As an instructor from Corky Carroll’s Surf School gave 9-year-old Maya Madden a gentle push into the whitewash at Bolsa Chica State Beach, her mother snapped photos. It was Maya’s first surf lesson.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Allison Olmsted covers lifestyle for active women as The Gear Diva. With the first huge storm of the season paralyzing the East ...

Swim out past the breakers. Find tranquility and excitement, all at once. "It's the most healing, therapeutic sport there is," says surfing instructor Becky Burt. "It's not about being the best. It's ...