This camera is awesome... just rented one from the library a couple weeks ago, and while the surf wasn't up there were many other ways to use this puppy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs-htNpqyTA
x2...your library rents them? IMO the gopro is mediocre for surfing with the board mount...unless you are getting way overhead shacks, the footage is lame. The camera makes a head high wave look small. The only way I found to get good footage while surfing is to use a wrist mount so you can hold it above and behind you. Other then that like said above, the camera is best used for other things.