The Benefit of Learning the Basics There is more to surfing than just knowing your equipment and the courage to brave towering swells. If you really want to become a veteran in this popular water sport then you need to start with the basics as preparation. Taking lessons from surfing classes will arm you with all the necessary knowledge to do well in the sport -- preparing your body in terms of power and balance, knowing the equipments used in surfing, exercises to keep your body in top shape, safety tips to avoid life-threatening situations, and more. Besides, experience different surfing grounds tend to add to the overall experience for your improvement. Tip # 4: Safety First The one of the most important surfing tips is the one about your safety. 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. Learn To Balance Now that you have your own board, or gotten your hands one that you will be using for practice, the next step is to learn how to balance yourself on top of it. You don t have to start by standing on it, but you can give it a shot to see if you can already do it. If you can't do it standing up or in a crouch then try to get the feel of the board and your balance by lying it on face down. If you want to get the feel of the sport then you can go for a 1-hour tutorial of the basics in many beaches in your area. You can enroll to more extensive lessons if you decide that you want to make a career out of it. Arming yourself with the basics, like how to balance on your board, using your equipments, and proper exercise can help you avoid lots of problems later on. For starters, you need to bring with your safety gears, like a leash that ties your board to your ankle, a GPS tucked somewhere in your wet suit pocket in case you are washed out to sea, and of course, a floatation device or jacket to keep you afloat without having to swim for it. Also, if you're going to surf in cold weather then make sure that you keep your body temperature warm by wearing a wet suit to keep the cold off your skin. Surfboard Maintenance A responsible surfer never leaves their boards unattended both before and after use. It is necessary to have your board repair or cleaning kit with you when you're going out to surf. Cleaning kit includes a wax and a cloth to keep your boards clean and waterproof so they'll last longer and improve your performance on it.