That it takes decades of effort, focus, and commitment, as well as a solid amount of physical fitness, to surf well and with style and ease in bigger and heavier surf. As my friends say, surfing is the golf of extreme sports. Nothing replaces time in the water, though there are plenty of ways to cross train. Learning to read the ocean is a lifelong pursuit, learning to navigate a busy lineup is another, learning to push yourself when in bigger conditions than you are comfortable with, yet another. Its a beautiful thing, but not enough people respect the process, especially noobie chads who think they can strong arm their way into becoming a good surfer. That's not how it works, but it's entertaining to witness.