Tahiti advice required (surfing and budgeting)

There is a free stop in Papeete from NZ to LA so I'm hoping to spend a couple of weeks here. It sounds like a paradise but I'd have a few questions.

The first surfing I will do will be in Biarritz this summer then for a few weeks in Australia during my travels and possibly NZ and Thai for a few days. With this little experience will I be able to do some surfing in Tahiti or will the conditions be out of my depth? I'm quite fit and athletic so I'm hoping I will pick it up quick but I cant be sure of that.

Also is there any form of cheap accommodation here? How much should I budget for a fortnight. It seems a worthy stopover but need to assess the damage it will do to my pocket.

The closest thing to "budget" accommodation I could find on Tahiti and Mo'orea (the next island over; much nicer than Tahiti, and only 40 minutes away by ferry) was around 60 euro (120 NZD, 90 USD) per night. You could do it cheaper by going camping, but even that is expensive.
I'm not a surfer, but from what I've heard, you're highly recommended to be a pretty advanced surfer before surfing there. Check the French Polynesia Lonely Planet - that has a pretty extensive section on surfing on the various islands iirc.

Ok,
Just a little late, but as I am looking for some places to stay myself, I thought I add a link to a really cheap dormitory style place to stay on Moorea.
It seems that it is possible to stay for around €15 or $20 US, Papeete is harder, and looks like less quality at least

I scratched it from my list. New Zealand will be my last stop. I'm sure this will be useful to others.
Biarritz and Bidart were beautiful and I managed to do quite a bit of surfing although having your own board would be a huge advantage. Also if you like your cyling, the pyrenees are only a couple of hours away so you can take your bikes and head out there which is what me and my girlfriend (ex now ) did.