l would like to start surfing for a bit of fun on the weekends. l live in queensland (Australia) and wanna know where the best spots to surf are? What type, size surfboard l should get? and just the general stuff about surfing?

Thanx heaps:)

Try taking lessons and asking your teacher
most people start surfing on long boards
each board will teach you something different about surfing and starting at the beginning is a good idea. as you get better your boards will get shorter

Depends where in queensland you are. On the gold coast there are a multitude of beginner friendly waves as well as a couple of truly world class ones. The sunshine coast is a bit more mellow. Either way, contact your local surf club and get ideas on coaches and equipment. No matter what anyone says, do not start on a longboard, it will hinder your style if you plan on going to a shortboard.

l started out with east coast surfing on a 7'6'' board & moved on to hurricane waves in a 5'8''. It depends on how u progress with ur board, but it is best to start out on a bigger board. The larger it is, the easier it is to stay up & learn. The smaller the board, the easier to actually ''surf'' :)

Find a group to go out with, & if u have any friends that surf, go out with them. it is easier to learn if you're not worried about being self-conscious & you're out with people u trust.

Good luck & have fun!

My first tip on how to surf is to be at home in the ocean.

Lessons r the best way to start, unless u r a young adult or adolescent with surfing pals who can teach u . You have to learn surf etiquette (so the experienced surfers in the line up do not want to drown you), how to paddle & take off on a wave, & how to ride a wave. There r already way too many dangerous people in the water. A danger to themselves & other surfers. Do not join their ranks.

Be careful of what u read here on line. Some of the folks who answered our very nice young folks, but not really very experienced surfers. After l found this site, l figured that l could answer a few questions, & spread the 'good news' of surfing.

Most people learn best on long boards, although l have seen lots of surfers start on a short board & master it. In the long run, there r NO RULES on what type of board u have to learn on. A board has to be bouyant enough to float u well enough for u to paddle & take off on a wave. A surfer is board preference depends on three things: Their size (what will float them how much u weigh is what is important, not how tall u are), Their skill level (beginner to advanced) & the type of waves usually encountered at their local breaks.

l have been surfing for 42 years, & l get my surfboard buying advice from good local surf shops in the places where l surf. Beginners should not even worry about buying a board. renting a board (either from the instructor or shop) while taking lessons is the best way to go. And do not be fooled into a buying a surfboard on line. You do not know enough yet, & will only end up disappointed. Once u have mastered the basics, try a couple different types/styles of boards, & then decide what u want to buy. Surfboards r a big investment.

Take the time to go back & read some of the resolved in YA surfing. There is lots of great information in some of the asnwers.

Good luck. Once u try surfing (and learn the 'right way') u will have fun for life.

http://360guide.info/surfing/surfboard-t.
Please read the link, & do not buy a popout like NSP - http://mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm
Surfboards made in Chinese sweatshops.http://bp3.blogger.com/_hPACOtZKKko/RkST.
http://surfing-waves.com/beginner_su.