Its like this, when you come to Newquay you just gotta go surfin! Surf schools in Newquay run courses for all ages and abilities from half day to seven days, it don't matter if you have never done it before. Your in surfers paradise so you may as well give it a go. Your guaranteed a fresh, exhilarating experience that will not be forgotten! (plus once you've done it you can say stuff like 'hang ten dude' and 'cowabunga')

Is Surfing Hard?

Ah, theres no way around this. Surfing takes practice, in big doses. It takes months and years to get good. It takes weeks to master fundamentals. The ocean is a weird, sometimes chaotic environment to the newcomer. You have to learn how waves behave. You have to learn what your surfboard can do. You have to learn the skills of catching a wave, standing up, riding and judging bulging tumbling water.

The answer: No, learning to surf isnt hard, its fun. It just takes time.
Helpful, But Lame Advice:
Watch other surfers who know how to surf, figure out what theyre doing.
Do it yourself.
Helpful, Non-Lame Advice
Taking a couple of lessons with an experienced surfing instructor can save you a year of pain.

What Kind of Surfboard?

A long one. Beginners need a long board. A longboard is between 8 to 10 feet long. Of course, youre tempted by those pointed, streamline arrow-shaped boards that all the other great surfers are slicing and carving up the ocean
Theyre all on 6 to 7 foot, three-finned shortboards, called thrusters, so why not you? Yeah, why not you?
Because youre a beginner. Those short little boards are shaped for maneuverability, which fits into the highly technical nomenclature of being squirrely. That means its tippy, turns fast, accelerates, and requires great skill to control. Does that sound like your kind of board? (Before you answer that, remember, youre a beginner. Youre what all those champion surfers will be laughing at if you chose a shortboard.)
A longboard is easy to paddle, catches waves easier, catches waves earlier giving you more time to stand up, is a long smooth-riding wing that gives you a stable platform to stand on, rides well on small or big waves, turns slow, is forgiving of a moderate mis-step, and you will be getting up and surfing it within an hour.
With a shortboard, youll be getting up and surfing it within a year.
Test #1: What kind of board do you want to learn to surf on?
a) a longboard b) a longboard c) a longboard

What Can I Expect?

There is no other feeling like standing up on a surfboard and guiding it in a jumping, sliding rush across glassy water: speed, thrills, and fun. Joy exists. Youll know, youll feel it. Surfers have an apt term for it: its called stoke.
Therell be a moment when you get out of your car, see a beautiful sunlit ocean, easy rolling waves, other surfers, and your chest will pound with an undeniable urge to get out there, to surf. Now youre stoked. Stoked and ready to burn!