Here we are at your first surfing lesson. Now, there are a few different approaches to catching a wave, and most of the time it begins with lying on your board in the sand and practising what is called the 'pop up'. Popping up is the term used where the surfer has caught the wave and goes from the paddling position, lying on top of board, to a standing, upright position. Let's get straight into the water and talk about catching the white water part of the wave (where the wave has already broken) It is more fun getting straight into things and having a mess around than getting all sandy on the beach.

Waves to Start Surfing On

For your first few times out, surf the small, close waves. You're primarily looking for small breaking waves that you can walk out to, not the large battering waves you have to fight just off the beach. (Remember that surfing should be fun!) Make sure that you are not holding your surfboard in a position where a wave could knock it back into your face and cause you an injury. Hold the board out at arms length with a hand on each rail. Jump over the oncoming white water as you walk your way out. Keep a look around to make sure you are not about to get washed into someone's path, or that you are not immediately behind someone who may lose hold of their board. It can be quite scary seeing an oncoming wave complete with nine feet of longboard wrapped up in it!
Keep the safety aspect in mind at all times, and everything should be OK.

Here We Go!

You are now at a comfortable depth out where the whitewater is rolling towards the beach. Place your board at your side, nose facing into the beach. Keep an eye on the waves that are coming towards you, and pick one that looks like it is big enough to pick you up and take you in.
If you are on the ideal beginner's board, the wave won't have to be that big, and you'll hardly need to paddle at all. On a very small, light board you may have to work a little harder.
Just as the wave is about to reach you, push the surfboard towards the beach and, at the same time, pull yourself on to the board so that you're lying flat on top of it. When you are lying balanced on top of your surfboard, paddle with both arms as the wave approaches from behind. Keep paddling as the wave starts to pick you up. You should feel the board rise in the water as the wave picks you up, and you'll feel an increase in your speed as the wave starts to take you. With a bit of luck you'll have caught your first wave.

I Want to Stand!

Great, so now you can catch the whitewater waves in to the beach, but what is next? Obviously you want to be standing on the surfboard when you are heading into the beach—after all, that is what we are here to do.
We need to have a look at how to position yourself on the board, and how to comfortably paddle around. As you progress with your surfing, you will be out in deeper water and will have to control your surfboard while you are out there, and to learn how to get through larger breaking waves.