I need help with surfing questions

[tonylamont]

1. I recommend you read the many threads on this board regarding tips for beginners, and before you get started watch (and re-watch) all the "Surf Simply" videos on youtube. There's tons of guides on the web, read as many as you can find.

2. As a beginner, you generally want to start on a long board with lots of width and volume. Usually, we would recommend a longboard 9 feet or longer. At your size, you can probably get away with something in the 8 foot range or maybe even 7'8" or something. Just make sure you don't get a shortboard - they are hard to learn on.

3. Never surfed in SC, but I am sure there are sharks there. There are sharks in the vast majority of good surf spots. In most of these places, shark attacks are extremely rare. It is a risk all surfers take, but a fairly small one and we all take far greater risks every day. You are far more likely to die / be injured in a car accident, etc. There are some places (Northern Cal and New Smyrna Beach, FL, to give two examples) that are more "sharky" and have higher rates of attacks than other places. I'm sure someone can tell you where SC falls on that spectrum. My advice is don't surf alone (important for other safety issues besides sharks) and try to avoid surfing sharkier locations if you aren't comfortable doing so. But not a reason to not surf.

[zandvoortsurfertje]

Heey Tonishaa
First of all welcome to the forum
Always nice to have some new surfers

Q.1: Do you have any tips for some one whos going to start to surf ?
Tip 1: Get a good (long)board, take a board which is wide and long, it is way easier to stand up on and paddling on these boards is also easier than on a shortboard.
Tip 2: Don't start in the line-up, as a beginner I advise you to stay in the white water and start practicing taking waves and getting the feeling of how strong the waves are, try to paddle and stand up.
Tip 3: As you are inexperienced and you don't know what will happen always pay close attention to the things happening around you: like if there is already a surfer on that wave and coming directly to you, then try to not go into his wave, also watch for swimmers, you really don't want to collide with them!
Tip 4: Warm up, it is necessary to do a good warming up before you get into the water, your muscles need to be warm otherwise you will have a lot of pain the next day.
Tip 5: Never go surfing alone!! Always make sure that people on land can see you and/or that there is someone with you surfing as well.

Q.2:What type of board would you recoment to a beginner who weighs 104 lbs. and whos 1,55 tall ??
A beginner board: ask your local surfshop, they have the best experience in advising which board is the best for you!! But I recommend you to take a longboard. Like a 7 or 8 foot board.

Q.3: Are there any beaches in South Carolina with sharks ?
There are sharks, but as tonylamont already said

You are far more likely to die / be injured in a car accident, etc.

. To make sure you are surfing in save conditions you can always ask the lifeguards!! They are there for your protection and they are pleased to help you!

Good luck and have fun surfing
ZVS