Nikon/Canon Cameras ideas?

What Nikon/Canon camera would be the best for a beginner photographer.
I want to get into surf and other sporting Photography.
If you could list some good cameras from these two brands and then some good lens for around a total of $900-$1000 or less.
Also if there are any good housings for these cameras, I've been looking at Del Mar Housings.

Nikon D40

You can consider Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera
18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
DIGIC 4 processor with ISO 100-6400 (Expansion to 12800)
Continuous shooting at 3.7fps
Full HD movie recording with manual control and selectable frame rates
http://www.amazon.com/...0035FZJHQ/
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/.../KBID/7390
http://rover.ebay.com/...m270.l1313

Below 1000$, I Recommend;

Canon EOS XSi, T1i, T2i and Nikon D3100, D5000 and D90.

Here's a review of the T2i, the one I recommend mostly: http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2010/06/canon-eos-550dt2i-dslr-review.html

Here's a post called 'Buying a DSLR, what's important, megapixels, features, brand, price, quality and which one to buy - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/03/which-dslr-to-buy.html