[matwood]

My dad taught me as soon as I could stand is how I learned. From there I spent every free moment in the water. No waves that day? Just paddle around. There is a joke in the cheesy North Shore movie where the character asks about working when the waves are good. The response was when the waves are good, no one works. No to sound all zen, but the ocean drives how many times/week you go.

I would definitely suggest taking a couple lessons to get started. There are some non-obvious things that someone explaining will help you not get frustrated. I promise you, the first time you ride of the face of a wave you will be hooked.