Surfing looks easy right? You only need to paddle out there, duck under those waves, and ride down the face of the waves doing a bit of cut backs and bottom turns. If you ever tried to rent a surf board and simply had a go, it would dawn on you how a real surf experience is so different.

Surfing was revived during the 1920s when Duke kahanamoku a Hawaiian swimmer formed the first surfing club in Waikiki. Professional surfing competition had become truly popular in the 1960s and it brought about the best surf experience possible. The main organizing body for professional surfing today is the Association of Surf Professionals (ASP), which also has five regional organizations. A few professional surfers would earn about $200,000 or more every year from competing but most top professional surfers earn about $20,000 in a year. Top pros can earn in excess of $750,000 over their lifetimes from competition. More money can be generated from product endorsements and also in offering surfing lessons.

So how can you become a professional surfer and have the best surf experience ever while earning more money at the same time? Here are some instructions:

1. Buy your own surf clothes and at least one surfboard for you to start with. But you may not get that much success without having the main ingredients in the whole mix: great ocean waves. So obviously, it is a great help to be living near the ocean. You will also need to stay in good physical shape.

2. Offering lessons is one of the most popular means to moonlight for the professional surf teachers, who offer lessons to the newbies. It can be a huge expense but if you aim to compete professionally then it’s definitely a great investment. It requires a lot of practice for you to become a surfer and this has no short cuts involved. You can find veteran surfers who offer lessons when you hang out in surf shops like the 2 Mile Surf Shop located in Bolina, California. Nick Kreiger is the program director at that shop.

3. To compete in the surfing event at the semi-professional level is the next goal. Get ready for traveling to other destinations to join events. You will achieve significant surf experience if you compete in some events and still practice on your own.

4. To join in the ASP is relatively simple for qualified users. You’ll need to apply and pay membership fees. The ASP World Tour is however only for an elite group of surfing professionals who dominate this sport. Female surfers can compete too.

5. Travel the world for you to compete in ASP events and join the ASP World Tour.

6. To endorse surfing products and to provide surfing lessons is a good income supplement once you’ve made it there.