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SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015 LIVE IT UP! 9 Riding the Waves Helps Keep You Fit and Youthful Y ou're never too old to start surfing. Just ask Ed Guzman, owner of Club Ed Surf School and Camps. "My oldest student was an 82-year-old man," said the Santa Cruz resident who teaches classes daily as well as runs an overnight camp for kids and teens. According to Guzman, Cowell Beach is the best beginner surfing beach in the world. "The area is famous for gentle, rolling waves which is great for beginners," said the 57-year-old who started surfing in the area at the age of 12. "My surfing friends and I always say, 'you start out at Cowell Beach and you end up at Cowell Beach.' Fourty-five years later, I've come full circle." Whether you're fit or trying to get that way, Guzman said surfing is a great sport to try. "It helps you get fit, especially if you combine it with swimming and yoga. It keeps the body moving," he said. Plus, being out on the ocean, sitting out on the board, really helps the body heal from the stresses on land, he said. Brian Kilpatrick, vice president of marketing communications for O'Neill Wetsuits, said learning to surf is like learning to ski. "When you're starting out as a skier, you begin with the bunny slopes. It's the same with surfing. For your health and safety, you have to start easy," he said. If you're a first-timer and thinking about trying it out, sign up for lessons at schools such as Club Ed, Kilpatrick said. "And don't go and buy a bunch of gear you may not use, especially if you decide it's not for you," he said. Always rent in the beginning. And what should you start out with? "You'll definitely need a wetsuit in Santa Cruz, year round," he said. As far as the type of board, Kilpatrick recommends looking for a longer, softer board that offers more stability. As you become more proficient, Guzman and Kilpatrick say you'll want boards that are shorter, narrower and malleable. You'll also need warmer, more flexible suits for longer rides in colder surf spots that prove to be extra challenging. Kilpatrick also recommends lots of topical sunblock as well as wearable sun protection for those stretches between sessions. "A recent study shows that incidents of skin cancer has tripled over the last 10 years," he said. For more information about Guzman's surf school, camp and gear rental, go to http://club-ed.com/ or call 831-464-0177. O'Neills Surf Shop has two locations in Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA (831) 459-9230 110 Cooper St #100D Santa Cruz, CA (831) 469-4377 by Susan Pascal contributed photo contributed photo