Surfing 101: Get To Grips With The Basics
Learning to surf is much like learning almost any other skill. You will need the right equipment, some experienced instruction and lots of practice.
The first piece of equipment you will need is of course a surfboard. Many make the mistake of trying to learn on a board that is too short. While professional surfers might choose a short board for learning it is recommended that you choose a larger board.
I recommend that you select a board that is at least 9 feet long for learning. Choose a board that is both wide and thick for stability and buoyancy. Try to find a board that has a soft, foam covered deck which are best for learning.
Then you will need some suitable swimwear. Remember that you are going to be spending prolonged periods of time in the sea so, if it's cold where you are, you will want to be wearing a wetsuit. If its warm and sunny then you can get by with a cool pair of board shorts or a bikini will be OK.
Once you have the right gear its now time to get used to your board on dry land. The key move to master is called the 'pop-up'. This is where you quickly lift yourself into an upright position from being face down on the board.
Lay your board on the beach with the deck side upwards and lie down on the board with your head about one third of the board length from the front. This is the position you will adopt when paddling out through the waves. Be sure to apply enough sun protection to your back, or wear a t-shirt to protect your chest from getting a rash.
Grab the board on either side at about shoulder level then lift yourself up to a crouching position with your feet level with your hands. You should now be crouching on the board with your knees bent. You are now ready to stand upright.
Repeat this manouvre over and over again until you are totally confident on dry land. Paddle out to just beyond where the waves are breaking and turn around so that your board is pointing in the direction that the waves are moving. Begin to paddle toward the shore ahead of a wave then you should feel the wave lift and then push your board forward, then try your pop up move.
This will take a lot of practice, but by the end of your first day you should have mastered this crucial first step.