So, you're on holiday in Cornwall, you've got a week or maybe two if you're lucky, the sun's shining, the sea's turquoise, and the surf's up. There's two types of people out on the water: the cool dude, who stands easily, riding the wave to shore, and the guy with his wetsuit zipped up the wrong way, who spends his time trying to stay afloat whilst swallowing a bucketful of seawater. Which one do you want to be?

If you want to be the "cool dude" or dudette, then you will be wise to sign up for some lessons. You will also learn how to put your wetsuit on the right way, avoiding the first cardinal sin of surfing!

Taking surf lessons in Cornwall with one of the renowned surf schools such as Waves Surf School (see bottom of this article for links) will get you standing up and riding a wave within your first two hour lesson. And yes, that's true for everyone, for all ages and abilities, from Gran to Uncle Albert. What can you expect from a surf lesson? Well firstly, your instructor will probably be good looking, which some might say is the best perk of all! Seriously though, here are the perks:

* Firstly, you'll get the best wetsuit around, in a size that fits, and one that will keep you warm.

* Equipment: your surfboard will be big enough to keep you safe, but soft enough to make sure that you don't get hurt.

* You'll have the best two hours of your holiday, and are sure to go home with the surfing bug!

* You'll be standing and riding a wave within two hours. Some beginners take to it like a duck to water and, with the right instruction, open up their lives to a whole new hobbie.

Surfing can be fun for all the family and is suitable for all ages and abilities, especially if you have surf lessons where you will be provided with a big, soft board. Waves Surf School of Cornwall say that their youngest learner has been six, with their eldest being a 65 year old Grandad.

The one criteria of going out into the seas to learn to surf, is being able to swim. It is recommended that you can swim 50m before taking surf lessons. Remember, surfing is an excellent form of exercise and is great for keeping fit. You don't see many overweight surfers paddling out to sea on their surfboards!

Cornwall is the perfect place to learn to surf, with gentle waves for all the family. There is a whole coastline to be explored, with the surf beaches found mainly on the north coast from Porthcothan to Harlyn, and Padstow on the doorstep and Newquay just around the corner. And for those in the family that don't want to surf, there's plenty of other things to do in Cornwall, from exploring the golden beaches, to eating in many of the fine restaurants.

DVD'S For Under $1

Believe it or not, there’s an art to this.

Wax is the only thing connecting your feet to your board so it pays to get it right.

1. Score Some Wax.

1 bar basecoat.

1 bar wax. It’s important the temperature rating suits your break or the wax won’t do it’s thing.

Get a wax comb too.

2. Remove Old Wax.

Leave your deck in the sun for 20 minutes till wax is soft, but not runny. Use the flat scraper on the comb to remove it.

You can also use a Wax Pickle or special surf wax solvent to get it all off if you’re keen (now is not the time to get DIY with funky chemicals or you may melt your board).

2. Apply Basecoat.

Hold the bar at a 45 degree angle so you rub with the edge.

Rub basecoat on lightly in a circular motion - roughly 25cm (10”) circles.

If you’re a learner/intermediate then go hard and cover ¾ of the deck from the tail up.

Don’t wax the side rails, but do rub a little where your hands grip to pop and duck dive.

Use about ¼ of the bar and you should have lot’s of sweet little bumps.

Do one final layer rubbing rail to rail, then tip to tail.

3. Apply Wax.

Now gently apply wax, again with the bar on an angle rubbing in small-ish circles.

You want to end up with nice small round bumps.

4. Future Care.

Use a wax comb with diagonal cross-hatching strokes to revitalise traction from time to time.

Keep your wax in a plastic snaplock bag so it doesn't get covered in crap and melt all over your pimp ride.

Always put your board in your bag the same way up or you’ll get wax on both sides of the bag, which means wax on both sides of your board. That’ll slow you down.

When your wax gets flat start again from Step 1.

I just wish it tasted as good as it smells.

Visit learninghowtosurf.com for more tips to improve your surfing.

DVD'S For Under $1