is surfing easy to pick up

It depends if you are a fast learner,then it will be super easy.Also it depends on what kind of board you learn on long-boards are easier to learn then short-boards. l started on a short board and picked it up fast so l am sure you would be ok too.

it can be easy to pick up. longer boards r easier to learn on because they r more boyant & easy to paddle. if u want to learn faster, u might want to start on a funboard or min-mal. they r great to learn on & fun to ride. shortboards may look cool but they arent the easiest board to learn on. l learned on a shortboard & it was fun but l could have gotten more waves & learned faster on a longer board. u probably dont want to do what l did if u r on some 2 day vacation & want to go surfing because it takes a lot of time & practice to learn on a shortboard. but l go surfing practically every day. its fun. so yeah it can be easy to pick up but just have fun & it will come in no time. hope this helps. have fun surfing!

Personally, for me, l was very easy for me to pick up. l took me 7 pushes into a wave to stand up and from that point forward i've been doing great ever since! l learned in 2 hours, and l was really into it.
It might also depends on how into you really are.

hope it helps!

l agree with mike..also gener & height..not to be bi-est, but female r said to be natural better surfers bc of their hips & shorter people r also better.but once when u start surfing, u can become really good in about three years. And another good thing about surfing is that u can do it all of ur life.its a really great sport..if ur interested, go to ur local surf shop & ask if they give or know of anybody that gives lessons..they will tell u everything u need to know.also maybe getting a book can be helpful

it depends if you pick things up quickly or not. l can stand on a surfboard now and it took me about 1 and a half weeks-2 weeks to get it right, but l was staying in the water for 4-5 hours at a time, but, if you stick at it and keep going you will get the hang of it

Okay, this is an honest answer, but l will probably get some flack for giving it to you, because parts of of it r cut & pasted. l have answered this question a few times in the past.

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 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.
Do not rush into buying anything, until u have had a few lessons & decide that surfing is really something u want to stick with.

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.

When u ask, ''is it easy to pick up?'' is too open ended of a question. If u r already a strong swimmer, & fairly athletic, it can be fairly easy to master the basics. If u r a sand crab, who just likes the idea of surfing, it might be a little tougher. Some folks who r adept at other board sports have an advantage, after they learn how to paddle & take off on a wave. But it is not a significant advantage. There r way too many people who ''surf' who have zero water skills, & r dangerous to themselves & other surfers. l see at least one or two every time l surf at a browded break. Do not join their ranks. If u want to surf. do it right.

Just as an example, l spent years as a little guy swimming & body surfing & body boarding before l took up surfing. It took my just about the whole summer to get 'decent'. And l really could not say the l got 'good' until my second summer.

Do not get too hung up on what some folks have said about how long it took them to 'stand up'' on a surfboard. That is not necessarilly ''surfing''. l could take any one & get them to stand up on a board that l pushed into a nice little broken wave after a couple tries. Real surfing is a lot tougher. (But inifintely more fun!)

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

THE REAL BOTTOM LINE IS: Go to a Surf Shop, not a computer. 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. l have been surfing since 1966.

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.

First l would recommend getting into shape because surfing uses very specific muscles u may not be using now.

You need to do push-ups & bench presses to build ur chest muscles, (pecs), so u can push yourself up to stand.

Next u need to do pull-ups or lat pull-downs to work the muscles along ur sides, (lats), that u will use to paddle.

A little running will build ur cardio & legs muscles.

Then l would take a couple of lessons to get the basics down.

After that it is just going to take time in the water.

l always recommend that beginners get a longboard, (at least 9' long), as these r the easiest to catch waves with & balance on to stand up.

And finally this site has a great article called 'Learn How to Surf in One Day' that l think is terrific:
http://BeachTrading.com

Good luck & have fun!! :-)