Surfing Tips
1. Your positioning on the board is vital. If you are too far forward you will nose dive and fall off the front of the board when you catch a wave. If you are too far back and try to stand there will be too much weight on the tail and you wont get very far.
2. You should know the International Distress Signal. This will prove vital should you find yourself in an emergency.
3. If you cant manage to 'pop up' in one smooth movement there's no need to worry, you can still get up with what's known as the 'knee method'. This method is aimed much more at beginners, and is carried out in a number of movements rather than just one.
4. The waves tend to come in sets, followed by a lull. The second and third waves always tends to be the best of the set, so try to avoid catching the first wave to achieve the best surf.
5. Watch out for other surfers, especially when the tide is in and the space available to surf in may be reduced. Watch for people surfing in your direction, as chances are they aren't going to stop for you and you may end up being mowed down by another surfer.
6. When you catch a wave, paddle whilst on it to ensure that you have actually caught it, and then make an attempt to stand up.
7. If you wipeout properly and go under the water, adopt the wipeout position to protect your head and neck from any other oncoming surfers who may be coming your way on the next wave.
8. Remain confident, even if you go under or get surfed over by someone else. If your confidence is dented then it means your surfing will suffer, so you just have to get back out there and keep at it!
9. Keep an eye on the black and white beach flags that tell you the area in which you are able to surf in. It is easy to drift across with the waves, possibly taking you somewhere that may be quite a dangerous place to surf, for example near a cliff, or submerged rock.
10. Ensure that you don't apply too much weight to your back foot as this will slow you down and you wont ride the wave in as far and as fast as what you could.