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Surfing is hard. It seems to have a steeper and far less forgiving learning curve than so many other sports, other ocean water sports being an exception. The ocean is a difficult learning environment – it is unpredictable, fraught with hazards and no two waves are ever the same. All these factors can make learning to surf very, very difficult. Most of the problems beginners have are caused by the same few common errors and in most cases easily put right. Knowing what these are and how to correct them can mean faster progress and avoiding the severe frustration which results from making the same mistakes over and over.

(Frostnova)

First things first - An easy solution to some beginner's mistakes

One common factor among beginner surfers who are struggling is their choice of board. When you are starting out you need as buoyant and stable a platform as possible and this means a big long board with lots of volume. Narrow, short boards, which may seem so appealing, prolong the novice stages and have no forgiving factors for early errors.

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Nowhere is the distinction between short-boarding and long-boarding more evident than when surfers are paddling out through the impact zone to get to the line-up. These are the only times when I wish my board shorter so that I could sink its nose and duck-dive effortlessly out of harm's way. The size and volume of a long board or Mal make it unsinkable by all but the most hefty of surfers and this means learning other tricks to avoid taking a battering or finding yourself right back on the beach where you started.

GETTING THROUGH THE SOUP                                                     PHOTO CREDIT - MIKE BAIRD

Unlike short-boarding there are a variety of different methods of getting though breaking or broken waves and although many surfers will try and argue that one is definitely better than the others it really is a case of personal preference. There is one similarity between the methods you will use as a Mal rider and duck-diving a short board and that is that both take patience and practice to perfect.

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Surf etiquette used to be known as the unwritten rules of surfing but with so many 'learn to surf' publications available this isn't strictly true any more. All of the rules are designed for fairness or safety and all are about respect. They can seem fairly complicated to a beginner but it is essential that they are observed to prevent the magic of wave riding turning nasty.

If you learn to surf with a good surf instructor the rules of the waves will be explained to you but if you go it alone then often you may not be aware of any etiquette violation until you get yelled at, subjected to stink-eye or worse.

Different countries and even different breaks do have slight variations but the following rules of surfing, listed here, should cover all the basics that you need to know.

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