Surfing is not governed like other sports. This is what makes surfing so much fun, unlimited and consistently growing in terms of new elements. There is, however, a ‘surfer’s etiquette’; a number of generalised ‘rules’ which surfers adhere to out of respect for those they share the water with. Some generalised principles are listed below:

• Never ‘drop in’ on somebody else’s wave – While offenders are no longer tamed by the promise of execution Hawaiians once faced if they had the audacity to steal the wave of a social superior, surfers who deliberately ‘drop in’ on someone else’s wave can expect to be very unpopular. Put simply, ‘dropping in’ amounts to ‘dropping in’ from the top of a wave which somebody else is already surfing, effectively cutting them off and forcing them to abandon the wave.

• The surfer closest to the “white water” or broken part of the wave always has right of way – For example, if a wave is breaking on your right and there is already a surfer to your right, you should not attempt to catch the wave.

• If you are paddling out and someone drops in to catch the wave, move out of their way – You should always abandon an attempt on a wave if someone drops in to catch it before you, even if this means subjecting yourself to a pummelling as the wave breaks.

• Always be aware of your surroundings – Other surfers will quickly become irritated if you paddle without looking where you are going, or look over your shoulder for too long and keep your back to a wave. In general, you should be fine if you use common sense and do not obstruct other surfers. If someone is in your path, move to avoid them, even if it means missing a wave or paddling into white water.

• Don’t let go of your board unless absolutely necessary – Apart from the fact that you are likely to lose or damage your board, letting go of a board can be extremely dangerous to those surrounding you. A surfboard caught up in a strong wave could seriously injure, or even kill, another surfer.

• Look out for swimmers – Remember that surfers do not rule the whole beach! Ideally, swimmers will have sufficient common sense to keep out of the path of surfers, but it is still important to remain on your guard to avoid injuring yourself or a passing swimmer.

• If you are inexperienced, try to surf alongside people with a similar level of experience – It can be dangerous for inexperienced surfers to surf with those who are more experienced. More experienced surfers will inevitably be moving faster, and will be more proficient at manoeuvring their boards. If you are not able to manoeuvre your board correctly and do not know how to get out of the way safely when it is necessary, it is better that you do not enter the water while more advanced surfers are practising. Whilst you are learning, it is a good idea to join a club or take lessons with people who are at a similar level so that you can learn to keep yourself safe without getting out of your depth.

1) Southern Portugal – Amazingly close to the rest of Europe, yet strangely much warmer than the rest of Europe. Cheap flights (if your not flying over from the USA/Canada), good wine (although green) and of course the perfect surf season for all levels.

2) Northern Spain – While not a hot as South Portugal, surfing in Northern Spain is one of life’s little pleasures. Sometimes over shadowed by the buzzing south west French towns of Hossegor, Northern Spain is a hub of amazing waves, even better food and some of the world’s best “vistas”. Think long empty beaches, and this is Northern Spain. Oh, forgot to mention, £10 flights to Santander with Ryan Air from London, Germany and Denmark.

3) Indian Ocean – Sweeping statement I know. But April is the start of the surfing season in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia. Big, long distance ocean swells travel north to the palm beaches of the mentioned countries. As islands the waves will vary from beach to beach, bay to bay, so no matter what level you are there will be waves to suit.

4) Barbados – Ah the opposite surf season to the Indian Ocean, but catch some late season surf and you’ll be on your own (well maybe). Barbados is home to day in, day out surfing. Think rum, sunshine, turtles, rum, surf, fresh fish and rum.

5) California - Slipping in at number five is the good ol’ state of California. Spring is perfect for hitting the long peeling waves of one of the most surf drenched coastlines in the world. From hanging ten at Malibu to busting airs at Trestles, Cali has something for all surfers.

One of the hardest things when you learn to surf is actually catching a wave. It requires timing, paddling and a little bit of luck.

To begin with, rather than paddling straight out, its best to learn how to catch a few broken whitewater waves closer to the beach. You should have your ideal trim/paddling position at this stage, so point your surf board directly towards the beach and as the whitewater approaches paddle towards shore at a nice steady pace, keeping your head up and looking towards the beach. The wave should pick you up and push you forward at this point it is important to give two more “power” paddle strokes to get down and in front of the wave. Stopping to early is a common mistake when you learn to surf.

Its fun to catch and ride a few to the beach whilst still laying down on your belly to get the feeling of the wave, after that its time to stand up which we will go onto in the next section.

Once you have the hang of catching white water its time to use those paddling skills and get out into the lineup to catch the unbroken waves which is what surfing is all about. Once in the lineup, past where the waves are breaking, sit up and straddle your board (you might want to practice the art of sitting on your board as it takes a little time to find your balance).

Always face out to sea until you are ready to catch a wave. Practice swinging the nose of the board left or right so that you can easily turn around to catch an oncoming wave. Pick a wave that has not broken and be sure to sit far enough out among the sloping swells, not where the waves are standing up straight.

As a wave approaches, turn the nose of your board toward the beach, lay down and begin paddling. As you feel the wave lift you and your board, paddle as hard as you can and lean your weight forward. The natural tendency is to lean back to keep the nose from going under water, but that will only slow your momentum which in not conducive to wave-catching.

Lean forward but raise your chest so that your weight is just above the center of the board. You should now be sliding down into the the trough of the wave. The first phase of surfing will entail that you wait until you are in the flat water in front of the wave before you stand up. However, the ideal is to begin standing just as you feel the pull of the wave. Now you are ready to work on standing.

All those hours spent surfing, are soon going to be spent on the same surfboard, and this will help your surfing no end. Surfing has so many variables in surfing already, that by using your own equipment you get rid of at least one!

1.CHOOSING YOUR FIRST SURFBOARD: Buy a second hand surfboard, or ask at your local shop for a good mini-mal package which should include a board, bag and a leash. Surfboards that are suitable for beginners are always in demand, they will hold their value if kept in reasonable condition. Generally you’ll want it for about 6-8 months before you are reday to upgrade to something a bit more suited to your surfing ability.The point is keep the budget in check. Don’t be too concerned over condition at this point. It’s not a fashion accessory it’s a tool.

2. LENGTH: Choosing you first surfboards length can be determined sometimes by what’s available in a budget price. Try and go for something in the range of 16- 20 inches longer than yourself. It’s a strange thing but the more length of board you have in the water, within reason, the easier it is to paddle. This is because their is more foam underneath you but also you are more balanced on the board making for less dead weight. When starting your on your surfing lessons you don’t want to be hindered by a lack of flotation , you want to be catching as many waves as you can, and until your your arms develop their paddling strength, you need all the flotation you can get, and help to keep you motivated.

3. THICKNESS: Like the length and width thickness means flotation. By now i think you’ll be getting the picture that when buying your first surfboard, choose a board that will be easy to paddle, maximising your chances of catching waves. For thickness this means a surfboard with about 2 and a half inches of foam. Its thickest point should be near the halfway point of your surfboard.

4. WIDTH: Most modern surfboard widths these days are around the 18 to 19 inches. Choose something more towards 19 inches. It’ll give more stability and will be a lot easier to sit on while waiting for a wave, and like the extra length it too will aid in the paddling department. The waves you’ll be practicing in will be fairly small most likely in the one to three foot range, and as a beginner you’ll stand heavy on your board, so a bit of width will give you a more feeling under foot. and the chance of ‘bogging down’ will be reduced.

5. OUTLINE: The widest point of a surfboard is usually found just forward of the centre point and then running back towards the tail for about 3 inches. By increasing the width of the nose of a surfboard you will aid it in paddling. Shapers use this trick to hide a little extra foam in a surfboard. This has the effect of drawing the plan shape or outline out, so the widest point will be a little longer. Measure back from the tip of the nose 12 inches or 300 mm and if the measurement is around eleven and a half inces to twelve inches then this is quite a good width nose and should paddle easy.For the beginner surfer a board whose nose seems a little wide is better. Now measure 12 inches back up from the tail along the stringer. Measure across the surfboard at right angles. If it reads something around 14 inches that’ll be good. At this stage i wouldn’t be too worried about the actual shape of the tail but a rounded square or round tail is probably the most suitable.

SUMMARY: Buy a used surfboard your height plus 16 to 20 inches, around two and a half inches thick by 19 inches wide, a fullish nose and a nice rounded tail shape. This spells smoothness and ease of paddle. Just what the doctor ordered.

6. ACCESSORIES: choose a good legrope with swivel. The waves you are riding are small so just a light weight, small surf leggie will do. The swivel helps keep the legrope itself from twisting up after wiping out. Also a legrope that can detach easily from your surfboard plug via the velcro is better than having to thread the whole leggie through the anchor rope. Deck grips and nose gaurds are not necessary. They don’t offer much, especially for the beginner. Save the money.

7. WAX: Surf board wax easily collects sand and dirt and can make it soapy and lose its traction. Never over wax your board as this just creates more weight and more dirt. Buy a wax comb to clean off excess wax and to roughen up the existing wax on your board, so as to give it more traction. To help avoid getting rash use a soft wax, but board rash is something even the veteren surfer gets. If you wear a rash vest or wetsuit or even just a ‘t’shirt with a knot tied in its back, you will find it will help prevent getting a rash in the first place. I like a wax that seems a bit chewy, but don’t eat it, it tastes bad. A summer wax is good all year round in most places. Only wax the areas you need, a light wax on the nose area is ok, but if you wax to far down along the rails it will create drag. Start your waxing from the legrope plug and go through to the chest area..

8. WETSUITS: There are so many wetsuits and brands on the market these days, and what you wear depends so much on your location, what seaon you are in and what is your preference.Your local surf shops are the best to guide you here, they are unlikely to stock inappropriate styles for your area. Wetsuits come in a range of styles. The ‘Short John’, sleeveless but with short pants. The ‘Spring suit’, which come in long or short sleeves, both with short pants. The ‘Steamer’, comes in sleeveless, short sleeved and long sleeved, and for some yuo can get an attatchable hood. Also there are booties, gloves, rash vests and just wetsuit pants. So much. So when choosing have a look around at what others are wearing. Never buy on price alone, quality can vary and what you want is quality and fit, if looked after it will last many years, so it’s a good investment and will give you more surf time in the water. Always try and rinse it in fresh water after every surf. When trying on a wetsuit it should fit firm but too tight. Move your arms and squat up and down a few times and feel how stiff or loose it feels. It’s true that once wet it will loosen up a bit more, but never buy one that feels a bit tight, it’ll only give you a rash. Under the arms and the top of the leg joints are the areas most prone to rash. If you are getting a rash in these areas use a little vaseline, but never use it on any gut rash, you’ll be sliding all over your surfboard. Make sure when you trying a wetsuit on there are no gaping air pockets in it. It should fit your body nicely and not allow the cold water to be caught inside. Wetsuits that have seams cutting under your arm sockets should also be avoided. They’ll give you rash. All seams should be either a flatlock seam or a fluid weld seam. Also if you wear a rash vest under your wetsuit it will help with avoiding rash.

September and October also see’s the world professional surf tour arrive in France and Portugal. Check out this years ASP WCT event in Portugal.

Across the globe it is still possible to find fun, middle sized surf in Bali, Costa Rica and Sri Lanka. The good thing about these two locations is garantted board short surfing!

All in all, these are great months to dust off the board and hit the waves.

Unless you are surfing a spot with a good channel (deep water trench) or you are surfing a point where you can paddle out around the waves instead of through it, paddling out will be an issue. Once the surf starts to get bigger than a couple of feet , strap on your paddling muscles and listen up because it’s not about how fast you can paddle as much as how well you deal with the oncoming surf.

Whenever possible, you will want to lift up your board and go over the incoming wave or dive down to go under the white water. The bad news is that because you are a beginner you are probably on a bigger board in order to be able surf and bigger boards don’t dive well. So, you are going to be stuck on the surface where all of the turbulence is.

When encountering an approaching wave, try to go straight into it. Your approach should be as perpendicular as possible theless directly the wave hits you the more ground you will lose. If you are able to maintain some of your momentum, you will be able to get going again right away. If you do get hit hard and spin out, you will be starting off from scratch again and you will be making very little progress. Once again it is not how fast you can paddle, it’s how well you deal with the onrushing and powerful bands of energy coming at you.

Walk out as far as possible, jumping over the waves while holding on tight to your board. Once you are out to chest deep wait for a calm period, or a lull before you start your paddle out. Be certain to position your body properly and begin stroking out. Until you encounter the bigger waves stay prone on your board. When you come to a small whitewater wave, simply lift your upper body up by grabbing the rails of your surfboard at the ribcage and lift your head and shoulders above the white stuff. As your body lifts above the energy, you will be sending your board underneath the energy. This method works just fine until you can no longer go over them anymore.

Bigger waves will also be more powerful and all of that energy is up on the surface where you are, so you have to go under to get out. How far down you can go depends on how much foam you are on and how strong you are. But here is the trick, just before the wave is going to slam you, you must pull yourself forward to the front of the board, grab the nose tightly with both hands and send the nose down as deep as you can. At the same time, wrap your legs around the middle of the board and hang on tight. Expect to be dragged under water for a couple of seconds.

When you surface, scoot back into paddling position and get moving unless more waves are going to break in front of you. If they are, the best thing to do is to get off of your surfboard and hold on to the nose while the set does its thing. By getting off of your board, you will not lose as much ground and you will be better rested for your next assault through the raging surf.
If you find that the waves are more powerful than you thought and you are not in total control of your surfboard then don’t try to go all of the way out! Stay inside and work on your skills and get stronger for the next swell. It will take years of practice before you will be able to paddle out and surf BIG waves anyway but by improving your paddling skills your surfing will be far more enjoyable and worthwhile.

Surfing champ Kelly Slater gains altitude at Hossegor, France, in 2002.

Surfers checking out unique vibes at sites in Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii and France are driven by the buzz that comes from exhilarating swells, breaking waves and amazing barrel tubes created by truly awesome forces of nature.

Unlike other travelers, surfers are interested in surfer-friendly places to crash, snagging the best airline rates for surfboards and where to hang out.

Here’s Slater’s list of five great surfing meccas along with some hints about how to fully enjoy your search for the proverbial endless summer.

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu, Hawaii

Event: Billabong Pipeline Masters, December 8 to December 20, 2009

“I grew up mesmerized by it, and it never lets you down,” Slater said. “It’s just an amazing place to be and a wave that always challenges you.”

The vibe: Surfers compare this event to professional golf’s Master’s tournament. Since the 1950s and ’60s, mobs of fans have traveled to view one of the sport’s great venues to watch competing surfers.

How to get there: To find this quarter-mile long treasure trove of breaking waves, drive southwest of Ehukai Beach Park along the Kamehameha Highway, about seven miles northeast of Haleiwa.

During competition season — in November and December — visitors can soak up a lot of action on the beach, said Scott Bass, editor at Surfer Magazine.

“It’s a unique spot because a large, crazy death-defying surf breaks only 100 yards from shore. It’s very accessible as a viewer,” said Bass.

Where to hang out: Got something sweeter in mind? Matsumoto Shave Ice has become a Hawaiian institution during its 60 years, serving the namesake snow cones, candy and crack seed, an island snack of dried fruits.

Where to get lunch: Locals will tell you that hanging out on the North Shore must include a stop at some of the island’s tried and true mom and pop shops. Macky’s Sweet Shrimp Truck is literally just that — a brightly painted RV parked in a private lot. Macky’s specializes in serving succulent shrimp, rice, fruit and veggies.

CLOUDBREAK, Tavarua, Fiji

Best waves: April to October

“One of the great surf discoveries ever,” said Slater about Cloudbreak, the name given to a surfing reef about two miles off Fiji’s island of Tavarua. The South Pacific waters off Fiji offer the perfect temperature and a “really good swell window” for timing waves, Slater said. “The wave has so many different faces to it. It’s challenging and perfect.”

The vibe: Exclusive.

How to get there: Surfing Cloudbreak can cost you, both physically and monetarily because of its distance off the island and the expense of traveling to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Surfers get to the reef on local boats or jet-skis — or by paddling on their boards, which will take a lot out of you.

Where to stay/hang out: Options are very limited. Surfer tourists can expect to spend at least $200 per night at the island resort.

SNAPPER ROCKS, Kirra, Australia

Event: Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast February 28 to March 11, 2009

It’s no secret that surfing is a national pastime in Australia, especially during pro-surfing competitions in February and March, when the weather is toasty warm and the water is aqua blue.

How to get there: Arrive at the Gold Coast airport at Coolangatta or at the airport in Brisbane, which is about 68 miles (109 kilometers) to the north on the Pacific Motorway. The stretch of breaking waves between Snapper Rocks and Kirra is called the Superbank.

The waves are “perfect, hollow, fast,” said Slater. Superbank’s sandy-bottom, barrel point break makes it worthy of his list. “On its day, it’s the wave you would draw on your school books,” he said.

The vibe: The Gold Coast during competition season is similar to Spring Break in the United States, said Bass, a globetrotting surfer who has produced a documentary about the Vietnam War’s surfing soldiers.

Gold Coast spectators tend to be young, hip trendy, college-age surf fans. For tourists with wider interests, the scene includes a music festival and skateboard competition.

Where to stay: Take your pick. There are plenty of hotels along the Gold Coast, ranging from upscale three or four-star destinations to modest beach motels. For $20 (Australian) you can grab a bunk bed in a backpacker hostel. At the posh Palazzo Versace, you can spend thousands of dollars for one night’s lodging. Apartments near the shore run from $80 to $250 Australian per night. Book early if possible.

TEAHUPOO, Tahiti

Event: Billabong Pro Teahupoo May 9 to May 20, 2009

Cloudbreak’s remoteness is matched by Tahiti’s Teahupoo, which is described by Slater as “one of the most challenging waves and confronting waves in the world.” When negotiating Teahupoo’s South Pacific monster waves, said Slater, “Just make a decision and follow it. No second guessing.”

The vibe: Teahupoo is very exclusive and expensive, according to Bass. “It’s a grand spectacle along the same lines as the Pipeline, just not as accessible.”

How to get there: You might have to pay a boater for transportation to the wave, which is about a quarter mile off shore, said Bass.

Where to stay/hang out: Small pensions,homes that island residents rent to tourists, are the way to go in Tahiti, said Bass. Hiti Moana Villa offers bungalows for $110 to $160 per night.

HOSSEGOR, France

Event: Quiksilver Pro France September 23 to October 4, 2009

For nonsurfers, Hossegor is a big secret.

“People don’t realize how good the surf is there but it’s incredible very often,” said Slater. The elbow-shaped Bay of Biscay near the French-Spanish border offers “lots of swell and good weather that Ireland and England don’t get.”

The vibe: More waves, more surfing, less competition. The Hossegor area offers many fine beach breaks that result in abundant waves. These “peaky” beach breaks democratize the surfing experience. With more good waves, there’s less jockeying among surfers for position. During most of the year, surfers will need to wear a wet suit. The Bay of Biscay is really cold.

Where to hang out: The area has great food, according to Slater, and, “Spain is just right next door for something different.” Across the Spanish border, surfers can discover crashing waves along the shore of San Sebastian, the town made famous in Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises.”

Continue down the coast to experience amazing waves off the S3panish towns of Zarautz and Mendexa. There, surfers will discover a pure point break, with waves breaking off cobblestone rocks on the ocean floor.

Where to stay: All along the coast are dozens of beach hostels offering low-cost lodging. Also, there’s camping in the area, if you feel like really roughing it. The Hortensias du Lac hotel offers rooms from €170 to €220 per night.

How to get there: From Paris, drive about 6 hours southwest to Bordeaux and then drive about 2 hours south to Hossegor. By train from Paris takes about 6 hours and costs about $130

http://www.errantsurf.com

Traveling with a 9-foot, 70-pound piece of sporting equipment can be expensive. Several airlines hit surfboard-toting travelers with stiff fees, sometimes hundreds of dollars. But a few carriers will allow surfboards to be checked as baggage free, within certain guidelines.

Here’s a quick list of policies among major airlines for travel with surfboards as checked baggage:

American Airlines charges a special handling fee.

British Airways bans surfboards as checked baggage.

Delta Airlines charges a special handling fee.

Singapore Airlines offers free baggage check for surfboards within certain guidelines. Otherwise, travelers are charged a handling fee.

United Airlines charges a special handling fee.

Virgin Atlantic offers free baggage checking within certain guidelines.