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Let me know if a you have seen it. Look like a gret surf film. Surfing Network peeps let me know!!

Slowly pulling the long ribbon of my wetsuit’s zip up my spine, I looked out across the midnight blue water and surveyed the swell. Out there lay my first waves. I couldn’t wait for a rip curl to curdle and create the perfect jumper. I had no idea what that meant, I’d read it in a surf mag that morning, but my wave-hungry group of new surf buddies were on the way down to the sand, and I was sure it would all make sense soon.

France Surfing Network

Our little posse gathered above the Atlantic breaks at Hossegor, near the Surftrip surf school, and though I’d been waiting all my life to try this sport, I started to wonder if I’d left it too late for my first surfing lesson. Most of my fellow students were no more than eight years old. And naturally, cruelly, after 15 minutes or so of instruction from our teacher Etienne (in French, with a two minute summary in English) they were leaping into the waves, with their grins and skinny black limbs, like waterproof tarantulas, and were up and on their boards, riding like Keanu, before I remembered that it’s not cool to hold your nose and squeal each time a wave coshes you round the face.

Watching proudly from the sidelines were my new surf gurus, James and Annie, whose bright new hotel, the h2o Chalet in Capbreton, is a cycle ride away south down the coast. They waved encouragingly whenever I cleared enough water from my eyes to squint their way, and made me feel I’d done well when my only achievement at the end of the lesson was not drowning, and riding two waves in, lying down.

When you’re not used to battling the force of the sea, even this is knackering, so I appreciated refuelling at Rock Food, a surf cafe with bad service and salads named after surf superstars - Kelly, Sarge, Yann. These names meant nothing to me, but I started to get an inkling that one day they might.

Surfing champions are regulars to Hossegor, one of Europe’s most famous surf spots. Quicksilver, Rip Curl, Mambo, DC, Billabong, we meandered past all the leading surfbrands’ stores on our bikes before a pleasant pedal along the harbour edge and quiet roads to the cheery seaside resort of Capbreton.

The h20 chalet is tucked away behind one of Capbreton’s shopping streets, rue du Général de Gaulle, in a gorgeous little townhouse with a walled garden bedecked in wisteria. Much of the furniture came from Ikea, but the end result is a grown-up funky look; minimalist with retro prints, and of course, a surf theme. The kitchen cupboards bear campervan and sky line motifs; there are framed prints of Hossegor’s famous big breaks; wave patterns in the bathroom; surf posters, books and DVDs; kaleidoscopes in every room, and a welcome gift of eco surf wax, placed on your pillow like a chocolate.

French Tube Rider

Combining their experience of many winter seasons working in ski resorts with summers spent in boutique hotels and cruising the French coast in their campervan, Annie and James have brought the ski chalet concept to the waves, creating a sociable environment, with breakfast and sensational communal three-course dinners, plus afternoon smoothies and cakes all included. I soon felt like I was staying with old mates.

They are chatty and fun, happy to take guests on a night out, and overflowing with local knowledge and surf wisdom. Each morning James checks the conditions at the local surf spots, to write a report for thesurf website magicseaweed.com, and to inform guests. He also takes into account the predictions of their eccentric neighbour Jojo, a crinkly, twinkle-eyed gentlemen, who knows rain is on its way when he wakes up with “a crazy feeling in his head”.

That afternoon though, sunshine prevailed, and a lot of other complicated factors I don’t yet understand - off shore breezes, wave co-efficiencies and tides - were co-operating, so we packed James’s car with boards and drove five minutes to La Prvent, a quiet pale crescent of sand at Capbreton.

I’m not sure if something was lost in translation in my morning lesson, but something clicked that afternoon, with Annie standing beside me in the water telling me which waves to go for (the big ones) and to start paddling when the encroaching white fizz of the breaks is still a few metres behind. I started to catch waves, to be swept in, skidding over the glassy blue sea. I tried stumbling to my feet but kept headplanting into the waves, no longer caring when salt water whooshed up my nose. Waves breaking over my head began to feel normal, as did floating in black nothingness underwater. Eventually I stood, for a few seconds, not long enough to savour the feeling, but just enough to know that I had surfed.

That night we hoped to party at the summer fete taking place in the town square, but talking and drinking for too long at home meant we only caught the last act, a lively Brazilian band, which had everyone from toddlers to grandads dancing in a display of small town community spirit. After armagnacs in a sea-view bar, we sat up till 3am in the chalet watching Riding Giants, a classic surf film about the first American dropouts who devoted their lives to riding mammoth Hawaiian waves. More terrifying than inspiring, I realised my doggy paddling into a wobbly kneel on the board had as much in common with what the pros do in the ocean as sleeping in the sand on a lilo.

But I was keen for my next baby steps. The following morning we drove to Santocha, another windswept Capbreton beach, littered with driftwood but devoid of people. Fat raindrops patterned the waves, but I started to love being in the water, even the waiting 10, 20 minutes or more only to screw up my position on the board, fall off and have to start again. When James let me borrow Goliath, his much steadier longboard, everything came together. I managed to stand up maybe 10 times, riding the wave into the shore and even steering the board, feeling as high as the big wave heroes. If only those eight year olds had seen me.

· Group surf lessons with Hossegor school Surftrip (0033 681 908 412, surftrip.fr), €35pp for 1½ hours including board and wetsuit. Surfboard rental €15 per day, full wetsuit €5 per day. Cycle hire with Single Track (singletrack64 .com). The h2o Chalet (020-8123 0397, h2oholidays.com) costs from €55pp per night half board. Train to Biarritz, including Eurostar from Kings Cross St Pancras from £119 return including overnight in six-berth couchette with Rail Europe (0844 848 4070, raileurope.co.uk).

Cardiff-by-the-Sea surfers Scott Yankton and Matt Gelardo want to make the talents of Southern California’s board shaping experts accessible to everyone else in the world.

In 2006, they launched their Web site, Surfboardbuilders.com, as an extension of the retail surf shop that Gelardo has owned for the past 10 years.

The shop, Cardiff By The Sea Surf Co., opened a decade before Gelardo took over, and the name is set to change soon to Surfboard Builders.

Yankton says that Surfboardbuilders.com is an adaptation of the actual marketplace. The site offers a step-by-step selection process in which customers choose from 16 professional shapers and then customize their board.

Industry renowned experts Jeff “Doc” Lausch, Larry Mabile and Gary Linden are among the shapers offering services on the site.

Modifications include style, length, board specs such as nose type, thickness, fin setup and detailed color and design options.

“Retail is tough and competitive for surf shops. Also, all pro shapers are amazing craftsmen, but that doesn’t leave a lot of time for marketing, but it’s a rapidly changing world,” said Yankton.

Yankton noted that the pre-molded board industry is stocking the shelves at Costco and other large retailers with boards known as “pop-outs,” and the smaller surf shops are suffering.

A pop-out refers to any unshaped board that has been popped-out of a mold and duplicated. Typically imported from China, the boards can be purchased for prices between $150 and $300 at Costco.

Previously, Yankton served as chief operating officer for a technology company called Indian Gaming Services that he sold in February 2006.

Later that year, Gelardo and Yankton launched self-funded Surfboardbuilders.com with an initial investment of $200,000.

The company’s custom boards range in price from $485 to $5,000, and are sold internationally.

The sport of surfing dates back to the 15th century AD when Hawaiians referred to it as “He”enalu” or wave sliding as it is translated It is no secret that the Hawaiian people are considered to be the Fathers of Surfing
The sport of surfing dates back to the 15th century AD when Hawaiians referred to it as “He”enalu” or wave sliding as it is translated. It is no secret that the Hawaiian people are considered to be the Fathers of Surfing. However, most people don”t understand what an important facet of Hawaiian lifestyle that the sport really was.

In its beginning, surfing was revered as a sacred ritual and only higher society members were allowed to take part in the activity. The kings and queens of Hawaii were the original surfers, so to speak. However, it is ironic how surfing has evolved to the sport that it is today, as well as how it is enjoyed by people from all walks of life i the general population.

Despite the history, surfing is here to stay and the embodiment of the surfer’’s paradise can be found on the numerous beaches of Hawaii, but not just any beaches. Despite the fact that there are numerous people that will argue, claiming it doesn”t matter what beach you travel to, there are several beach areas that hold the majority of the allure for the serious or competitive surfer. However, if you are truly desirous of an adventure into a surfer’’s paradise, the following tips will give you a better picture of the choices that abound in Hawaii. The surfing network is world renowned.

Surfing Network man!

The top destination spot on the list is (and probably always will be) found on the island of Oahu Waikiki Beach. Renowned worldwide for its amazing sunsets, proximity to Diamond Head, and white sand beaches, this two mile strip of beach is a magnet for surfers from all parts of the globe. The downside is that Waikiki is always crowded, so be sure to plan far enough in advance if you want that surfing vacation to be here. You definitely want to pre-book your vacation rentals in Waikiki enough time before your trip.

The number two destination on the list is Lanikai Beach and is also located on Oahu. Lanikai translates as heavenly sea and a truer statement has never been made, considering the sugary colored beaches and the turquoise blue waters that paint the beach landscape. The actual beach spans roughly a mile in length and the locals constantly praise how relaxing it is to swim in the water as well as surf in it.

Cheeehooo!

Hanalei Bay Beach ranks third on the list of popular surfing destinations. Located on the northern shores of Kauai, there is a part of the beach that spells romance to those that are not just there for the sport itself. Considered to be one of the most romantic beaches in the Island State, Hanalei Bay was meant to be enjoyed by surfers and hopeless romantics alike. Amazing waterfalls, azure-blue waters, lush, emerald-colored mountains, and those bright white sands of the beach area are more than enough to entice anyone into spending time there. On top of that, there is an abundance of vacation rentals.

Finally, Kaanapali, a.k.a. the Black Rock Beach, is located on the western shores of the island of Maui which has become the most increasingly visited island of the chain. For years, it was only Oahu that was the primary destination with maybe a day’’s adventure planned as a part of the vacation. However, Maui and its charm have definitely altered that mindset in recent years. Kaanapali is a destination that targets and tempts the active vacationer with surfing, snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, and jet skiing. It’’s definitely not a vacation spot for those who want to sit idly and watch.

The site was created as a way of giving travelers rare insight into Hawaii vacations rentals. Through this informative service, travelers are allowed a rare glimpse of the best Hawaii vacations and other Hawaii vacations. The service provides reviews and ratings for the best vacations on the Islands. There is also several agencies that are involved within the Surfing Network. Keep an eye out.