Edwin Salem is one of the greatest explorers in the history of surfing, and the fact that his name is not so well known is because he chose his adventures to be lived and not to be shown.

He avoided that "gesture" so typical of today: Going to a concert to film it and not to enjoy it, going on a trip to show off and not to enjoy, seeking approval or participating in a race of "coolness" in which everyone loses, in which everyone is a kook.

Unlike the TikTok impulse of social media, this book allows us to value an experience far beyond a reel or a “smoke-selling” post.

Edwin is Captain Ahab, obsessed, in this case, with waves. But he is not fictional and what he seeks are waves in the most remote places in the world.

Obsessed to the point of researching and begging for two years for someone to dare take him surfing in Antarctica, where no one had ever surfed before.

Malvinas, Patagonia, Alaska and Maverick's are part of this book, which is relevant not only to our surfing but also to the history of humanity.

An Argentine's encounter with the Malvinas and the wounds that are still open, its landmines and also its barrels, the purity of Patagonia and its perfect right-handers, the hunger of Alaskan bears when the heat sets in and they stop hibernating, and the role that that giant wave in northern California had for the sport that is not a sport.

Edwin Salem is in Uruguay and next Thursday he will present his book, La huella del surfer, in La Isla de Arocena. On Saturday 12th he will do it in La Isla de La Barra.

His five best adventures, or at least the five he considered should be published, are in this book.

An adventure worth reading.

The book can be purchased at all La Isla locations, Bajamar Surf Shop, Flesh Surf Shop, Punto Límite Café and by calling 099455599.