While I agree for the most part, I will say that a consistent focused practice with little chance for distraction is different than meditating while running, walking, or waiting for waves. You always have to be paying a little bit of attention to your surroundings while running or waiting for waves, and that makes it different.
Not to talk those activities down. I do them all. It's just different
Agree, I don't really relate those activities to meditation at all.
Like WokeAF said - what I do find comes close however is the act of riding the wave itself. My mind comes really close to turning itself completely off and the thinking is really minimal.
A good session to me is where I may remember a good moment - a turn, a barrel, or missed opportunity l but don't really remember any of my other waves.
Sitting there in the lineup is being alone with your thoughts
But surfing itself is freedom
from thought.
This effect is amplified when surfing mostly alone in consistent waves, you're on the treadmill just having one after another...some guy paddles out and says something about your last wave and you have no idea what he's talking about...