Standing cross-armed on the beach, stiff with anticipation, I watched as my little towheaded son made his first solo ride on a surfboard. Jacopo scrambled to his feet shakily, the wave propelling him toward us, and then, as his toothpick legs set into a wider, firmer stance, he determinedly stood up to his full three-and-a-half-foot self, a huge smile taking over his whole face. Back on the shoreline, my own expression reflected his joy. He was just a week shy of his fifth birthday, and I’d brought him here, to the fabled North Shore of Oahu, specifically so that he could have his first lesson with none other than Garrett McNamara, one of the world’s most famous surfers. I am still not sure who was more excited.

While it was an extra boon to have Mr. McNamara offer up his considerable talents as a surf teacher, I had dreamed about my son learning to surf from the time he was born. As anyone who has ever caught a wave on her own knows, surfing is a profound confidence booster. And the pursuit, even casually, can toughen you both physically and mentally.

It certainly did that for me when I started back in 1998, in my 20s, at a time when I was trying to figure out what to do with my life and on a fundamental level who I wanted to be. My first experience was at the women’s-only Las Olas Surf Camp in Sayulita, Mexico, and now it’s a hobby that I try to pursue at least a few times a year. I have also had some of my best travel experiences following in the footsteps of maverick surfers: Always seeking new breaks and challenges, they tend to be intrepid and creative travelers. From Siargao in the Philippines to the unblemished coves on Mexico’s Michoacán coast, surf experiences added an even richer memory of the place.

Image The author’s son, Jacopo, with Garrett McNamara, who set a world record surfing a 78-foot breaker off the coast of Portugal. Credit... John Voigtmann

Because of the joy and independence I discovered on the waves (even with my limited skills), not to mention friendships made on the water, I wanted my son to immerse himself in this world as soon as possible. The fact that he loves to swim and is relatively fearless in the ocean, even at this age, of course made it all the more feasible. And even though the North Shore is renowned for big-wave surfing, it is also extremely family-friendly, with surf breaks that are also suitable for beginners.