How many years does it take to be able to get air on a surfboard? How many people can actually accomplish thi??

It is not a matter of years.. it is more time in the water and individual ability. l bet there are kids who can bust airs after only 2-3 years of surfing. l know guys who've been surfing for 35 years and they never have, and never will do airs.

If you surf spots that are 'good' for airs - you will see the number quite high. Newport is a fun little beach break that is air heaven near the upper streets. The skill level also goes up around this area too.

It is not years, its ability. Almost any accomplished surfer can get air, the problem is having the right type of wave to try on & also being willing to miss a lot of riding while u practice how to do it. What u need to do is not really that hard. What is hard is getting more air then just a little bit, plus making it back under control. Basically, pick a point on the lip just before it breaks, kick ur board through the point & just as most of ur board gets above the lip pull ur feet (and hence ur board) straight back as u twist. The more power in ur kick up the lip, the higher u will go.

Most pros plus a large majority of regular shortboard contest surfers can get some air. You might want to watch Sterling Spencer sometime. He grew up on Pensacola Gulf surf that jumps up quickly, & has managed to master how to get air on any wave now, even smaller waves.

It is all up to you. Practice it, fail miserably, and then repeat till you stick them.
The trick apparently is to hit ''the ramp'' section right before the breaking lip, but l am still working on it myself.

l first did it in 1963 and have been doing ever since. lot of years getting air. but it is over. last year l had a four-way bypass and my drinking problem coupled with my t2 diabetes has be too messed up to continue. wanna buy a half dozen surfboards and an old rotten woody? yeh, and l have all the 8-trak jan and dean tunes to go with that. hang 10 dude. guess the only surfing l will be doing is on the web.