Surfing Waves

Hi there, im 16 and live inland, i got my first surf lesson last week on holiday and fell in live with. I only have the chance to surf a few times a year at the moment but i am looking at a few university's near the sea so in 2 years will have a lots more oppertunities.

A few of my friends (age 22) went on a 2 week surf holiday last month to california and took some great photos surfing barrels and other cool tricks. Just wandering if anyone knows how long it usually takes to build these skills from my age and if they have any tips me learn faster once i move near the sea.

Welcome to Surfing waves. Moving close to the ocean and actually surfing is what will help you learn faster. It varies on how fast people learn but you are young still so it should be on the quicker side however the more often you surf the quicker you will learn. Things you can do to prepare is to get in shape with both aerobic and strengthening exercises. Swimming is good, work on both swimming long distance and short sprints.

Cardio and push ups. Surfing is like 90% paddling. Living close to the ocean is key.

Just an inland girl wrote:A few of my friends (age 22) went on a 2 week surf holiday last month to california and took some great photos surfing barrels and other cool tricks. Just wandering if anyone knows how long it usually takes to build these skills from my age and if they have any tips me learn faster once i move near the sea.

Probably take a good 2000 hours of surfing, maybe (probably?) more, to get to surfing barrels. Mostly because waves that barrel are tricky to surf for the most part, requiring shallow water and bigger and usually faster waves - not a safe combination if you dont know what you are doing.

but its fine because all of those hours are fun

Just an inland girl wrote:A few of my friends (age 22) went on a 2 week surf holiday last month to california and took some great photos surfing barrels and other cool tricks. Just wandering if anyone knows how long it usually takes to build these skills from my age and if they have any tips me learn faster once i move near the sea.

I would say LESS time than it took for your friends, since you are younger and will be moving to the beach. So you should be asking them how long it took for themselves to be able to do tricks and barrel rides. We haven't seen you surf, and maybe them too, but they know you way better than us.
My advice:
1) Don't get a short board too early ( even if your favorite movie is Blue Crush )
2) GET a Carver skateboard so you can build up muscle memory and technique on land to be able turn your surfboard when it comes to that point. ( Once you build up the skills to paddle and catch waves ). It's the closest thing I found to mimicing surfing on land.