i have been surfing for 2 years and i am intermediate level..... NO . NO your NOT

I like you man I was thinking the same thing earlier, its not even just starting surfing either. I began bodyboarding/bodysurfing/skimming/skating/snowboarding all at the same time when I was 8, then I began surfing in HS. The countless hours Ive spent on boards and in the water is what has brought my level of surfing up and I am now 21. Thats 13 years of "experience" and 7 years of surfing religiously. Id say Im intermediate level surfing, maybe just above (turns, blow tails, maybe an air if lucky). I feel you 100%, what does everyone else think?

 

If you can ride the white water on a foamy your an intermediate haha

 

35 years in the water and I would consider myself intermediate. On my good days maybe a bit above but generally intermediate. That said I have seen some guys who after surfing for 4 years are well above average and well on their way to advanced. Some people are just naturals and some have to really work at it. I fall into the latter group.

 

10,000 hour rule is complete BS. It works for a few people who do not have "the gift." Think Brett Simpson.

Generally people reach their natural ability quicker than 10,000 hours, then they hit a wall and only progress marginally compared to the time spent progressing--this applies to most activities that require skill.

Me? I've got about 25 years surfing but have been intermediate/advanced (depending on how you want to define it) at least the past 15 years. However, I was always faster than most swimming for almost the entire time I did it competitively from the ages of 6-20. I didn't train half as hard as a lot of my competitors and still got consistently better results.

 

Please tell me you're not saying Simpo doesn't have great style and abundant natural surfing ability plus a great professional work ethic. He killed it @ Tressels and only lost to Medina by half a point- I'd rather watch him surf than over half the guys on tour.

 

I thought the same thing... two years...intermediate? The claim seems suspect. For the sake of argument if you put every surfer in the world on a scale of 1 (the newbie) to 10 (ASP or top video pros) then halfway between the two extremes is a lot more than just the basic paddling into wave and doing turns. Just a thought but...

True...At the same time I have no natural talent for surfing everything I have in my arsenal is from YEARS if work. Not that way for everyone.

 

10,000 hours? How many people get that surfing? Surfing is not like golf or basketball where the course is there most every day. I think it has more to do with where you live.

 

Not saying that at all, Simpo is one of my favorites on the WT right now. Just pointing out he has to work harder than some/many to be where he is. I don't know about you, but it makes me like him even more.

 

10,000 hours of shotty practice is no good. It's gotta be 10,000 hrs of good practice. Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.

 

What if I ski on a double black diamond,does that mean I'm a expert skier?

 

that depends on how well you ski it. if you control your speed by linking technically correct turns then yes but if you slide sideways one direction and then the other all the way down then no. (former PSIA level II FYI)

 

doesn't that make for a "one trick pony"? Seems to be the opposite of "the style of no style" and broad diversity of technique- maybe it's a joke I'm not familiar with? although I would agree that one kick would be devastating.

 

my friend from cali has been surfing for 2 years and is very good. defiantly considered intermediate to advanced. iv been surfing for 10 years. no where close to as good as him. He surfs great waves year round. Im from new jersey........

 

attributed to zaGafffer

It's my first day.[/QUOTE] caGaffer

+1
Every paddle out

 

who surfs better in ****ty NJ conditions, you or he?

 

you all need to realize everybody progresses at a different rate. for instance zippy sucks....surfing 35 years and intermediate? :/

 

More like Zippy is honest sh*thead, lol. In 35 years of surfing I have learned one thing, most people are completely deluded about their surfing abilities.

 

Ok check it out,under 3 feet is beginner.3 feet to 5 feet is intermediate. Head high and over is above intermediate ..Providing you can surf the wave well.

 

its hard to judge skill with wave height because of the different conditions that play into it. 3 foot teahupoo is going to be a lot harder to surf than 6 foot trestles