Glossary of Surfing Terms

After studying our glossary of surfing terms, you might even be able to understand what this fellow is talking about.

A

Accelerate
To achieve max speed from a hard bottom turn so that you can climb the face of the wave in order to set up a manoeuvre.
Acetone
A cleaning solvent and/or cutting agent used in surfboard manufacturing, highly flammable and toxic.
Acid Drop
When you take off on a wave and the bottom falls out suddenly and you free fall down the face.
Aerial
When the wave you’re riding sends your board above it into the air. An advanced manoeuvre that involves taking off from the lip of the wave, traveling some distance in the air, then (in theory) landing back on the face of the wave and continuing the ride.
A-Frame
Large wave that forms with distinct shoulders on either side (left and right) of the peak. Can result in two surfers surfing the same wave; one going frontside and the other going backside.
Air
Anytime a surfer and their board leave the face of the wave to become air borne.
Airdrop
A very late takeoff when the surfer drops through the air to the bottom of the wave.
Aloha
(uh-LOW-hah) A Hawaiian word used in place of hello and goodbye.
Amped
Stoked - charged up - fired.
Ankle Snapper
Tiny waves...not worth riding. Also known as Ankle Breaker.
ASP
Association of Surfing Professionals, responsible for organising the annual world professional surfing circuit leading to the crowning of the world champion.
Axed
Hit by the lip of the wave leading to a wipeout.

B

Backside
Turns or rotations in the direction your toes point towards, so that your back is facing the outside of the wave arc.
Backside Air
Getting up in the air with your back to the wave.
Backwash
The rush of water coming off the shore against incoming waves.
Backdoor
Pulling into a tube from behind the peak.
Backhand
Surfing with your back to the wave.
Bail
To abandon your board without regards to its future.
Balsa
A light, porous wood used through the 1940's and 50's as a standard material for surfboard manufacture. Balsa grows only in Ecuador and must be imported to the USA; it became popular when laminating techniques allowed surfboard cores to be sealed from contact with water. By the early 1960's it was replaced with polyurethane foam.
Bamboo
A natural substance that can be used as a replacement for fibreglass in the surfboard manufacturing process.
Bank
Sandbank on which waves break.
Barrel
When the wave comes over your head and covers you, inside the wave and surfing. The inside of a hollow wave (same as tube).
Beach Break
Surf breaking on a sandy beach. A type of wave or a place where the wave breaks over a sandbar close to the beach.
Blank
Block of foam from which a custom surfboard is made.
Blown Out
Term for when good surf becomes choppy resulting from strong winds.
Bomb
Larger than normal set wave.
Bottom
The lowest point of a wave a surfer can ride on.
Bottom Turn
A turn at the bottom of the wave face. Taking off on a steep drop (wave) at or near the bottom of the wave it's a must situation to make the bottom turn either right or left to establish speed and direction.
Bowled
Being completely covered by the lip of the wave with only one way out.
Box
Abbreviated term used to refer to a surfboard fin box.
Brainfreeze
Describes what you feel in the cranium and sinus cavity immediately after the first duck-dive when paddling out in COLD water.
Bumps
Wax build-up on the surfboards deck.

C

Caught Inside
When a surfer gets caught on the shore side of a breaking wave making it difficult to get out, results in getting tossed around and lots of paddling.
Carve
Turns often accentuated.
Cave
Barrel, tube, etc.
Channel
Deep water gap between sandbanks or reefs, normally where you paddle out to catch a wave. Also a design feature on underside of a surfboard.
Charging
Aggressively riding a huge wave with confidence.
Close-Out
A wave that breaks along its entire length simultaneously, often unrideable and no good for surfing. Usually causes a wipeout.
Concave
Bottom design on a surfboard aimed to give extra lift.
Cooking
When the surf is really good.
Critical Section
The hardest and most challenging part of the wave to surf.
Cross Stepping
To walk the length of a board while maintaining balance, usually a longboard manoeuvre.
Curl
The top part of a breaking wave where it begins to roll over, taking its name from the shape.
Cutback
A turn on the face of the wave that takes you back towards white water.

D

Dawn Patrol
To surf at dawn.
Dead
No waves no surf.
Deck
Upper surface of surfboard.
Delamination
When the fibreglass skin of a board becomes separated from the foam.
Down the Line
When riding a wave along the length ahead of the breaking part of a wave. Also known as On the Line.
Drop
Dropping from the crest of the wave to the pit, to take off on a breaking wave and ride down the face to the bottom.
Drop In or Dropping In
Catching a wave that is already occupied ... taking off on the shoulder while someone is taking off deeper. When one surfer takes off on a wave already being ridden by another surfer nearer the peak, it is considered very bad style.
Duck Dive
Method of getting through a breaking or broken wave by pushing the board under the wave and surfacing on the backside of the wave.
Dumping
Onshore wave white wash, wave not holding its form, not good surf.

E

Epic
The conditions are near perfect.
Eskimo Roll
Another method of getting through a breaking or broken wave.

F

Face
The unbroken surface of the wave (also known as green water, for obvious reasons), a very rideable area.
Falls
When the top of the wave pitches out and hurls a waterfall shoreward.
Fin
Fin-shaped inserts on the underside of the back of the board that enable the board to be steered. See our selection of fins here.
Fish Surfboard
The fish is a fatter board that’s made to catch waves for mushier days and to still have fun.
Floater
A manoeuvre that involves launching the board off the lip of the wave onto a section of broken or breaking wave in front, and free falling down the face with the breaking white water.
Forehands
Surfing with your face to the wave.
Frontside
Turns in the direction your heels point towards, so that your front is facing towards the outside of the wave’s arc.

G

Glassy
Smooth seas resulting from calm wind conditions giving the surface a sheen—provides excellent surf when combined with a swell.
Gnarly
(Also spelled “knarley”) Heavy, intense. Heavy, difficult waves, usually quite big.
Going Off
A break under optimum conditions. Waves really high; a lot of them.
Goofy Foot
A surfer who rides with his or her right foot forward on the board. Also known as just “goofy.”
Green Room
Inside a full cover-up tube.
Grom or Grommet
A name used for younger surfers.
Ground Swell
A clean swell with evenly-spaced lines, usually from a distant storm.

H

Hang Five or Hanging Five
To ride with five toes curled over the nose of the board, more common on longboards.
Hang Loose
Being in a relaxed metabolic and clear minded state. Inverse Application of Up Tight, Circa 60s.
Hang Ten or Hanging Ten
To ride with ten toes over the nose of the board, a very stylish and very difficult longboard move.

Head Dip
Catching the lip with your head as it pitches over.
Heaving
A thick, heavy lip throwing out also large surf conditions.
Heavy
Big waves, usually intense and difficult to ride.
Hogger
Someone who takes all the waves.

I

Impact Zone
The point at which the swell is breaking most heavily and frequently.
Inside
Shoreward of a breaking wave or set (as in 'caught inside'), or an expression for life in the tube. The inside rail is the one nearest the wave face.
Inverted Aerials
Airborne and upside down.

K

Kahuna
(ka-hoo-na) Hawaiian term for a man that surfs usually with a degree of skill.
Kai
Ocean (hawaiian)
Kick-Out
To make a controlled exit from a wave by riding up the face and over the top.
Kook
Used to describe a new or inexperienced surfer.

L

Lake
No Waves.
Launched
To be thrown in the air, usually from a wipeout.
Leash
Urethane cord which attaches the board to the surfer by means of a velcro strap. See our selection of leashes here.
Left!
What you shout when you catch a wave and intend to go to the left, leaving the right for someone else to catch.
Left-Hander
A wave that breaks from the left to right as viewed from the shore.
Lines
A set of waves outside and approaching.
Line Up
Just beyond the impact zone where you wait to catch waves.
Lined Up
Term to describe an even, well developed swell or set.
Lip
The top edge or crest of the wave ahead of the breaking area, which may 'throw out' to create a tube.
Locals
A group of surfers that grew up or have lived there long enough to be considered one (can be territorial about their breaks).
Longboard
A long, wide, thick surfboard, usually longer than 8’6”. See our selection of longboards here.
Lull
Time spent waiting for a rideable wave. Time between sets, when the waves are much smaller.

M

Malibu Board
Another term for a longboard, usually between 8ft 6in/2.60m and 10ft 6in/3.20m in length. Named after the beach in Southern California.
Men in Grey Suits
Sharks.
Mini-Mal
As in Mini Malibu, a shorter version of the Malibu or Longboard usually between 7’2 and 8’4” ideal for learning on. See our selection of mini-mals here.
Mushy
Slow and poorly formed waves having little power and barely or not rideable.

N

Natural or Natural Foot
A surfer who surfs with his left foot forward, which is the natural stance.
Nollie
Awesome and coolll!! ex: that’s nollie brah.
Noodled
Exhausted.
Nose
The front of the surfboard.
Nose Dive
When the weight of the board is too far forward and the nose starts to go under into the water.
Nose-Riding
Technique used by longboarders who attempt to ride as close as possible to the nose of the board.

O

Offshore
When the wind is blowing from the land out to sea and holding up the face of the wave, will usually produce ideal surfing conditions, especially when the wind is reasonably light.
Off the Lip
A manoeuvre to abruptly turn the surfboard on the lip of the wave and dropping down on to the wave face.
Onshore
When the wind is blowing from the sea onto the land, this messes up the face of the wave and produces poor surfing conditions.
Outside or Out the Back
The area beyond the impact zone, the outside rail is the edge furthest from the face of the wave. When shouted “Outside!” means there is a big set coming.
Over the Falls
To fall down the face of the wave inside the falling lip. Getting pitched head-first and slammed by the lip of a crashing wave.

P

Peak
The point at which a wave breaks first, from which it ideally peels in one or both directions.
Peel
A wave is said to peel when it breaks away evenly and cleanly from the peak.
Pit
A breaking waves hollowest part, the bottom point in front of the peak of a wave.
Pitchpole
When your nose goes under, you go over the nose, the board flips behind you, the wave closes on you and you become a sandwich. Can be a dangerous situation.
Pocket
The steepest and most powerful part of the wave, just ahead and under the breaking lip.
Point Break
A break where the waves are refracted around a headland or point and then peel along the inside of the point.
Pop-Out
A machine moulded surfboard, ideal for beginners.
Pop-Up
Quick jump up on to your board in a standing or crouched position from lying prone paddling.
Pounded
Getting hit hard by some gnarly sets.
Pumping
A term used to describe a good powerful above average large swell.
Pumping the Board
A means of increasing the speed across the face of a wave.

Q

Quiver
A surfer’s collection of boards. A selection of surfboards for differing conditions.

R

Rail
The side or edge of a surfboard.
Reef Break
Waves breaking over a projection rising from the sea bed, usually a coral reef or rock shelf.
Reentry
Manoeuvre which involves surfing up into the lip of a breaking wave, then coming back down with it.
Regular
A surfer who surfs with their left foot forward.
Resin
Chemical used in a two part mixture with catalyst to convert fibreglass into a hard outer skin.
Right!
What you shout when you catch a wave and intend to go to the right leaving the left for someone else to catch.
Right-hander or Right
A wave that breaks from right to left as viewed from the shore.
Rip
To surf your max.
Rip or Riptide
A channel of water running out to sea.
Rocker
The curve in a surfboard when viewed side on. How concave the surface of the board is from nose to tail.

S

Sandbank
An elevation in the level of the sea floor on a beach, causing waves to break over it.
Section
When a wave is divided by white water into several different areas having a clean face. The parts that are rideable.
Set
A group of waves coming in at a regular pace.
Set Wave
A group of waves of larger size within a swell.
Sharkbait
The person that is the furthest out from the shore.
Shorebreak
Waves breaking very close to shore or on the beach. More suited for short rides or working on skills such as getting up on the board.
Shortboard
A shorter narrower, thinner surfboard. It is more difficult to catch a wave on a shortboard but it can be controlled and turned more easily. See our selection of shortboards here.
Shoulder
The steep part of the wave directly in front of the breaking area.
Shred
Ability to execute rapid repeated turns on a shortboard.
Shut Down
To wipe out while inside the barrel, surfing a wave that closes out causing you to wipe out.
Sick
Excellent, the best. Totally cool, something that rocked or just a term in place of “wow,” for example.
Silver Surfer
Senior Surfer.
Skimboard
A small board made of plywood or fibreglass. The rider skims over the wave wash on the shore or shoots out from the shore into an oncoming wave.
Snake
Paddling around behind someone who is in position and stealing their wave.
Snake Out
When person backs out of wave making you miss it.
Snap Up
To stand up quickly on your board.
Soup
The white water of a broken wave.
Soup Bowl
A wave which has a steep peak with weak shoulders on both sides.
Spin Cycle
Wiping out and getting thrashed underwater until you don't know which way is up.
Spinner
Turning 360 degrees on your board while still steering the board straight.
Spin-Out
When the fins of the board break loose from the water surface.
Spit
The spray of water coming out of the barrel when the barrel is closing.
Stall
A manoeuvre where the board is slowed or ‘stalled’ to allow the curl to catch up with the surfer.
Stealing the Beach
How much sand you take home.
Steamer
A full wetsuit with long arms and long legs.
Stick
Another name for your board.
Stink Bug
Kook stance wide apart legs butt up in the air...just like a stink bug.
Stringer
The thin piece or pieces of wood running down the centre of a board adding strength.
Stoked
Full of enthusiasm.
SUP
Stand up Paddle boarding. See our selection of SUP boards here.
Swell
Waves generated by the energy from the weather and wind conditions travelling over the ocean’s surface, often travelling for hundreds or thousands of miles. A measurement of wave height.
Switch-Foot
A surfer who can surf with either foot forward.

T

Tail
The rear end of the board.
Tailslide
When the surfer lets the board’s fins lose their grip on the wave, and the board slides on the face of the wave.
Take Gas
Get obliterated by a wave.
Take-Off
The beginning point of the ride where the board is propelled by the wave.
The Spot
The best spot to surf in an area.
Three-Sixty (360)
Spinning the board through 360 degrees on the face of the wave.
Thruster
A three-finned surfboard.
Trim
The skill of keeping a surfboard at the correct angle to the face to gain maximum speed.
Trimming
Adjusting weight and position on the board so that the board retains maximum speed.
Toes on the Nose
When you stand with your toes on the front of the board, usually on a long board.
Tows In
Being towed by a jet ski into waves that are too large to paddle into.
Tube
The hollow part of the wave. Also called barrel.
Tubed
Riding a wave inside the hollow pocket so that the wave is breaking around you.
Turtle Roll
To roll your board over to go through a wave to get outside, used with longboards.

V

Vee
Convex shape on the bottom of the board.

W

Wahine
Hawaiian word for girl. Girl surfer.
Wake
The start of the wave; when it’s rising up above the water and you’re paddling out.
Walled Off
Entire wave breaks at once, nowhere to go.
Wax
Made for different temps and applied to a boards’ deck for traction. See our selection of surf waxes here.
White Water
The white foamy part of a breaking wave.
Windswell
A weak swell generated by localised winds.
Wipeout
Falling off the surfboard. Totally lose it and get pummelled by the wave.

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