Britain's beaches offer some really terrific places to surf and there are plenty of options for the surfer who wants to take to the waves in the UK. But did you know that just across the Irish Sea there is a country which hosts some of the gnarliest waves on the planet? That's right – Ireland has a number of terrific spots featuring awesome waves which are an absolute must-surf if you are a committed surfer. Even if you are an intermediate or beginner, Ireland has some great locations for a short surf holiday where you can improve your skills while soaking up the “craic” and the local colour.

One of the most famous is Lahinch, in County Clare. This huge beach hosts genuinely breath-taking waves and has all kinds of different conditions for surfers of every rank. Be warned, however, this is a very, very popular spot, particularly at the weekends, so if you don't like crowds you may be better off elsewhere. Those looking to combine surfing with nightlife, however, could not do much better as the surf hordes and the locals make for a fun atmosphere.

The largest surf club in Ireland is to be found in Tramore, Waterford. Tramore's T-Bay is the main spot for surfing in the area but, to be fair, this is really a beginner's beach. A good place to learn on the moderate waves, more experienced surfers will quickly get impatient but those who don't like to take it too seriously will have a great time and, like Lahinch, there is plenty of fun to be had in the local town.

Often called the “home of Irish surfing” Bundoran in County Donegal has plenty to offer for all levels of experience. There are plenty of separate spots nearby and all kinds of waves to hit. The “craic” in the local town is so legendary, however, that some people complain they don't get enough surfing done simply because there is too much other fun to be had!

Those looking to surf in the UK are spoiled for choice with lots of incredible waves to be found all around the coast. There are plenty of really excellent spots within driving distance no matter where you live so all you need to do is load up the car with your board, wetsuit and wax and you're on your way to some great surf. If, however, you have never taken to the waves unassisted before you will probably want some advice on where to start. If you do not have much experience surfing then there are some spots in the UK that you most definitely should avoid, as the waves will just be far too gnarly for you to deal with. 

Instead you should head to one of the more relaxed locations. One such spot is Watergate Bay, located in the heart of UK surf country in Cornwall. A fun, though often quite crowded, spot it offers a two mile beach plus all kinds of great local colour. A lot of extreme sports enthusiasts are attracted to the area so there is always a pretty heady atmosphere and the waves should be solid but tranquil enough for beginners to handle. Those who live further North may prefer to check out the Pier in Saltburn, Cleveland. This is another busy spot but it is great for beginners and there is generally a really pleasant atmosphere up there, with some nice pubs, cafés and surf shops near the beach.

If you live in Wales and are looking for a good starting point for your surfing career you should head out to Llangennith, another very busy, very fun beach. Conditions can be changeable, however, so beginners should be careful when they take to the waves.

Ever been interested in some big surfing names? Maybe you've just taken up the sport or are interested in watching it on TV, here is some background on current surf celebrities.

Take this young feisty and talented Hawaiian native Carissa Moore. She's stolen the spotlight with her daring and determined skill at surfing. At only 18 years of age, she won the 2011 ASP championship title in Sydney, Australia and recently participated as the only woman in a male championship in the familiar waters of Hawaii. She is definitely a surfer to follow if you hope to see something new and impressive.

Another skilled and well known female surfer is Sofia Mulanovich, who was born in Peru and is of Croatian descent. She has what it takes, as made evident by her induction to the Surfers Hall of Fame in July of 2007. She is the 1st South American to win this title and if that doesn't tell you that she's worth watching, then reading up on her will definitely convince you that this girl is a winner.

A famous and courageous adventure athlete who loves a challenge is Mark Visser. He is daring and brave, recently completing a daring stunt of surfing the giant waves of Jaws, Maui, at night! From this stunt he has earned the fitting nickname of “Night Rider!” His goals in his own words are “to push myself to greater limits and turn all my dreams into reality!” And so far he's proven himself capable of doing just that.

Surf lingo is practically a whole new language in itself. If you plan on surfing the waves and fitting in as a “beach bum”, take some time to learn to walk the walk and talk the talk. Here is some “surfology” to get you started.

• Awesome! Granted, this word is used by all kinds of people, but it should be credited to surfers who use it to say: great! If you’ve had a fantastic day out on the water, it’s definitely fitting to use this word to describe it.

• Bummer: The opposite of the above mentioned word. A drag or to say too bad.

• Coffin: This word describes the position of lying stiffly on one’s back on the board with arms crossed. You can see where it got its name.

• Did you change your mind at the last minute when approaching a wave? In surfing lingo, you just bailed out.

• Brah. No, it’s not a misspelling of a woman’s brassiere. It’s what you call your good friend down at the beach. Short for the Hawaiian word bruddah, which means brother.

• Gnarly. Use this word to describe a very large, dangerous or intense wave.

• Honey. If you’re a surfer and have yourself a fine lady, this name is just for her. It’s also used for female surfers.

• Stoked. Most surfers are stoked (excited, content are happy) about large waves.

• Eat it. Not so fun, you use it when you fall of the surf board.

• Do you want to take it a step further to express your glee and excitement about something? Gnarlatious!

• Dude is used by many people the world over, but surfers use it for a male surfing enthusiast.

• Anglin’: Turning left or right on a wave.

Surfing is a beloved pastime in many parts of the world. From the shores of Norway to the islands of the South Pacific, there are surfers and surf enthusiasts worldwide. Though the sport of surfing is fairly simplistic in its basic form, there are many different forms of surfboards. The construction of these largely depends on the preferences of the surfers, and the designs of the boards come about as a result of that. This article will, in no particular order explain some of the different types of surfboards.

1) Longboard

This is the classic surfboard, and was the favourite during the early days of surfing popularity in the 1950s and 60s. It consists of a length of balsa wood that is anywhere between 9 and 12 foot boards. They are preferred because of their stability and the ease with which it catches waves. The design is an ancient one, having been used by the native Hawaiian people for centuries.

2) Shortboard

It is the most common kind of board in use today. This board was first designed by Gordon Clark in the mid-1960s, and has been extremely popular ever since. It has a common length of 6 or 7 feet, and is composed of a sort of urethane foam. People favour the board because of its manoeuvrability and its light weight. Thanks to its design, however, it is less buoyant than the longboard.

3) Fish Board

As any surfer will tell you, the sport of surfing is one of the most enjoyable around. There is something about floating on the ocean and riding a wave that attracts virtually anyone who has ever tried it. However, being a surfer requires certain things, and being in shape is one of them. The reason for this is probably twofold: no one wants to look flabby when their shirt is off for most of the day, and there is a considerable amount of strength necessary for being an effective surfer. Following are some tips that can help you achieve the level of physical fitness that any surfer should possess.

One of the most important elements of any work out is a cardiovascular routine. It gets the blood pumping and the heart rate rising, and is one of the best ways to lose weight and cut down your body/fat ratio. For any surfer, this type of exercise has some rather obvious benefits. It increases your endurance, which is a necessary prerequisite if you want to spend hours out on the waves. One of the best exercises for this purpose is swimming, as it serves the double purpose of being a good cardiovascular workout and being immediately applicable to the sport you’re training for.

As anyone who has ever joined a club or started playing a sport, there is a certain code of conduct that the participants must follow, even if it is unspoken. In football, for instance, there are the rules of the game and the code of conduct known as “fair play”. Though the latter may not always be enforced, it is certainly an obligation of the players to abide by it. The same principle holds true in surfing: though there are not any set rules to speak of, there is a certain code of conduct that most surfers follow, in order to ensure the maximum experience for all people involved.

For example, there is a rule known as “right of way” that governs who can or cannot take any given wave. The “right of way” principle has many different permutations throughout different disciplines, and surfing is one of those. The concept behind this little rule is a relatively simple one. Basically, whoever is the closest to the peak of the wave – the little crest at which the wave starts to foam – takes the wave. This is to ensure that none of the involved parties gets hurt. However, if the closest person indicates, two or more people may share the wave simultaneously. The obvious exception, of course, is if the wave is breaking inwards; in which case the people involved need to take great care.

If you’ve recently become interested in surfing, congratulations! It is a sport that is simultaneously a good deal of fun and a good deal of exercise. It combines bodily exertion with the thrill of riding something that you don’t have much of control over. However, if you indeed are a beginner, there are a few things that you should probably be aware of, for your own good and personal safety.

First of all, you can’t surf at just any beach. Of course, you can surf on most beaches, even if these do not have especially good waves. The problem arises when you try to surf on beaches that either don’t have safety ratings or have rather dangerous ones. This is not the time for bragging or for showing off, especially since you don’t have a lot of experience. After all, you probably want to live to become a better surfer, so why waste the opportunity by doing something rather life-threatening?

As with virtually any other sport, one of the smartest things that any surfing beginner can do is listen to the veterans of that sport. After all, these people have been surfing for far longer than you; therefore, it’s good to remember that you can learn a lot from these people. And, as much as you should listen to what they tell you to do, you should also listen to what they tell you not to do. If you’re doing something that they say is not a good idea, then chances are that it’s not a good idea.

We’ve all seen pictures and watched clips of surfers riding the waves on a sunny day, with the sun’s rays illuminating the waves with sparkles and shine; but not often reported, or seen, is night surfing. But just because you haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Some people do it because of their hectic schedules that don’t permit them to go out during the day, others do it because they love to push themselves a little further to try something different, and others like Mark Visser prefer the thrill of a real challenge.

Mark Visser planned, practiced and trembled over a span of months to be able to face large waves that are daunting even on a bright sun-filled day, in Jaws, Maui. During his months of preparation he was instructed to paddle his board through shark infested waters and was taught how he could react and cope if something went wrong.

For his experiment of night surfing, his board and body were lit in different places helping him to see the waves in just the right places, but in the end he had to depend mainly on his “feeling” to guide him and completed his self-proposed challenge successfully.

Mark isn’t the only surfer who rides the waves at night, although a risky endeavour such as his stunt at Jaws is not something many attempt. Many amateur surfers enjoy their favourite sport at night as well, albeit in calmer settings.

It is often suggested to not use artificial light but rather go out at nights under a full moon or in a well-lit area. Avoid looking towards the light but rather focus on the waves and the reflection in the water. Using artificial lighting on your body only attracts fish or other unwelcomed creatures, so many avoid using them. The good thing is that after a few minutes, your eyes normally adjust to the darkness and the fact you’re depending on your “feeling” enhances your daytime surfing as well.

If you have ever tried surfing, then you know that it’s a sport that involves being half-unclothed for much of the time. When not unclothed, you are dressed in an outfit so tight-fitting that you might as well be stark naked. This is a little embarrassing if you haven’t been getting to the gym very often. It’s also a sport that takes great strength and stamina which takes plenty of training for. And, let’s face it; many of us don’t have time for that these days. However, if you do want to take up surfing as a hobby or favoured sport, then you might want to make the time, as well as several adjustments to your diet and lifestyle.

First, you need to make sure that you are eating right. If you’re already a bit on the thin side and exercise from time to time, then you won’t worry too much about your diet. However, looking good is not the only factor to consider when out surfing. You need to make sure that your diet is balanced in such a way that your energy levels are at a high mark when you are out on the waves. A good portion of foods with non-saturated fats and complex, whole-grain carbohydrates will help with the energy. However, there are other things you will want to monitor, such as reduced sugar intake and increased vegetable intake.