My brothers both surf and I used to occasionally as a teenager... was a always a much better skateboarder and snowboarder though.

Longboards are great for starting as they've got a bit more buoyancy... much more forgiving than a regular board.

Don't put pressure on yourself - have fun with it. The tenser you get, the less you'll get it. Surfing's a lot like skating or skiing/snowboarding I find... it's all feel. Keep your knees loose to absorb the ups and downs and your head up so you don't plow into anyone! :)

If you're getting nowhere, get a bodyboard for a couple of hours and have some fun. There's no shame in it if you've got a smile on your face!