Survey the Area Keep in mind that surfing is riddled with unseen perils that can easily put your life at risk without your knowing about it. You need to survey the area where you will be surfing for hidden reefs or sand bars that can be a hurdle if you don t watch out for it. If the waves are huge then make sure that the area is deep enough and free of corals and rocks. First, you need to improve the strength of your arms so you can easily lift yourself up to a standing position to catch the waves. Leg power is also an essential requirement since you need to be able to have the strength to stay in a standing position as you skim through the swells. While you're at it; you might want to improve your overall body flexibility and stamina through cardiovascular exercises. That's right; surfing can be a dangerous sport, especially if you're not familiar with the hazards and not knowledgeable of the steps to avoid it. For starters, you need to make sure that you have the right equipment, like your surfboard tied securely to your ankle with a leash, wearing a floatation device, surveying the location for hidden sandbars, rocks, or shallow reefs that might result to accidents while surfing. A life jacket is just basic precaution. You might want to wear a wet suit if you're planning to surf in cold weather or a GPS device strapped on you when you plan to surf a little bit out from the beach. It is also a good idea to bring a first-aid kit in case you get wounded by unseen corals or rocks when you get thrown off your board. Another advantage of attending a wind surfing class is how your instructors can gauge your current skill and devise a program that promises quick improvement. If you already know how the gear works and you already know the basic in maneuvering the board and rigging then the only thing left for the instructor to do is to show you how to put all your basic knowledge to use with hands-on experience. There is nothing holy to learning the basics of surfing through trial and error experiences on the waves as have experts surfers have done since time immemorial. However, having veteran surfers in surf schools teach you the right way to surf in a methodological way can make for a quick and easy study.