MAUI, HAWAII - My surfing career lasted less than a minute.

“Okay, don’t worry, I’m here to steady the board,” said Kawika, the muscular young Hawaiian who would be my short-lived surfing instructor.

I managed to climb aboard the slick piece of fiberglass, thanks to the Kawika’s steady hand, and spread my arms and bent my knees as he instructed.

Quoting George Costentza, “The sea (appeared) angry that day, my friends.”

Kawika disagreed.

“There’s barely a ripple. Good day to teach you.

“Okay,” Kawika announced, “you’re on your own” and he let go as a “huge” wave came crashing towards me.

The next thing I knew, Kawika was fishing me out of the sea. I heard him reassure me that even “expert” surfers fall off their boards but I told him I wasn’t about to “hang tough” with “hang five” and retreated to the safety of the sand on Polo Beach in front of the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel.

Now the only surfing I do is on the Internet.

However, while discovering surfing was not my cup of tea, I learned from Kawika and his brawny chum Wayne Chun that the daredevil sport is the national pastime in Hawaii and many of the beach businesses here rely heavily on those who come and ride the waves.

There’s no doubt Hawaii is the center of the universe when it comes to surfing. There are at least 20 spots scattered about the eight islands that make up this paradise that are world-class surfing stops. Only the beaches of Sydney can come close to challenging Hawaii for surfing supremacy.

So, without a doubt, Hawaiian surfing spots will make up the bulk of our Top 10 list but we’ve also found a couple of other places in the United States where surfers who can’t make it all the way to the volcanic state can still challenge the waves.

So, without further delay, here’s TraveLife’s Top 10 “Hang 10” spots:

1- Peahi, Maui, Hawaii: Peahi is the Big Kahuna of surfing and tops most surfing lists. It’s nicknamed “Jaws” mainly because the waves here can jump up and bite you and then swallow you whole. Jaws is not for beginners. In fact, only world class daredevils would even attempt to ride what are known as the world’s biggest waves – sometimes reaching 70 feet in height. The cliffs overlooking Peahi provide great vantage points from where to watch surfers ride out their luck.

2- Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii: This area of Hawaii is known for its long sweeping reef break and some amazing waves. The beach is protected by the surrounding volcanic mountains and the awesome vistas provided are some of the most breathtaking in the world. This qualifies as Heaven on Earth.

3- Banzai Pipeline, Oahu: The shallow reef that lies offshore here provides some impressive and challenging waves. Expert surfers are the ones who love it here and the rest of us are well advised to stand back and watch. Much too dangerous for the average mortal.

4- Huntington Beach, California: This is where the surfing craze started in the U.S. and while the waves here are not as big and challenging as those in Hawaii, we at Travelife felt that Huntington Beach, a.k.a. Surf City, deserved to be among the Top 5 on our list. After all, this is where the world surf museum is located and within its walls is stored memorabilia from the sport’s earliest days when legends like Corky Carrol, Linda Benson and Bud Browne ruled the waves.

5- Diamond Head, Oahu, Hawaii: Back to Hawaii where Diamond Head is as famous as Huntington Beach. This is often the best spot on the South Shore to catch the big waves thanks to the trade winds that blow ashore here. The classic four and six foot waves at Diamond Head are perfect for beginners and experts alike.

6- Ma’alaea Pipeline, Maui, Hawaii: Maui has many spots where surfing rules but Ma’alaea is the place most visitors gather to catch what have become known as the fastest waves in the world. Hold on to your swim cap because you’re in for a helluva ride here. The waves are especially challenging during the summer months.

7- Anahola Bay, Kauai, Hawaii: This may be the best place on the planet to experience the thrill of tube surfing. The east winds that pound this part of Kauai year round produce the most consistent swells – making it a swell place to surf.

8- All the rest of Hawaii: Like we said in our intro, Hawaii is the surfing capital of the world and the over 20 surfing locations throughout the island state could easily make up a Top 10 list on their own. Besides the ones we’ve chosen, there’s also Ala Moana, Backdoor, Backyards, Kewalos and Velzyland on Oahu; Kealakekua Bay, Upolu and Banyans on the Big Island and Ho’okipa, Fleming Beach Park and Osterizers on Maui. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

9- Florida: There’s a number of good surfing locations on the East Coast of the Sunshine State but the only problem here is that waves are inconsistent. However, when the Atlantic winds do churn up the surf, may we suggest you tuck your board under your wing and head for Jupiter Inlet, Boca Raton Beach or Miami’s South Beach.

10- Puerto Rico: This American protectorate has some of the best kept secret waves in the world. Thanks to the tropical storms that churn up in the Atlantic and the low pressure systems that form here in winter, great surfing is guaranteed year round. The best times of the year for surfers to arrive on this Caribbean gem is October but the surf season has been known to extend to as late as mid-April. The hurricane season starts here in early June and surfing is the last thing you want to be doing here.