List of surfing terms

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Current revision

This page describes terms, jargon and slang related to surfing and surf culture.

See also: List of surfing areas

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Aerial

A trick where the board takes off from the lip of a wave and after travelling lands back on the face of the wave and continuing.

A-frame

A peak-shaped wave, with nice left and right shoulders, and the highest point of the crest in the middle of the peak.

Ankle Slop

Waves too small to ride.

Axe/axed

A heavy wipeout, usually involving the wave's lip impacting directly onto a surfer. Also called drilled, pummeled, etc.

B

Backhand

Surfing while facing away from the wave (also, backside).

Backside

Refers to the position in which you are facing the wave. Surfing backside means that the posterior portion of your body is facing the wave face and your anterior portion is facing the beach.

Bail, Bail out

To abandon or ditch one's surfboard before getting wiped out by the wave, either paddling out, or while riding the wave.

Barney

A new/untalented surfer. Also see jake; kook.

Barrel

The space inside a hollow, breaking wave between the lip and face. A surfer may be completely hidden from view during a barrel ride, especially from shore. Another name for "tube".

Beach break

Waves breaking on a sand bottom beach.

Blown Out

Surf condition in which either onshore (most prominent) or offshore winds have eliminated the ridable sections of waves, reducing them to chop or mush.

Body Surfing

Surfing a wave using only the body or minimal equipment such as fins (flippers) and/or a hand surfing device.

Bomb

Bomb means a very large wave, well beyond the session's normal wave size.

Bombora

Australian term for big waves breaking further out and isolated by deep water. Also called bombie or cloudbreak.

Boogie board

A short, soft foam board used for bodyboarding. Also known as a body board or a sponge or (in Australia) esky lid.

Bottom

1. The lowest section of the face of an unbroken wave.

2. The lower surface of a surfboard.

Bottom turn

A turn at the bottom of the wave face.

C

Caught inside

When a surfer is on the "inside" and trapped between the shoreline and breaking waves. Oncoming waves can make paddling back outside difficult, hence being "caught" in an undesirable position. This usually means the surfer will have to wait for a lull between the larger breaking waves for a chance to slip into clear water.

Caught Inside is also a 1996 book by Daniel Duane about his surfing experiences (ISBN 086547494X).

Channel

1. Design feature of a surfboard to guide water along its underside.

2. A trench between sand banks or reefs. Often associated with a strong current.

Choppy

Surf condition in which the waves are inconsistent, broken, or generally irregular (see, Blown Out).

Clean

Smooth waves, usually good surfing conditions.

Clean-up set

A much larger wave or a set of waves, which breaks further outside than normal. A clean-up set usually "cleans" the line-up of surfers caught further inside.

Close out

An undesirable situation in which a wave does not break uniformly along its length. Instead one or more sections of the wave break ahead of the section the surfer is riding.

Clubbie

(Aussie Slang) Term used to describe a member of a Surf lifesaving club.

Cutback

A classic surfing move used to change direction when streaking ahead of the curl of a wave with a powerful turn back towards the breaking part of the wave (white water). Cutbacks are an important element in surfing as the maneuver repositions the surfer closer to the power of the wave. See also Roundhouse cutback.

D

Dawn patrol

Literally going surfing at dawn. An early morning surf session before sunrise. This time usually offers the least crowded and cleanest conditions before the winds pick up.

Deck

The upper surface of a surfboard.

Delammed

Slang for delaminated. A condition of surfboard fiberglass, usually on the deck, where the fiberglass has deteriorated and separated from the foam core, thus creating an unfavorable surface for standing.

Ding

Damage, usually a hole or dent, to the surfboard.

Double Overhead

A wave twice as tall as its rider.

Down-the-line

A reference to the direction further along the crest of a wave from the location from where a surfer drops into the wave. The direction toward which the surfer is riding. Waves can also be described as "down-the-line" when the wall is long and fast.

Drop in

Taking off on a wave that is already being ridden by another surfer. Contrary to good etiquette.

Duck dive

A method for getting through a broken or large wave without being washed towards the shore. Basically, pushing the surfboard and one's body under the wave.

Dude

A fellow surfer; friend; companion.

Dumped

"Getting dumped" is being pushed underwater by a wave, usually unexpectedly, with reasonable amounts of violence and lack of control on the part of the surfer. Waves that are likely to do this are referred to as "dumpers", and usually contain large amounts of sand.

E

Eddie would go

A reference to legendary waterman Eddie Aikau renowned for taking on waves others would shy away from.

(Eddie Would Go is also a band from Melbourne, Australia [1].)

Endless Summer

A 1966 documentary film which follows surfers around the world as they look for a perfect surfing spot. It was written, directed and narrated by Bruce Brown. A sequel, The Endless Summer 2, was released in 1994.

Epic

An adjective to describe an excellent surf session, a great wave, etc. Example: "how was it yesterday? Ah dude, it was epic!"

Eskimo roll

A method for getting through a broken or large wave without being washed towards the shore. Basically, rolling the board over so the water rushes over the underside (which is facing upwards). Also known as a turtle roll.

F

Face

Unbroken, forward-facing portion of the wave, where most waveriding occur.

Far Out

Used to describe an amazing wave ride experience.

Fin Chop

Injury caused by the fins of a board, usually someone elses.

Floater

Frontside or backside maneuver that involves "floating" over the broken part of a wave and re-entering the more ridable crest.

Forehand

Surfing while facing toward the wave (also, frontside. See backhand/backside).

Frontside

Refers to your body position in relation to the wave face. Surfing 'frontside' means that the anterior portion of your body is facing the wave face and your posterior portion is facing the beach.

Funboard

Template:Main

A surfboard somewhere between a shortboard and a mini-mal, designed for ease of surfing in a range of conditions.

G

Getting worked!

(US Slang) A term for getting hit hard by a wave, a set, or wiping out in a spectacular manner. Example: "check it out, that dude got worked!"

Gidget

See article Gidget.

Glassy

A very favorable, windless surf condition in which the texture of the ocean surface is ultra-smooth, like glass.

Gnarly

Heavy, intense waves or situations. Very often overused.

Goofy-footed

A surfer who places their right leg forward while surfing. This is usual for a left handed person. See also natural footed, the opposite stance.

Goat Boat

A mildly derogatory term used to describe a waveski or surfski used in the surf.

Going Off

A term to describe very good, consistent surf. Example: "check it out, bro. It's just going off!" Also refers to a surfer who is surfing particularly well.

Green Room

The inside of a tube.

Grommet

Young surfer.

Gun

A long narrow board designed for surfing big waves. The term comes from elephant gun, a big board being needed for big waves in the same way a big gun imagined necessary for big animals.

H

Hang five

A nose riding trick in which the toes of one foot are curled around the nose of the surfboard.

Hang ten

An advanced nose riding trick in which the toes of both feet are curled around nose of the surfboard.

See also Hang Ten clothing brand.

Hold down

To be held underwater by a wave. A two-wave hold down is to be held down while two waves pass over.

Humpback

A type of wave that is really more like two because the more obvious, larger wave, has another wave developing from its wave face.

I

Impact Zone

Where the waves are breaking.

Inside

The takeoff position on a wave closest to the curl than any other surfer. Also "caught inside": being located inshore of the breaking waves or inside the impact zone or break line.

J

Jacking

A wave condition in which a swell rises very quickly as it passes from deeper water to shallow water. A radical shoaling process caused by an extreme variation in water depth as the swell hits the shallow reef or ocean floor. Often creates very hollow and intense waves that appear to grow suddenly in height; thus "jacking up".

Jake

(Aussie Slang) A jake, or rockaway jake, is somebody in the line-up and unconsciously causing trouble or problems for their fellow surfers. A jake is usually a beginning surfer and surfers use jake similar to how netizens use newbie.

Also see kook

K

Kick out

A controlled exit from the wave by riding up and over the top of the wave.

Kneelo

(Aussie Slang) A kneeboard rider.

Kook

Any person who is in the line-up and unconsciously causing trouble or problems for their fellow surfers. A kook is usually a beginning surfer and surfers use kook similar to how netizens use newbie. Can also be used as an insult.

Also see jake. And see also cartoon Wilbur Kookmeyer.

L

Layback

A maneuver where the surfer leans back off his/her board, usually either in the barrel, or during a cutback.

Leash

A cord used to prevent the board being washed away from the surfer. Surfboard leashes are usually attached to the ankle, whereas bodyboard leashes are usually attached to the wrist. Also called "leg rope."

Line up

The Line up is often mistakenly thought to be the line of surfers waiting for waves just beyond the breaking waves.

The phrase was originally used, and still is, to describe the line a breaking wave follows. From when the wave starts breaking, following the line of the reef or sandbank. The "line up" is used to decribe the rideable part of the wave that a surfer will follow. To paddle through the line up is considered to be both dangerous and rude behaviour. This is a mistake often made by many beginer surfers, resulting in frigtening near misses or dangerous accidents.

M

Macking

(US Slang) When waves are really big and firing with massive size. The waves don't have to be good, just big. Also, when the swell is peaking. (After Mack trucks.)

Malibu Surfboard

Mushy

A surf condition in which waves are crumbly and soft without any steepness or much energy. Gutless and weak.

N

Namer

A surfer who publicly uses the name of a secret surfing spot. The term is highly derogatory, as naming, especially on the internet, is considered a key causative factor for large crowds.

Natural footed

A surfer who places their left leg forward while surfing. This is usual for a right handed person. Often called "Regular footed" in the U.S. See also Goofy footed, the opposite stance.

Noah

(Aussie Slang) A shark. From rhyming slang, Noah's ark — shark.

Nose

The front of the board.

Nose guard

A rubber tip stuck to the nose of a board to reduce injury if it strikes someone.

Nose ride

A maneuver in which the surfer walks to the front of the surfboard and rides on the nose. It is usually only possible on a surfboard of 8' or longer.

O

Off-the-lip

A re-entry. Turning the board quickly off the top of the wave to come back down into the face of the wave.

Out-the-back/Outside

The area outside of the lineup or break line where surfers in the lineup initially observe sets of waves as they approach. Often a term used to warn other surfers in the lineup that a new set of waves is approaching. "Outside!" Same as "out-the-back" (often used by Australian surfers.)

Overhead

Wave heights taller than the surfer riding it. Often used as a measurement scale of waves such as 2 feet overhead, three feet overhead, double overhead, triple overhead. Etc.

Over-the-falls

The worst kind of wipeout in which a surfer is sucked back over the top of the wave as it breaks, and free-falls down with the lip (the most powerful part of the wave). This type of wipeout can cause bad injuries because the surfer will likely hit the reef or ocean floor.

P

Peak

Where a wave forms in a manner that the surfer is able to go both right or left from the take off.

Pearl

A wipeout caused when the nose or front of the surfboard digs into the water, generally causing the surfer to tip-off forward. Usually occurs when dropping into a steep part of a wave.

Pipeline

Pipeline is a world famous surf spot on the North Shore of Oahu so known because it lays downs tubed waves like pipe being laid down.

Pocket

The section of a wave just ahead of the broken section, where the face is at its steepest.

Pointbreak

Variety of surf break when waves wrap around a point of land creating perfectly lined up, peeling waves. The waves actually interact with the bottom contours just offshore of the point to refract and wrap around the point.

Pope's living room

The inside of a tube. The same as green room.

Pull in

The process of turning the surfboard up to enter the barrel or the tube.

Pull out

See "kick out".

Q

Quimby

A novice, and often annoying, surfer.

Quiver

A surfer's collection of boards.

R

Rail

The edge or sides of the board.

Rashee

(Aussie Slang) See article Rash guard.

Re-entry

Turning on the lip of the wave to come back down into the face of the wave.

Regardo

(Aussie Slang) A surf session that is undertaken despite adverse conditions, e.g., "It was totally blow, but we were dying to get our gills wet; we went for the regardo."

Rip current

A channel of water, or a current, heading out to sea. Often simply known as a rip.

Rocker

The longways curvature of the underside of a board. More rocker means a more curved board, less means a flatter board. Generally a flatter board goes faster, but some curve is needed to stop the nose digging into the water, or to "fit" the curve of the wave.

Rooster tail

The trail of spray when a surfer hits the lip very hard, causing spray to shoot out at nearby surfers.

Roundhouse cutback

A complete 180-degree directional change in which the surfer turns from the shoulder all the way back into the curl or whitewater of the breaking wave, before completing the ride. A very advanced maneuver, which is difficult to complete if enough speed isn't carried throughout the entire 180-degree turn. A roundhouse cutback is usually complemented by a foam bounce recovery off the approaching whitewater.

S

Schwip Thing

an item used to scrape the wax from a surfboard. Often a deodorant lid or milk bottle lid is used to good effect.

Section

A segment of a total wave. It resembles what they call in music, "a bar or measure."

Seppo

(Aussie Slang) An American. Used in Australia, mildly derogatory. From rhyming slang: septic tank – yank.

Set

A group of waves, usually large, that come in from the "outside." Surfers usually paddle towards the outside (towards the horizon) when they spot a good set.

Shorepound

A dangerous condition, due to high tide or larger surf, where the waves break in one single "wall" onto the beach, often in shallow water. Getting caught in shorepound can be an unpleasant experience. Also called "shorebreak" in some areas.

Shortie

A wetsuit with short legs and short, or no, arms. Sometimes known as a spring suit.

Shoulder

The very edge of a breaking wave that is unbroken.

Shrop

To surf hard in the worst conditions. To surf at one's best when the surf is particularly bad.

Snake

(US Slang) A noun or a verb. Used to describe someone who deliberately "drops in" in front of a surfer who has the right-of-way. Example: "Watch out for that guy, he's a serious snake!"

Speed Bump

Derogatory phrase used to describe a Bodyboarder.

Sponger

Bodyboarder, typically used in a derogatory context.

Stall

A method to slow the surfboard to allow a wave to catch or overtake it. Performed by stepping to the tail of the surfboard or simply leaning back and resting one's weight on one's trailing foot.

Steamer

A wetsuit with long arms and long legs.

Stick

A slang term for a surfboard

Stoked

Extremely happy - on a high.

Stu

(US West Coast Slang) A "kook" or a "barney." i.e. a new/untalented surfer. Example: "watch out for that peak, it's loaded with stu's!"

Surf

Collective term for the breaking and near-breaking waves at a beach, in which surfing takes place.

Surfing

Not a sport. But a lifestyle

Switchfoot

Riding with one's wrong foot forward, ie. opposite to one's usual natural/goofy preference.

Or, a surfer who can ride with either foot forward. Generally such a surfer will ride forehand in both directions.

T

Tail

The rear of the board.

Tail pad

Rubber non-slip pad stuck to the top of the board near the tail where the surfer's rear foot goes. Used instead of wax, generally used only on a shortboard.

Take off

To catch a wave and begin the ride.

360

Pronounced "three-sixty". A trick involving turning the board through a full circle on the face of the wave.

Thruster

Template:Main

A surfboard with three fins. Designed by Simon Anderson in 1980 and now used on almost all shortboards.

Tombstoning

The condition of a surfboard connected to a submerged surfer after a wipeout. A surfboard that appears to be bobbing up and down on the surface of the ocean due to the underwater anchoring point, e.g., the unseen surfer, is tombstoning.

Tube

The inside of a hollow wave.

Tubed

The act of surfing inside the curl of a breaking wave.

Turtle

A paddling maneuver to help reduce resistance when paddling through whitewater, by rolling the surfboard upside down (with the fins up), and then holding on to the rails of the surfboard while underwater as the whitewater passes overhead. Used especially with longboards because the board's increased flotation makes "duckdiving" (the preferred method) difficult.

U

V

Vickie

A US Slang term for Australian surfers. Not very polite. Implies that Australians are descended from convicts. Sometimes used as a comeback for "Seppo."

W

Waxhead

Obsolete term for a keen surfer. It comes from the 1960s when boards were heavy solid wood and were carried balanced on the head, wax-side down, getting wax in the surfers hair.

Wettie warmer

(Aussie Slang) Urinating in one's wetsuit. Widely practiced, though it's not a good idea because, as well as being rather unhygenic, the chemicals in urine can cause the rubber in a wetsuit to deteriorate more rapidly than normal. In cold water it helps one feel warmer though.

Whack

Slang term for a Re-entry. Where maximum spray is thrown out the back of the wave from the vigorous motion of the board hitting the top of the wave.

White water

A frothy, broken wave.

Wipe out

Terminating a ride, ungracefully (as in falling off your surfboard!).

X

Y

Z