Surfboard: Your board is your best friend; it will take you out to the waves and bring you back riding them in. You express yourself through how you ride your board. Making sure that you pick the right board is essential, when you learn how to surf.

Waikiki is the ultimate beginners surf spot. The waves are slow, rolling and very forgiving. San Onofre in California is also a great beginners wave and is very popular with longboarders. The key take away from this is really quite simple… for your first day you need a wave that has a slower, weaker break with enough whitewater to allow you the time to get to your feet and stand up. Powerful, thick hollow surf is not where you want to be. It will be impossible for you to have fun and get to your feet. These mellower breaks are everywhere… if you don’t know where then ask a local surf shop for some guidance.

Lightly sand My Source the area you need to repair. Now if your ding isn’t big, go easy here because you really don’t need to use more than is necessary to fill the hole.

Professional surfers most often recommended a shorter lighter board for advanced tricks. I then purchased a 4’2 ultra-lite fiberglass board from Liquid Force. This board certainly spun much easier but I found that it took a lot more work to stay in the sweet spot and was actually less fun to ride when I wasn’t trying to spin it, so I returned it to the pro-shop and resumed use of the 5.0. Since then I tried another shorter board only to return to the 5.0 again. There is also a 5’6 version of this board which is great for learning and cruising but it’s length makes it far less than ideal for tricks.

Do not show up with a big crowd of people to the local hot spot. The locals will not be happy with you, and you will most likely get a negative vibe at the least.

Choose the right beach. If you’re a beginner, don’t let the adrenaline get to you soon. Start with the smaller waves and work your way up. learn to surf cautiously, which will eventually make you a pro. Always choose a beach that has lifeguards. Most beaches have an area marked especially for surfers, be sure to stay in the designated area.

Can a wetsuit be used in your race? Check your specific race information. Some open water swim races do not allow them, some may use separate categories for those who wear suits and those who don’t (wetsuit wearers may be ineligible for prizes). Triathlons generally allow wetsuits at water temperatures of 78 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

A collision with other surfers is a common problem. Be careful of that while you’re out surfing. Always be aware of other surfers, weather changes, water conditions, etc.