How to start Surfing

Well like most sports surfing doesn't come without an initial expense! You will need (recommended) a surfboard, rash vest, long sleeve and leg wetsuit, leesh, wax and gloves and boots if you want that extra warmth.

You can't expect to be good at a surfing from the get go, like any sport. So you won't want to be jumping in at the deep end without a deathwish. Check the surf reports on the television before you go out to go for a surf, 1-2 foot would do a beginner down to the ground, anything much more than that and you will probably start getting into trouble.

You might want to try a local surf school with a few lessons before you try and go out on your own, but if thats not your style take a look at the tips below for some pointers:

• Learn when its good to throw, and when its good to hold onto your board. If you are paddeling out keep hold of your board, however if your about to get totally munched it would be a good idea to drop it before it hits you across the head!
• Comfortability factor, make sure you are comfortable with the depth and the size of the waves you are having to deal with. Remember the golden rule, surfing should always be fun!
• Rip Tides, make sure you understand where the rip tides are at your beach and try to stick away from them. If you do happen to get caught in a rip tide the swim across the rip NOT toward it to get out of it.
• Ensure you hold your board properly, if a large wave catches the board right it can hit you in the face quite easily, remember mother nature is FAR stronger than any man!
• Be aware, keep an eye on surfers around you and make sure you are not in any of their paths, if one of them bails and happens to be heading your direction it could be fairly painful!
• While waiting to catch a wave, hold your board with the nose facing the beach,just before the wave is behind you push the board forward and lie flat with your head facing the nose, but not too close to it (else you'll go face first into the water, not fun!). Then start paddeling, with any luck at all you should of caught the wave!

An ideal beginners board varies from person to person, however generally speaking the larger the board the easier it will be to catch a wave as there is more surface area for the board to catch the wave with, however something like a 7ft 4in board should be fine for a beginner. And after a while you should be fit to start using a much smaller (and much more fun) board.