Well, it seems like every idiot who ever put pen to paper claims to be a writer(me included), and people who smoke pot are regularly labelled stoners, but in my experience, people seem very reluctant to call themselves surfers unless they're really fucking good. Why is that? Can you think of any other labels that are hard-earned?
I used to be a surfer but had to give up because my knees are fucked. I never call myself an ex-surfer though so you're probably right. You can only call yourself a surfer if you're really fucking good or at least are good enough so that non-surfers think you're good. That new "sport", I don't know what it's called free running or base running or something, I think you've probably got to be very good to give yourself the title. It's amazing to see someone doing it whose really good.
Mountaineer... Not just anybody can call themselves a mountaineer..unless you have done a couple ice arrests, your still just a hiker
I remember watching some comedian talking about Clinton. Imagine being so famous that when a woman sucks your cock, she's famous.
i can't speak for that particular activity, but i know most things have more to do with how often you do them then how good you are at it. of course the more you do anything the more likely you are to get better at it too.