These tips are all aimed at ensuring you’ve got sufficient information and will get you as far as the beach. Let’s jump right in!

1. Prepare Yourself Mentally

No one says it’s going to be easy. In fact, surfing is probably one of the most difficult sports to sink your teeth into. The reason being the fact that the sport depends entirely on unpredictable conditions. Waves, weather and tide all plays a role in catching the perfect wave.

If you prepare yourself mentally and understand the learning curve ahead, you should be fine. Don’t give up at the first obstacle! A wipe out is unavoidable and you will experience it now and then, even as a seasoned pro.

2. Select the Perfect Board

When it comes to buying your very first board, we’d highly recommend getting a longboard that is wide and thick. A great board will make a difference in how you learn and perform. Boards that are thicker, longer and wider are perfect for beginners.

But before you hit the web and buy the first board you find online, it’s best to go to a local surf shop and ask some advice. Here you’ll be assisted by professionals who will be able to ensure you get the board that is best for you.

3. Finding the Perfect Spot

Now, this can be a bit tricky. As we’ve mentioned before, your field is everchanging due to the weather and tides. A spot that might seem perfect can be a bit unstable on the day you want to surf. Even though a lot of surfers will tell you that a beach break is perfect for beginners, this might not be the case.

If you haven’t enrolled in a surf camp or school, it’s best to check what the ocean is doing from a reputable website. Statistics and wave conditions change rapidly, and it’s best to keep an eye out on it. We’d recommend checking on surfline.com.

4. Get a Mentor

If you don’t enrol in a course, it’s best to get a friend or teacher to show you the basics beforehand. You don’t want to paddle out and get wiped out every time you give it a shot! And, if you don’t get the basics right, you may soon come to regret it. Bad habits are difficult to shake off.

If you can’t enrol in a course, ask a friend to show you the ropes. This will ensure you get all the basics right as you practice. And you don’t have to do that continually – only until you know the basic techniques.

5. Get Down with Etiquette

As with any sport out there, surf also has its own set of ethics and etiquette you should be aware of. As a beginner, these things might sound a bit foreign, but trust us when we say that familiarising yourself with these subtle rules will go a long way.

1. Show Respect

You should always respect the community you are visiting and be sure not to step on any toes if its not your home turf.

2. Avoid Drop-ins

This is as good as stealing someone’s wave. Check to see where the other surfer is closer to the peak of a wave, he/she has preference of catching the wave and vice versa.

3. Choose your spot Wisely

Do some research before just getting in the water. This is key to having a great surfing experience. Check the weather and tide as well as wave conditions.

These tips should get you started! We’d highly recommend joining a surf school or getting a friend to show you the ropes. We wish you the best of luck and remember to have some fun while you are at it!

At the tender age of 17, Johnson was the youngest contestant to reach the finals in the 1992 Pipeline Masters hosted in Oahu, Hawaii. Shortly after the event he had a gruesome accident which involved a coral reef, and ended his competitive career in surfing.

Johnson is not only a talented musician, but also a husband and father of three. In between juggling his parental responsibilities and tours, he enjoys surfing. The plight of the world’s oceans has recently reached serious heights, and this is exactly what Johnson’s All at Once campaign is combating.

Johnson notes that Hawaii’s beaches has become polluted and filled with plastic and other debris, which concerns him. When on tour, he insists everything provided to be environmentally friendly, even the tour bus runs on biodiesel oil.

Apart from theCleanSeas campaign Jack and his wife, Kim, are founders of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation which aims to educate the community on environmental sustainability. Jack notes that the ocean has always played a big part in his entire life on the CleanSeas campaign video.

The state of Oahu has changed since Jack grew up and is now dismal. This was a turning point for him as he understood that he had a responsibility not only towards his children, but the community to ensure everyone can enjoy the ocean for years to come.

According to research, about 8 million tonnes of plastic is dumped in the ocean yearly. If there is a good time for action against this abysmal state of the sea, it most certainly is now.

Teaming up with the Volvo Ocean Race and 11^th Hour Racing, Johnson hopes that the CleanSeas campaign will allow a change in the public’s attitude towards polluting and the use of plastic, be it plastic carrier bags or plastic water bottles.

It is clear to see that Johnson who is by all means of the word an ocean lover and ambassador for the environment, is serious about his commitment to ensure the sustainability of our oceans. Can you imagine a world where you sail between debris, or try to catch a wave with tonnes of plastic about? Now try to imagine the impact that has on ocean life.

View Jack Johnson’s top ten tips to live plastic free for some inspiration on how you can start making a change today.