To surf, you will need a surf spot, a place where ride-able waves are breaking. Most ocean beaches and large bodies of water, including bays and even the Great Lakes, produce waves you can ride. Your geographic location will soon teach you one of surfing's basic life lessons: Does your area have consistent, surf-able waves or will you be driven insane with only decent waves once in a blue moon? Some parts of the world deal outstanding waves to the point where surf travelers can plan week-long trips and almost be guaranteed the session of their lives. In fact, for inland-bound people and those whose home breaks don't quit cut it, surf safaris are a way of life in order to use your surf products.
While almost any large body of water can produce a ride-able wave if the conditions are right, the most consistent surf occurs at ocean beaches with the following features: Sand bars, rock jetties, coral reefs, and other geographic features that will allow a wave to come from deep water and then peel off into a more shallow area. Some of the most famous surf Meccas in the world to show off your surf products include Hawaii's Banzai Pipeline, a reef break, California's Wedge, a wave bouncing off a rock jetty, and Supertubes in Australia, a sandbar point break which was created by dredging a nearby inlet.
A chat with a local wave rider or surf shop owner, or even a quick ride to the beach, will reveal what your locality boasts in terms of inlets, points, jetties, reefs, rock ledges, sandbars, or other natural or man-made surf breaks.
The ever-changing nature of the ocean turns surfers into ever-searching nomads. If a certain break isn't handling the swell, it's off to check the next spot. This could be around the corner or a few-hour trek. Will it get better when the tide changes? Is another break taking the wind a little different? Only experience and careful study of the Real Life surfing guide will tell you to move on or get it while the gettin's good. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the beach, sometimes it ain't.
