Catching waves

[JupiterSurfer]

What is best while learning? Staying inside and catching whitewater or go outside and try and catch a wave before it starts to break?

Thanks

[CHarvey]

White water worrior all the way

[The Fafanator]

First catch a few whitewaters for a week or so (3 surf sessions) then go a little outside of where it breaks and catch it JUST before/as it breaks and surf straight, then catch it a little more back (just a little) and turn towards the face, that will take are of the next month or 2 (depending on how fast you learn.)

[BoarderDave]

I was too used to riding bodyboards on the unbroken waves.. so when I picked up a surfboard, I went straight for them.. It was probably much harder, and I had a lot of falls.. but I'm getting it better now.

[Old Guys Rule]

If the waves are not to big (Waist high when standing up on the board) go for the waves. If they are too big start out with the white wash.

[Thibb]

That's my pick of the answers. Start with whitewater and when you can get up quickly and balance a little bit, move back. But always move gradually. Start with the whitewater, then pick the little waves a bit further out, then pick the small ones between the sets at the line-up, and finally take the ones in the sets. If it looks too big, stay away from it, and if you see everyone else bailing, then follow their lead.

Just my two cents as a fellow beginner who has surfed a few bigger waves after a summer of practice, but also has the cuts and bruises to show when he underestimated the situations.

[isaluteyou]

Beginers should start off on whitewater thats the general rule but if its really small then why not paddle out and try some greeners