How to surf?

It’s one of the most frequent queries in the surfing community: “How do I learn to surf?” The short answer is through practice, practice, practice. But there are other ways to help you break through the resistance and become successful at surfing.

Know the surf report.

Know the surf report.

There’s no better way to decide whether you want to go surfing than by checking out the surf report. And there is no shortage of websites, apps and magazines that offer this information. But here are a few favorites:

Surfline.com and Surfline Mobile App (www.surfline.com) – This site is updated every 15 minutes with information on swell direction, size, period, wind speed/direction and water temp at more than 1,000 spots around the world. You can also use the mobile app to check surf conditions while you’re at the beach or on vacation.

AlohaSurfReport.com (http://alohasurfreport.com/) – This site features daily surf reports from around Hawaii and beyond with photos from some of the best photographers in the business.

Practice popping up on land.

The first step in learning how to pop up on land is to get comfortable with the movement. You can practice the movement in a swimming pool or lake, but you need to make sure that you are able to float properly. For this reason, practicing in a shallow area of the pool is better than practicing in deep water.

When you are ready, start by trying to push yourself up and off the side of the pool using your hands. This will build strength in your upper body and help prepare you for popping up on land.

Once you feel comfortable with pushing yourself up and off the side of the pool using your hands, try pushing yourself up using only your feet. This will help build strength in your legs and prepare them for popping up on land.

Finally, try pushing yourself up using only one arm while holding onto something like a railing or wall with your other hand. Once again, this will build strength and prepare both arms for popping up on land.

Find the right board.

Find the right board.

Board selection is an important part of any skateboard build. If you choose the wrong board, your build will suffer. The goal is to find a deck that suits your riding style and skill level. There are two main types of skateboard decks:

Plain: Plain decks are typically the cheapest option and are made from seven-ply hardwood maple construction. They can be found in most major sporting goods stores and cost around $20-$40 depending on size and brand. Plain decks are usually used for cruising or commuting due to their affordability, but they’re also great for learning how to ollie as they have a lower center of gravity and are easier to control than most other options out there.

Decks with grip tape: Decks with grip tape tend to be more expensive than plain boards because of the extra work involved in applying the grip tape onto each side of the board before applying the graphics (if applicable). Decks with grip tape tend to be more durable than plain boards because they’re made from seven-ply hardwood maple construction just like plain decks but have a layer of urethane over top which helps protect against dings or scratches over time.

Know how to read waves.

If you’re a surfer, you know how to read waves. If you’re not a surfer, you probably don’t know how to read waves. Here’s a quick guide:

1) A wave is made up of three parts — the face, the shoulder, and the tail. The face and shoulder are the steepest parts of the wave and they look like they’re going faster than they actually are. The tail is the part that breaks first and it looks like it’s going slower than it actually is.

2) When waves come together from different directions (called “crossing”), they combine into one big wave. This can make for some really big surf!

Know your limits.

Know your limits.

The best way to enjoy a vacation is to plan for it. You have to know what you want to do and make sure you have the time, money and energy to do it.

Don’t over-schedule yourself. If you are staying in one place for more than a week, don’t try to see everything in that area in one day. Pace yourself so that you can enjoy each activity at its fullest.

If you are traveling with children, make sure they understand the importance of being safe while traveling. Teach them not to go off with strangers or accept food or drink from them without asking permission first.

It’s important that you understand how much money you will need for your vacation so that there can be no surprises when you arrive at your destination and start spending money on things like souvenirs or meals out at restaurants with friends who live there. Consider taking along some extra cash just in case something unexpected happens during your trip (like an airline delay).

Paddle for your wave.

Paddle for your wave.

“You have to paddle for your wave,” says Laird Hamilton, the most famous big-wave surfer in the world. “You can’t just sit there and wait for it to come.”

It’s a lesson he learned one day while surfing at Maverick’s, a legendary spot off the California coast known for its monster waves. He was sitting on his board, waiting for the right swell to come through when the next wave came along and crashed over him. The power of it knocked him off his board.

It took him years to learn that lesson: You have to paddle hard into each wave or you’ll miss out on catching it. You can’t just sit there and wait for it to come by itself.

Be aware of other surfers.

It is important to be aware of other surfers in the water. Most drowning deaths happen when a surfer is caught inside at some point in the wave cycle and is unable to return to the surface. Drowning victims can also be injured by other surfers as they collide with them.

Be aware of your surroundings.

If you are not sure about the conditions, do not enter the water. If you are unsure about your ability, ask someone who has been surfing for awhile before entering the water.

Be cautious where you paddle out from. Make sure that there are no rocks or other obstacles nearby that could cause injury if you wipeout.

Never wear jewelry while surfing; it can get caught on something underwater and cause injury or death.

Wear a life jacket while paddling out and riding waves; even if you know how to swim very well, conditions can change quickly and unexpectedly while surfing near rocks or shallow areas so it’s better to be safe than sorry!