Okay. So l have been skateboarding for YEARS, and l can skate pretty well. Surfing seems like a pretty rad sport, and l would like to start surfing. Do you think that knowing how to skate will improve my chances on learning how to be an okay surfer? Thanks all!

I've been surfing for years. Any sport that requires balance will help. The best way to learn to surf is getting out there. Practice by going some push-ups, & also try moving from a position of lying flat on ur belly, in one push-up motion, right to ur feet. When it is time to catch a wave, u do not have time to go to ur knees. Also, ur knees offer no stability. You have to go right to ur feet. Skating, snowboarding, wake boarding all help, but understanding the ocean, rip tides, high/low tide, the break, also will come in handy. Start out on a less crowded break, & with a surfboard with lots of ''float meaning good thickness, & length. You can not start with a Kelly Slater potato thin board.

You must also learn to ''Duck-dive'' a technique used to get out to where the waves r actually breaking, without taking a beating. On a big board it is hard to sink the board under a breaking wave, so try to just hang on. Smaller boards will allow u to push the board down by standing on the tail & pushing down the front to slip under the fast rolling whitewater. Try, with a small board, to push the board in front of you, underwater, & kick like crazy, using the board like a kick-board is used by swimteams or new swimmers. hope this helps. surfing is so much fun. make sure u wear a leash that is not old & wo not snap - sometimes it is a long swim to the beach without a board. get a rashguard - $15-20 bucks but l will save u from a belly that is rashed & red. also put some surf-wax in ur pocket, if u have velcro, & keep the board covered in wax once an hour or so. Wear some clear zinc to keep the sun off ur face - sunblock will wear off quickly when ur in the ocean.

It will help you because you have good balance but it wo not come second nature.

The Surfboard Man
http://thesurfboardman.com/

No it will help u get started

Yes definitely. Surfing requires a lot of balancing on the board and using your feet for direction. Although unlike skateboarding, surfing is in the water and requires a lot of paddling in which you use your hands a lot, so a lot of upper arm strength is necessary. Also it would be best if you already knew how to swim and are familiar with the currents of the ocean.