Great approach beakerman, , let’s give some tips now, most beginners on surfboards go with others , SUPs need to be safely away from others on an uncrowned side break. Good SUPers have the skills to ride in crowds but often cause friction with the other surfers because of their ability to catch many more waves than a standard surfer.
Let’s talk wipeouts, a short board has an arc of injury of about the length of the board and a leash say 3/4 of the board length so consider a 9ft arc....... a longboard 9ft + 9ft leash a 14ft SUP + 10 ft coiled leash include in any leash the stretch factor +the relative weights of your board!
Ordinary surfers have fear and have to intense distrust and dislike of unknown SUPers among them!.
Being further out is not a safety measure it just about ensures your board will go hurtling through the guys on the inside!Eeek!
Ok that’s the bad points, depending on your beach you may be able to get away from a crowded break and down the beach.
Can you read the beach identify rips, suitable waves and turn and control your board, because jumping off in any phase of paddling out or riding your SUP is a cardinal sin. That will get you punched out in many line ups Seriously by jailing you exhibit no control whatsoever ! Scary stuff,
So learn to paddle out prone one way using rips or calm water as roads out! B
Learn white water riding and control riding in,
Learn to finish a ride by pulling out over the back of the wave or int e white water proning onto your board to bring it to,a stop in control.
or by steering to slight enough white water.
Every surfer on every craft started as newbies, knowing very little, you will learn easily what to to do,as you are aware of things to learn , absolutely no shame in being new.
Surfing is not easy on any board, surfing even harder long time surfers make it look easy, but they too had the kook stage!

I've taken up troll hunting just for fun, instead of a rifle I'll just use a pun! 冲浪爷爷