Finally Learn to Surf This Summer in San Diego

A surfer and his board - it's a beautiful thing. Throughout the year, from dusk to dawn, each swell along the San Diego coast line can be found peppered with wave enthusiasts who group like bobbing birds on a wire, waiting to take aquatic flight.

Summer is no different - only more birds are added to the mix, some of whom know nothing beyond idle play in a nesting sea. If you are one of these water babies, and this summer you want to catch some flight your own, here are a few tips to help you enter the world of surfing in San Diego - and to help you get the most out of your virginal run.

Surfing is healthy, expressive, and for those who have tried it, a hell of a lot of fun. However, if you are a beginner, there is a right way and a wrong way to break yourself in. For starters, you are going to need the right gear. Despite what surf shops around the county try to sell you, to get started, you really only need three things: a board, a wetsuit, and a lot of determination (and probably some board wax, so make that four things).

It's been said that it's actually a good idea to borrow or rent this gear if you are just starting out because a nice surfboard with all the trimmings can be quite pricey ($300-$1000 and up for a good board and wetsuit alone), and because although this may be sacrilege to OG surfers, you might not even like surfing, and would prefer to spend your days at the beach basting on the sand like a rotisserie chicken.

However, if you do have the extra cash and are convinced you are going to be down for the sport, then start with a long board (definitely over 8' but try for over 9'), preferably a "foamy." A big foam board will help you to catch waves more easily and you will not get as hurt when you fall off and onto your board. Quicksilver, Billabong, and Hurley are all trusted names for boards and wetsuits, but you can find more generic brands to accommodate a bargain-basement wallet. Your gear should progress as you do; as your skill increases, so will the sleekness and style of your board - and then the sky's the limit when it comes to prices for custom designs and artwork.

For your first days of surfing, the waves should be small - easy enough for you to walk out to where the waves have already broken white. Riding a surfboard for the first time is like riding other things - such as a bike. Once you get the feel of it, it's easy to gain confidence and to keep getting better. To truly get the feel of riding a good wave can take up to 1-2 weeks, depending on how much you practice.

There are also many surf schools and surf camps in San Diego that can help, and are perfect for the absolute newbie who has never touched a surfboard to the surf veteran who wants to hone his or her advanced skills. A basic surf lesson breaks down like this: students are given about 30 minutes of instruction on the beach learning how to stand up, paddle, etc., then are taken out to the waves for a couple of hours to "get their feet wet" and apply the skills they have learned. The best beaches for novice surfers are in North County, such coastal neighborhoods as Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Leucadia, as these beaches are sandy-bottomed and tend to be a better cushion for inevitable wipe-outs.

The following schools are the best rated and a good place to start:

Eli Howard Surf School: South Ponto Beach in Carlsbad; call 760.809.3069 or visit elihoward.com.
Kahuna Bob's Surf School: Serving all of San Diego County; call 760.721.7700 or visit kahunabob.com.
Pacific Surf School: From Encinitas to Del Mar - surf camps specifically designed for teen girls; call 858.488.2685 or visit pacificsurf.org.

These San Diego surf schools provide wetsuits and foam boards for students and offer classes for all age groups. Two-hour group classes range from $50-$60; private 2-hour lessons are $100, and weekend and one-week camps range from $300-$900.

For many in San Diego, surfing is much more than just a hobby or pastime - it's a way of life that commands dedication, love, and respect. James Baird, a Leucadia local who has been living, and surfing, in San Diego for over twenty years has this advice for the up-and-coming shredders that be: "Above everything else, just be cool and stay in respect for the ocean and those who love it. Stay in your league. Give props to the ones who came before you and the ones who someday may be looking to you, raising a beer. Surfing connects you with nature, emotions and life. It doesn't get much better than that." Amen, JB...Amen.

For the non-surfers in San Diego, Discover the Rules of Beach Romance to stay successfully occupied on the sand this summer.