I m planning to start surfing but I have no idea about the first equipment that is needed and about the cost of it.

Could someone give me some basic instructions on my first steps?

Thank you.

Hmmm.

Do you mean surfing as in SURFING, or surfing as in KITE-surfing seeing as this is in the kiting forum??

Theres quite a difference in the equipment needed and the cost!!

Al.

Let me translate first, to see the differences.... and i ll post back.

OK..... Its quite simple though:
Surfing is just surfing a wave on a surfboard, k
Kite-surfing is sailing along on the water using the power of a kite to pull you along.

Al.

I ll take the first option..... simple surfing on a surfboard!

OK, well thats the cheapest option for sure.

All you'll need (apart from waves) is a board, wetsuit and leash, and if you're going to be going out in colder conditions maybe a little more protection for the extremities such as gloves, boots and a hood.

As far as the wetsuit goes, it depends on the water temperatures where you'll be surfing. In the UK, a 3/2mm suit is OK for the summer and you'll need a good quality 5/3mm suit for the winter. The most important feature of a wetsuit is that its a good fit, so your best bet is to try some on in a shop.. Find one that fits well and is comfortable and that should be fine. If you need a warm winter suit, make sure that its blindstitched as well, but most are. A summer suit should cost you around £60-£120, a winter suit around £100-£200.

The board is a little more difficult as it will depend on your height, weight, general athletic ability and aspirations. The waves you'll be surfing in do make a difference as well, but not really to start with. The general rule is that bigger (longer) boards are easier to learn on as they are more stable, catch waves easier and provide a relatively forgiving platform. There is a limit though as really long boards can become a bit of a handful. Generally something like a 7'6" minimal would be considered as a typical beginners board... (There are lots of other factors that dictate how a board will perform, but most 7'6" minimals should be fine for a beginner)

Other than the size of the board, the other thing to consider is its construction. Custom board look nice, are light and stiff and perform well, but they are more fragile and more expensive than mass produced 'plastic' boards. As a beginner, you can't go too far wrong with a 7'3" Bic Minimal. You'll be able to find them in most surf shops, either 'in the real world' or online for about £200 brand new, or look through some classifieds sites for second-hand ones. They are strong and durable, forgiving to surf and should last you a long time.

I hope some if this helps. Let us know what you decide and how you get on.

Al.

Thank you for all the informations, Justal.
If I have more questions, I ll come back.
Right now, after a search I did, I found that there is one store in my city, Thessaloniki.
I m really glad about that, because, since surf is not popular in Greece at all (although we are surrounded by sea), I thought it would be difficult to find a store in my city.

I ll go and have a look and then ill report here, so as to compare prices etc. Then I ll do a search in the net, so as to decide which solution will be cheap and good.

Cool....let us know how you get on.

I'm not THAT surprised that surfing isn't very popular in Greece, as although you are surrounded by sea, I shouldn't imagine the surf is particualrly good.... I could be wrong though.

Some parts of Greece (particularly some of the the islands) are very popular windsurfing destinations for UK (and other) tourists though, and I guess its prety good for kite-surfing in places too.

Al.