Getting started
How do I start surfing without feeling stupid?
Start on a friendly beach, on a big soft board, on small waves. Pride is the enemy.
Pick a beach with a sandy bottom and small, mellow whitewater. Rent or borrow the biggest, softest board you can find. Aim for 8 feet or more. Spend your first few sessions catching whitewater on your belly, then popping to your knees, then to your feet. Do not paddle out to the outside on day one. Everyone who surfs well was terrible for a long time first. That is not a bug, it is the whole thing.