Starting straight vs sideways

[tilem]

Hey guys, I learned to surf starting the waves straight to the beach and then turn. But I see a lot of people starting the wave already in the position they want to go like with an angle to the right or left depending where they want to go.

Just thinking of it I would think that taking the wave sideways would be a lil harder but don't know...

Which one's the way to go or would be better for some situation?

Thanks!

[pandarturo]

Depends on the wave

[billie_morini]

Two thoughts:
1. Try it. You might like it!
2. Riding the wave diagonally is called, "La la," in Hawaiian

[hit_the_lip]

Tilem - you want to be up on the face in surfing. You angle your board at taken off to get on the face quicker without going all the way to the bottom and bottom turning. As you progress in surfing you will start doing this.