Be nice to your fellow water users. Unless they're Canoeists, Jetskiers, Windsurfers, Bodyboarders, Kneeboarders, Longboarders, Shortboarders, and anyone else daring to surf the same break as yourself. But with a precious few waves you should try to stand for more than 2 seconds. Work hard to plug the gaping holes in your board and in your paddling technique and take-off style, because the older you get, the more you need young people to tow you by your straining leash to the line up. Live in the Midlands once, but move nearer the sea before it makes you stark raving howling at the moon mad.
Good surf is crowded with pillocks.
Wetsuits shrink over Christmas. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, you were never a kook, your secret spots were secret, and you looked sexy in neoprene. Respect old gits. Don't expect anyone else to support you properly. Maybe you have a surf shop as a sponsor.