So, the moment has arrived. You've spent the past few months practicing with your SUP board at the local creek (repeat after me: Stand! Wobble! Fall!), you've worked out which way to stand (remember: you're goofy, not goofy), and you've discovered your core (along with its stubborn reluctance to engage with you). Now it's time to take the next step and try SUP surfing!

And though you'll be flushed with excitement and anticipation at the thought of catching and riding your first wave, the usual doubting—and, let's be fair, perfectly natural—questions will likely begin to circle: How do I take this step? Where do I take this step? And when?!

Well, don't fear. Here are a few tips to consider when taking your SUP board to the beach for the first time.

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1. Go Local

Of course, you mightn't live close enough to a beach to consider it your 'local', but wherever possible choose the closest and safest beach you can. Doing so will not only allow you to practice more, it will also allow you to take better advantage of changing beach conditions (more on this in the next tip).

Note: The same goes when choosing an instructor. At the start, your lessons will focus simply on getting you and your SUP past the breakers and then catching a wave back to shore. Any accredited instructor will be able to teach you this, so choose one that lives close to you as there is little to gain from traveling further than you need simply for lessons.

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2. Get Familiar

Once you've chosen a beach, get to know it. Ask questions. Which wind blows offshore? Which tide and swell direction combine to offer the best waves? When is the beach crowded, and when is it empty? By finding the answers to these questions—and others similar—you give yourself the best chance of practicing when the conditions are right for you.

In other words, approach your relationship with the beach the way you would any relationship you aim to nurture. The better you recognize and understand the beach's many moods and nuances, the better the relationship will be.

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3. Know Your Limits

Along with getting to know the beach, getting to know yourself is vital if you want to get better.

At first thought, this might seem intense, but rather than ask you to analyze your own existence, it is simply asking that you always be aware of where you stand with your progress. For example, if the conditions demand from you things you are not yet able to do (say, being able to maneuver your SUP to avoid people, rocks, etc.), then perhaps it isn't the right time to practice.

Having this awareness will not only help you improve, it will also help to keep you—and others around you—safe while practicing. And, strange as it may seem, it will also allow you to better know when to push your limits.

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Embrace the Journey

In the end, it's important to remember that SUP surfing, like most other water-based sports, is a fluid pursuit. What works for others may not work for you, and vice versa. The more you practice, the more you will recognize this, and over time you will be able to adjust your methods and techniques for the better, almost without thinking.

Now, get out there and have fun!