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I would also recommend paddling your board around in a lake to keep your paddle fitness up, and help deal with rib pain, either that or swim when you can.
Bingo ^
Paddling, along with figuring out where the peak is and staying on that spot is 99% of surfing.
"Popping up" is just getting your hands back by your ribs, pushing yourself up, being careful to stay on the stringer (center line) of the board. Get the biggest board available and it'll happen. Simple. I taught lessons for years, most people can pop up their first wave.
The rest of surfing however, like the OP is accurately guessing , takes a lot of practice. The material of a lesson is actually really basic though, if you can't get a lesson you may be able to work through it on your own.
Most of what an instructor will do for you is stay in place to mark where the peak is. The idea of a takeoff spot is the hardest part to get for beginners. You'll ideally use triangulation to mark your spot in the lineup. Look 45° left and right and line up a close object with a far object. Barring that just look straight in, again for a close landmark lined up against a far landmark. That way at least you'll be on the playing field, and able to progress.
Once you've figured out how to stay on the peak, the other big hurdle is generally pearling. (Pearl dive is when the nose goes under). Learn to scoot yourself backwards on your belly quickly during that crucial moment when you first get momentum from the wave, and time your pop-up. This will take some time.
If there's a crowd out , keep in mind to paddle out and around on the way back out. Paddling straight back out through the incoming riders is a really common mistake, and often ends up in stitches as they get plowed by other incoming out of control beginners on giant boards.