There is something magical about surfing that no other sport can touch. I know this might sound silly, but even though you don't know it now.. surfing might just change your life. Before we get into the technical part of this guide, let me just offer a few great reasons why you should try surfing.

• Experiencing the natural beauty and power of the ocean is a humbling experience that you won't soon forget.
• Learning to be comfortable in the water and finally getting to ride a wave is an amazing experience that you will never forget.
• Surfing can get you in the best shape of your life.
• The search for waves will lead you to exotic locales that you would have never imagined travelling travel to.
• The peaceful feeling of floating out in the ocean while the colors of the setting sun reflect off the rolling waves.
• Burritos and a cold beer will never taste better than after a long surf session.
• And the BEST reason... It's FUN!!!

Before You Hit the Beach

I'm not going to lie to you. Surfing is harder than it looks. A lot harder. Don't expect to be ripping the first day out there. The good news is that you don't have to be good to have fun and everyone can learn to surf with a little practice. There are also a few things that you can do to make your introduction to surfing a lot easier.

1. Practice Swimming. A couple of laps around your local pool will help you get familiar with being in the water. Also, the motions that you make while swimming freestyle are virtually identical to the paddling motions that you make while surfing so it will help to get these muscles into shape. I do not recommend attempting surfing if you are not a competent swimmer since you need to be able to swim back to shore if you lose your board.
2. Learn Yoga. Never underestimate the importance of flexibility. Incorporating a short yoga routine into your daily schedule is a quick and easy way to improve your flexibility. The sun salutation is an excellent routine to start with as it only takes a few minutes to complete and it is pretty simple to learn. Performing the sun salutation before you head out into the water will loosen up your muscles helping you to avoid injury. All you need is a towel or a simple yoga mat. And what better place to do yoga than on the beach?
3. Find a Buddy to Learn With. Like all things, surfing is much more fun when you do it with friends. Although it is great having an experienced friend go out there and help you learn how to surf, it might be more fun learning with someone else who has never tried surfing before or is just starting out. You won't feel like such a beginner and won't get discouraged when you can't stand up and everyone else is making it look so easy. Your surf buddy will be there to cheer you on, support you, and look out for you.
4. Try Skateboarding or Snowboarding. The nice thing about board sports is that if you can do one, then learning another isn't that much of a stretch. Skateboarding and snowboarding are will help you become comfortable with the feeling of moving sideways while standing on a board and will help to improve your balance. Although not completely identical, you should feel like you are in familiary territory once you start standing up on your surfboard.

What You Will Need to Get Started

1. A Surfboard - There are so many different types of boards, it can be confusing for a newcomer to the sport when they first enter a surf shop and see the many varieties available. The best type of board for a beginner is a longboard. Look for a board that is around 7-9 feet long. These boards are the most buoyant and will provide stability while you are learning to pop up. It is also much easier to paddle around and catch waves on longboards since they float so much better than a shorter board. Softtop boards made from foam are an excellent choice for beginners since they are cheaper and a little easier to learn on than a standard fiberglass board. I would recommend renting or borrowing a board to start with until you are positive that surfing is going to become a regular part of your life. Also, check out your local surf shops as well as ebay and craigslist for good deals on used boards. Look to spend around $200-300 on a decent board to start with.
2. Fins and a Leash. Fins are those plastic things jutting out of the bottom of your board. Make sure that your board has them or you won't get very far. They act like the rudders of a boat and help to stabilize your board and give you the ability to control your direction. Also make sure to pick up a leash. The leash attaches to your board to your ankle so that you won't lose it in the event that you fall off of your board. This is pretty essential because without a leash you will find yourself having to swim back to shore everytime you lose your board.
3. A Wetsuit. Depending on the time of year and where you live, you may need a wetsuit. I would definitely recommend learning how to surf during the summertime when the weather is optimal and you can be comfortable in swim trunks so that you can avoid making another major purchase. Also, learning how to surf will be easier when you don't have to brave the cold water. However, if you don't have a choice then consult your friendly neighborhood surf shop on a wetsuit that is right for you. Be sure to try it on and make sure that it is a good fit.
4. Wax. If you picked up a foam top surfboard, then don't worry about the wax. If you have a hard top surfboard, then you will need some wax in order to provide some traction when the board is in the water. A board without wax is as slippery as soap. Wax is available at any surf shop. Apply it liberally to the top of your surboard before you enter the water by rubbing it over every inch using small circular motions. Wax on..
5. Surf Rack. If you have a small car, you may need to invest in a surf rack in order to transport your board over to the beach. There are cheap soft racks available for around $50 that will do the job.

So we're all geared up and ready to go! Grab your board and head down to your local beach. Don't know where to go? Again, your local surf shop can be instrumental in helping you decide where the best spot to start out is. The ideal place to learn is one where the waves roll in gently, there are no rocks, and it is not crowded. Use your best judgement and don't paddle out if you feel uncomfortable with the size of the waves or anything else.

On with the lessons!

Find Your Stance. The first thing that we need to do is determine your stance. Some feel more comfortable standing up with their left foot at the front of the board and others like standing with their right foot in front. Try both and see which one you like better. If you have difficulty deciding, stand straight with your feet shoulder-length apart. Have someone push you gently from behind. The first foot that you step forward with to stabilize yourself should be your leading foot.

Practice Popping Up.Popping up is the motion where surfers go from lying face down on their board to standing up. It may seem ridiculous to practice this movement without being in the water, but being comfortable popping up will make a huge difference when it comes to actually doing it while floating along on a moving wave. So plop yourself on the ground and imagine that you have catching a wave. You can even make some paddling motions if it helps.. then begin by pushing your upper body up like you are doing a pushup. As you lift your chest off the ground, give a little push with your feet and quickly bring your legs under you leading with your front foot. You want to end up with your body facing sideways and your weight centered. Bend your knees to help you get balanced. Good job! Practice this a few times to get the movement down so that you are ready to do it for real when you get in the water.

Paddling Out. Before you jump in the water and start paddling like a madman, take a moment to study the waves. Is there an area where the waves aren't breaking as often that looks like it would be easier to paddle out in? Is there a rocky area that you should take note of so you can avoid it? Make sure that you know what you are paddling into before you do so. Since this is your first day, we are going to take it easy. Wade out into the water and hop onto the board. Your feet can rest at the bottom of the board. Begin to paddle like you are doing the freestyle stroke. Close your fingers together and cup your hand slightly to help you pull more water your strokes, propelling you along faster. Keep your head up and looking straight and arch your back slightly. Plunge your arm as deep as you can into the water in order to pull more water and get more distance out of every paddle. For now, don't worry about getting past where the waves are breaking. Just paddle out far enough to where the waves that have already broken, also known as the whitewash, has enough power to start pushing you backwards.

Catching Your First Wave. Here we are. The moment of truth. Turn your board around back towards shore by sitting up on your board and moving your feet in small circles. Once you are facing the beach again, lie down and start paddling. Once you feel a wave begin to carry your board along, get ready to attempt a pop up. Place your hands flat on the board like you did when you were practicing on the beach. Avoid the natural tendency to grasp the sides of the boards since this will actually make the board less stable. Once you feel ready, pop up onto your feet. Try to land with both feet in the center of the board, shoulder-length apart. Keep your knees bent slightly for maximum balance. Did you make it? Whee!!! Ride the wave out until you feel your momentum begin to slow. Don't try to jump off the board even if it is shallow since there could be rocks, holes, or other dangers lurking below. Once the ride is over, try to lower yourself back down into a lying down position. Then paddle back out and catch another one! Don't worry if you are having trouble. Popping up while in motion will feel strange at first but you will get it with practice. The important thing is to have fun!

So you've mastered the art of riding whitewash, congrats! By now, you may have noticed that the other surfers at your local spot are sitting much further out and are not bothering to ride whitewash. They are catching the waves before they break and are riding along the face of the wave for as long as they can. This is what surfing is all about and this is what you are going to learn. Once you have become comfortable with popping up and riding straight on the whitewash, it's time to take the next step. Unfortunately, this is outside the scope of this guide. There are many topics to cover such as how to position yourself to catch a wave, proper etiquette for surfing in a crowd, and more advanced techniques for riding a wave. Luckily, there are many excellent guides out there available that delve deeper into these aspects of surfing. Good luck and may you enjoy many more days of beautiful waves.