I think that the part most people have a hard time with is when to actually start paddling for the wave. I think it's easier to just start riding waves on a bod

I think that the part most people have a hard time with is when to actually start paddling for the wave. I think it's easier to just start riding waves on a bodyboard and not concentrate on the standing-up part yet. Just get the hang of which waves are good, when to paddle and catching waves. After that, concentrate on the standing up part. Source: Not an instructor, but I started as a teenager on bodyboards, then moved on to regular boards. Haven't surfed in a very long time unfortunately.