There is nothing like surfing to help your surfing. But if you can’t find time to paddle around a little before your surf trip, here are a few suggestions that will definitely help once you arrive:

• Swim: try and find a YMCA or gym around your area that has a pool and get some lap time before your surf trip. Surfing requires both long distance paddling, as well as short, sprint like paddling. Start out with an 8 lap warm-up swim to get your heart rate going. Then do 10x 2 lap swims, and finish with another 8 lap warm-down swim. Do this a few times a week before your trip and you’ll be well ahead of anyone who didn’t do any training.

• Run/Bike: if you don’t have access to a pool to swim, then running and/or biking are the next best things. Basically your trying to get your heart rate used to the effects of paddling while surfing. Swimming is by far the best non-impact cardiovascular training there is, but running and biking are a close second.

• Watch Surf Videos: not the ones where they are riding giant waves, or doing aerial maneuvers…talk to your local surf shop owner, tell him you’re going to Costa Rica to learn how to surf and want to watch a basic surf video and usually they are very helpful.

• Read Books/Magazines: the surfing world has tons of literature about the history, culture, lifestyle, just about anything you may need or want to know about surfing.