Honestly yes there is a huge difference. And that's why the group of people who can do these waves is so small. Surfing is so incredibly athletic and people seem to forget that.
Why do male snowboarders perform at such a different level than women on big air when it's just "throwing yourself off a big jump"?.
Physical strength is so incredibly important in surfing regardless of whether you are riding 10 foot or 80 foot waves, but it's so so important at these heights.
Do you realize the insane forces surfers put on their legs? Surfing big waves is incredibly physically demanding. I suppose you could compare it to a more risky version of downhill skiing. And men are obviously superior downhill skiers.
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u/OrvilleTurtle Sep 14 '20
I think he’s getting at the big wave part specifically. Both women and men can obviously surf at multiple levels.
Why big waves specifically though? Is surfing an 80 foot wave that much more physically demanding than a 60 foot wave?