I am heading out to the Outer Banks in North Carolina for two weeks on Saturday. l was wondering if anyone knew a good place to sign up for surfing lessons down there? Or maybe, if not specific to the area, if anyone could give me tips on how to go about learning how to surf? Is it very hard? Is there a big risk involving my health? I've heard it is easy to break necks/bones, etc.

Google where you are going and search for surfing lessons or ''local activities''. The only risk l see are sharks (: unless you fall in a reef..but your trainer will start you off small. Its not like you will be charging the big waves yet haha.

Any surf shop can hook u up with lessons. That is the safest way to learn. The instructor will teach u the proper way to fall , & protect yourself to avoid injuries. He/she can also explain about rip currents. If you're young, healthy, & a competent swimmer, other than sea creatures (jelly fish & sharks), it is a relatively safe sport. Accidents can happen anywhere. Have fun in NC.and go surfing.

http://corollasurfshop.com
http://duckvillageoutfitters.net
http://whalebonesurfshop.com

the outer banks eh! sounds awesome. u better just hope that the banks dont go off, because u can get some pretty damn big waves.
outer banks--http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/N.%20Carolina%20surf.jpg (you would not get a swell like that this time of year, but if a storm comes in it could reach close to that!
know back to ur question, just look up on the Internet outer banks surf lessons or cape Hatteras surf school. do not waste ur time on asking how to surf. u have to learn in the water not on the computer.
good luck

its really not that hard l got up on my first try. btw im 13. If it is windy stay low.

Why do not you check the resolved questions, you will find some helpful info there.

Abbie, what a great answer. Simply spectacular.

Sucks you're going during the summer.

For some reason, it seems like somebody asks this same question at least once every ten days! Chris K already said it. If u just had taken the time to read the earlier questions & , we might have already put all the information u need out there for you.

Surfing is an ocean sport. before u decide to surf, decide to know & understand the ocean. Learn to be at home with its currents, rips, undertows & sometimes BIG waves. The original surfers were watermen (and women, both men & women surfed, but certain waves were reserved for royalty).

l spent almost all of my teen years, swimming, sailing, surfing, scuba diving & fishing. l even surfed in different places the Navy sent me, when it was possible.

Surfing is an ocean sport, to do it right, u have to be at home in the ocean, with its currents, rips, undertows & sometimes big waves. l do not just mean being good at swimming in a pool, the ocean can be very unforgiving. l have seen lots of really good pool swimmers have to get rescued. 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.

Lessons r usually the best way to start, unless u r an adolescent or young adult with lots of pals who surf who can teach you. Go to a real surf shop. The folks there can hook u up with lessons, & even rent u a board to learn on. . It is only fair to tell u that in two weeks, u wo not become a ''surfer''. However, u can have some great lessons, learn a little bit about the sport, & have FUN! And, maybe u will come back next year (or even sooner). The Outer Banks has some breaks that r legendary, & most of the towns have at least one surf shop. Check out surfline for more information.http://surfline.com/home/index.cfm

Be careful of what u read here on line. There r lots of really well meaning young folks who have neat about surfing, but at 55, l tend to classify anyone under 25 as a kid. After l found this site, l figured that l could answer a few questions, & spread the 'good news' of surfing. After u learn to swim & master the ocean, get ur REAL advice from a surf shop, where industry professionals earn their rent money selling surfboards. However, if they think u r just a 'kook' tourist out to rent a board, u wo not necessarily get the best attention.

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 haven to learn on. Long boards r ideal for learners. There r also good internediate length boards to learn on, funshapes, mini-mals & some hybrids. That is why instructors use long boards of fun boards (or even softtops).

l have been banged up surfing, with breaks, sprains, contusions, & lacerations galore. But, l have also been at it for 42 years, in all kinds of conditions. If u stick with an instructor, they will make sure u do not get hurt (even 'surfer dudes' worry about liability these days). Of course, preventing a sunburn is ur responsibility.

THE REAL BOTTOM LINE IS: Go to a Surf Shop, not a computer. There r plenty of good ones on the Oter banks. The pros there can give u the right !!

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

Take the time to check out the links, especially surfingforlife.
http://surfingforlife.com/history.ht.
http://mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm
http://360guide.info/surfing/surfboard-t.

lots of good ..but, be careful with what abbie said. anybody who stands up their first try, stood up on a really long board, & a really small wave, like Waikiki, & it was really calm, & sunny out, & an instructor right there.

surfing is easily the most difficult sport to learn to do. Anybody can swing a bat, throw a ball, kick a soccer ball, shoot a basketball, swing a tennis racket, etc, & go out & play with a friend that sport. nobody can just say, ''oh, l think l will go surfing if they have never done it before.

Not true. l was at the beach with a friend who had a 6'0 shortboard (160 lbs) & got up right away on 3-4 ft waves with noone else out with me. Then again, I've been bodyboarding, wakeboarding, skate, snowboarding, etc for about 10 years, in the ocean for about 15. It depends entirely on ur experience in the ocean & other boardriding sports, & ur athletic ability. If u understand the ocean & excel at other boardriding sports, & r in good physical condition, u can learn very quickly.

like everyone else said, go to ur surf shop for a lesson & a rental board, they will hook u up depending on ur age/size/experiences & go out with u & get u on any waves you're comfortable with. If the instructor is there u will be safe.

you will NOT break your neck. and yes surfing can be hard when you first learn it. but the are differant types of hard. like first starting out the hard part is standing up and staying ballanced.
then when you get better the hard part is standing up, turning and riding the face
then when you get even better it is trying to do tricks like cut back, floters, snaps and sprays

It is easy to break bones & ur neck riding a bike. It is actually pretty difficult to do surfing. It is far more likely that u could drown. For this reason u should never surf alone.

l would recommend searching out the surf schools posted by some of the earlier responders. These schools generally give u everything u need for the day, included in the price of the lesson. And the instructors will give u specific advice, even push u into the wave.

If u plan on being at the beach everyday, u might want to see if they offer surf camps. These r really cool cause you're surfing everyday, & making friends with the people in ur class. Not easy to do in just a couple of hours.

I've been surfing for over a year & l still consider taking lessons all of the time. the most important thing to remember is have fun. If you're not having fun u r not doing it right.

ya necks id stay out of the water its already in your head

Find a surf camp in your area.

It is not hard at all. If you know how to surf correctly there is no risk.

Surf camps in your area:
http://wbsurfcamp.com/camps/camp_teen_outer_banks.asp#