Surfing Waves

Everytime I attempt to catch a wave, it seems my board isn't moving at all from the spot! My nose is a couple inches dipped into the water and I paddle like my life depends on it before the wave catches up to me. But no matter how much I seem to try, it won't budge and I end up flipping over or getting swallowed and pounded by the wave. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if the waves were just bad. Any advice?

Dex , dexterity is an issue here the nose of the board is supposed to be about 1inch above the water, strangely you are doing the reverse of every other learner who has the nose too high and try to drive the board through the water like a snow plough. You are doing something very wrong, get onto some flat water, paddle around on your board until you can raise a continuous glide.
It may be that your board is too small, what size is it) What do you weigh and how tall are you?
All of which may contribute to you playing somersaulting submarines. Oh and finally how old are you and how fit are you?
I somehow get the feeling that you just thought you could paddle out and then just surf. I'm not being disrespectful just stating what seems to be realities for your situation.

Board Size: 6'3
Weight: 127lb
Height: 5'10
Age: 14
Fitness Level: About average (I used to do Cross Country and Track, not anymore)

No worries, you're not being disrespectful at all, I asked for the advice and I'm glad I got a good response. And you're right I did have the arrogant idea that I could just go out and surf, I found out that's really not the case.

You definetely want your nose out of the water a little bit as Jaffa says. Another thing you want to do is make sure you're going all the way back with your stroke. Long powerful strokes are better than short fast ones.

Also a bigger board will help you paddle better/faster. You certainly can learn on that board, but you will struggle for a while and you will progress much slower than if you were using a bigger board.

But the main thing is water time. Just get out and have fun in the water!

It has to be the water, it can't be your technique. Maybe the water has more viscosity or less fluidity where you surf than the rest of us

Thanks for the advice I finally got the idea and am starting to catch a couple good waves.