But none of this matters, really. All this is just grasping at straws for sake of argument.
Superman is just in a different class than Surfer.
Supes' big enemies are skyfathers, and he beats the breaks off them.
The Norse and Greek/Roman gods[a few of whom Supes' has beaten] are all below Darkseid [who Supes' has also beaten].
Doomsday the ultimate killing machine, beat Darkseid, The Radiant and Guardians of The Universe [Beings capable of cracking planets with thoughts!] and lost to Superman.
Blaze and Satannus [lords of hell, blaze later became ruler.] both have lost to Superman, even in their home dimension.
Kryptonian gods, like Cythonna.
Brainiac is a threat to time/multiverse.
Dominus.
Imperiex and probes.
The list goes on and on.
When Surfer runs into guys like that, he often gets smacked aside like an insect.
It's just different levels.
I mean really, show me Surfer going against one guy more powerful than a god, and smashing him so badly he asks for mercy under his own power?