Also, watch and learn. Look closely, pay close attention to detail. Buy a couple of movies to watch. Watching good surfers, will help you develop/improve.
Always, the hardest part is getting going, getting to your feet (assuming you can skate a little bit, snowboard, or done it before, or something.... - even buy a longboard skate board, to help get the flow and balance - a bit of pavement/side walk surfing never hurts, unless you stack! Oh, don't go bombing down big hills!
)
1) You should usually paddle for a wave about twice as hard as you think you need to (at first).
2) Learn how to get to your feet. Two main versions... swing your feet underneath you, or the other one... I swing the feet into position...
3) Learn to read the waves.... ones to leave alone, judging when they will break, and where you should be to catch a watch.... also watch others at the beach..... (the movies usually have this aspect of surfing edited out).
[}:)]
