I am fascinated by surfing and how it's such a great metaphor for *life*. You never know what kind of size or wave you'll be riding, moving forward on a crest or a deep face....
Strangely enough I'm actually a surfer I live right on the water in Maryland.  Have you ever been? 
Nooooo! But I'm curious if you've surfed both coasts and your experience? Or if you do/have done artificial wave pool type surfing?
Never in a pool. I grew up in northern Florida and moved north as I got older. Bigger waves on the west coast but more constant waves on the east coast. I have surfed in 2 great lakes and a number of rivers as well.
I absolutely think ocean first -- and it's wild to think you can also do so in lakes or rivers! Where do you find waves with the former?