subject: Surfing 101 The Basics Of Surfing [print this page] Many people are wondering how to surfMany people are wondering how to surf. Some already have the gear as there is not much needed, but finding a guide is not all that easy and for most, the though of paying for lessons is out of the question.
You want to start off by arriving at the beach, sitting down along the shore and watching the others out at the break. Analyze what they are doing so that when you get out there, you too can begin surfing.
Make sure that you never go out without a partner as it is safer and also gives you someone to talk to on the long paddle out. Heading out to the break is not all that hard, it just takes some time. When you reach it, do not start surfing right away, but do what everyone else is doing; which is stretch out the body and limber up your limbs.
Your board should already have a leash so make sure it is on before you ever think about going after a wave. This is important because you could lose the board or end up leaving it in the break for someone else to be injured on should you fall off.
You need to know which waves to paddle for and which ones to ignore. This may take some time, but pay attention to both the waves and the responses of the other surfers. You also need to pay attention to the wave to determine how fast it is moving and when you need to rise to your feet. Unfortunately, there is no rule to this, and it is only something which you can learn through experience and personal preference.
When you are first learning how to surf, go to a mellow beach instead of hanging out with the die hards. This will get you started on smaller waves which are a lot easier for the beginner. When paddling after a wave, you want to keep up with it, but not ahead of it. In standing up though, make sure you go straight for the feet and not the knees. When you climb to the knees, this is known as knee boarding and surfing and many people consider it to be an incurable disease once you begin doing it.
Once on your feet pay attention to the wave. You want to stay at the point right where it is breaking. You will need to zig-zag back and forth to stay at this point; which is one of the biggest steps any beginner will learn. The ability to move back and forth across the wave is an important first step. Sure you can ride the wave all the way in straight, but it is when you can maneuver that you will be able to do some really fun stuff.
Remember that the person who is the closest to the breaking point of the wave owns it so let them have the right of way. Furthermore, the first person paddling in to lower waves own it. In really crowded conditions though, these rules may be ignored in most cases. However, never steal a wave that someone is already riding. While you are paddling out to the break, always approach a wave behind the person riding it or you might end up with troubles.
