I'll second that one.

Also... If racing... don't go just because the gun goes off. You have to time the sets. They typically come in a pretty fixed pattern (ie 11 waves and a break... 11 waves and a break). Maybe more so out here on the west coast, but I'd guess real surf is the same in the Atlantic. You want to be in the white water as the last large wave is hitting. If you are still on the beach... you have lost some time. I do a lot of kayak surfing these days and hover just inside the beach break. Then try to get moving as the last of the set rolls in.