Surf

With these basics you'll be amped and ready to carve up the beach break in no time. But don't forget, this doesn't preclude the need for a lesson

So how difficult can it be to become the next Kelly Slater or Layne Beachley? Want to gen up on hanging ten before hitting the Cornish beaches to show off your stuff? With the beginner (or 'grommet' in mind, we've done our research: we asked 26-year-old surf instructor Guy Russell� for his top ten tips for preparing to catch those waves this summer. Then we asked a U.S. surf camp to show us the ropes. Here's the skinny on how to surf:

Get kitted out

To get started, you’ll need a board, a leash and some surfing wax. Neoprene covering isn’t necessarily compulsory as it is dependent on the water temperature. Generally, in summer in the UK, a 2 3 mm wetsuit will be suitable. If you’re fortunate enough to be surfing in warm countries however, you'll get away with just wearing boardies. To be honest, today’s technology and equipment is so advanced that we're able to surf in tropical conditions as well as sub zero waters.

Choose the right board

For a beginner, I would recommend a long thick board. The bigger the board, the easier it is to stand on, which is the most important thing. Then again, a bigger board is harder to paddle out on. Essentially, there are many designs, so it’s purely down to choice. It's like a totally different set of golf clubs for every hole on a golf course. There is no one board perfect for any surfer or wave. I personally have four boards, each for different conditions.

Train to tone

Surfing requires you to use all of your muscles. If you check out anyone who surfs a lot, they will be lean and toned. Shoulders, and in fact the entire upper body, is used more because you need to use your upper body strength to be able to paddle out. This is probably the most strenuous part, so the surf back towards the beach is almost a bit of a break!

Prepare your body

Any form of exercise, from cardiovascular (swimming and cycling are great), to press-ups, can help to prepare your body for surfing.....

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