Surfing is one of the most difficult sports. It's been 25 years since I first picked up a board and I'm still trying to figure it out. The main reason it's so hard is that it doesn't have the systematic repetition needed to solidify a new skill in the brain. You can't just go out and repeat while standing on a wave, just like you can practice a tennis right hand over and over again or a combination of a left jab and a right hook in the mirror. Various environmental elements such as wave size, direction, wind, tide, sandbar location, and competing crowd all play a role in the fact that whenever you go down to the local beach to try again, you will be greeted absolutely other conditions. Football fields and basketball courts are always the same size, not the ocean. Another important element is fitness. To be a good enough surfer, you need above-average physical fitness. The friends I taught to surf who learn to surf the fastest are usually in good shape. I have played many other sports over the years including tennis, football, martial arts, kite surfing, and golf. Surfing still tops the list in terms of learning difficulty, but that's probably why it's so addictive and rewarding once you start progressing. Good luck if you decide to take it on!