf brand and an entire social revolution.Bestselling surf writer Tim Baker tells this implausible story in an irresistible series of ripping yarns, offering rich life lessons, a maverick business primer and a wild ride of adventure, good times and outlandish ambitions spectacularly realised. The Rip Curl Story will make you want to surf more, travel further, follow through on that great business idea and pursue your own Search.
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A collection of surf stories from writers who have shaped the face of Australian surf journalism. This book provides a window into the lifestyle and attitude that is common to all in the surfing world.

This book offers managers and professionals a new, research-based employment model that will alter the way employees and employers think about their working relationship, aligning the changing needs and interests of individuals and organisations to produce a sustainable, producti...ve and profitable workplace.
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An inspirational tale of overcoming the odds to become world champ Mick Fanning might only be 28 but he already knows how a lot of things feel that most of us never will. How does it feel to lose a brother? Win a world title? Rip your hamstring muscle clean off the bone? Weave th...rough a zippering Superbank barrel for 20 or 30 seconds or paddle over the ledge at places like Pipeline and Teahupo? Have scoliosis so bad you can't get off the floor? Address the NSW state of origin team before a match, bowl to Matty Hayden and have Dave Warner belt you for consecutive sixes? Walk into the bar of a Brasilian hotel dressed only in a bikini to make your mates laugh, only to find your mates have left, and there is only a puzzled bartender staring blankly at you? You'll notice that not all these experiences fall neatly on one side of the ledger of good or bad. Mick's journey so far has definitely been a mixed bag, but it is the extremes of that journey that make him so interesting, and his readiness to learn from each experience and use it as fuel to drive him on that might provide lessons for the rest of us. Mick's only young but he already exudes a quiet wisdom beyond his years, and now he's ready to share it with anyone wanting to further their surfing, whether competitively or for sheer pleasure. Mick tells his life story candidly - in turns funny, sensitive, thoughtful, self-depricating - while providing intimate insights into the personal lessons gained along the way - with practical tips on surfing technique, fitness, nutrition, board design, travel, competitive strategies and mental clarity. Mick has overcome personal tragedy and career-threatening injury on his way to claiming the 2007 world surfing title. Universally acknowledged as the most focussed and driven competitive surfer of his era, Mick's approach to surfing, sports psychology, life and relationships, makes fascinating reading. The essential principles of perseverance, hard work, and overcoming obstacles in
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