Glossary of surfing

A glossary of surfing is a helpful list of words and phrases that people use when they talk about the sport of surfing. Surfing is an exciting activity where people ride waves on special boards. Over time, surfers have created many special words to describe different parts of surfing, like the shape of the waves or the moves they make.

This glossary includes some of these important words. Many of these terms were first used by surfers themselves, people who love the sport and spend a lot of time in the water. Sometimes, these special words are used by others outside of surfing too, showing how the sport has influenced everyday language.

Learning these words can help anyone understand more about surfing and enjoy talking with surfers. Whether you are new to the sport or just curious, this list offers a fun way to explore the language that makes surfing unique.

About the water

Surfing has many special words to describe different parts of the water and waves. A barrel is when a big wave rolls over and creates a tunnel of air that a surfer can ride through. A beach break happens when waves break near the shore or on a sandbar farther out. Offshore wind blows from the land toward the ocean and makes the waves smooth and easy to surf on, while onshore wind blows from the ocean toward the land and makes the waves choppy and hard to ride.

Other terms include chop, which are rough, messy waves caused by cross winds, and a close-out, when a wave breaks all at once and can’t be surfed. A swell is a group of waves that have traveled from a distant storm and will start to break when they reach shallow water. Surfers wait in the line-up, the area where waves begin to break, hoping to catch a good wave.

Techniques and maneuvers

Surfing has many special ways to ride waves. One way is called an Air/Aerial, where the surfer briefly lifts the board into the air and lands back on the wave. Backing out means pulling back from a wave that looks too tough to ride.

Some other moves include Bottom turn, the first turn at the bottom of a wave, and Carve, which are strong turns on the board. Drop in is when a surfer starts riding a wave, often by standing up on the board. Snaking or drop in on happens when someone takes a wave that another surfer had a right to ride, which is not fair in surfing rules.

Other fun moves are Hang-five or Hang ten, where surfers put five or ten toes over the front of the board, and Tube riding, where a surfer rides inside the curved part of a wave. Each move helps surfers enjoy and master the waves better.

• Air/Aerial: Riding the board briefly into the air above the wave, landing back upon the wave, and continuing to ride
• Backing out: pulling back rather than continuing into a wave that could have been caught
• Bail: To step off the board in order to avoid being knocked off (a wipe out)
• Bottom turn: The first turn at the bottom of the wave
• Carve: Turns (often accentuated)
• Caught inside: When a surfer is paddling out and cannot get past the breaking surf to the safer part of the ocean (the outside) in order to find a wave to ride
• Cheater five: See Hang-five/hang ten
• Cross-step: Crossing one foot over the other to walk down the board
• Drop in: Dropping into (engaging) the wave, most often as part of standing up
• "To drop in on someone": To take off on a wave that is already being ridden. Not a legitimate technique or maneuver. It is a serious breach of surfing etiquette.
• Drop-knee: A type of turn where both knees are bent where the trail or back leg is bent closer to the board than the lead or front leg knee
• Duck dive: Pushing the board underwater, nose first, and diving under an oncoming wave instead of riding it
• Fade: On take-off, aiming toward the breaking part of the wave, before turning sharply and surfing in the direction the wave is breaking, a maneuver to stay in the hottest or best part of the wave
• Fins-free snap (or "fins out"): A sharp turn where the surfboard's fins slide off the top of the wave
• Floater: Riding up on the top of the breaking part of the wave, and coming down with it
• Goofy foot: Surfing with the left foot on the back of board (less common than regular foot)
• Grab the rail: When a surfer grabs the board rail away from the wave
• Hang Heels: Facing backwards and putting the surfers' heels out over the edge of a longboard
• Hang-five/hang ten: Putting five or ten toes respectively over the nose of a longboard
• Kick-out: Surfer throwing their body weight to the back of the board and forcing the surfboard nose straight up over the face of the wave, which allows the surfer to propel the board to kick out the back of the wave
• Head dip: The surfer tries to stick their head into a wave to get their hair wet
• Nose ride: the art of maneuvering a surfboard from the front end
• Off the Top: A turn on the top of a wave, either sharp or carving
• Pop-up: Going from lying on the board to standing, all in one jump
• Pump: An up/down carving movement that generates speed along a wave
• Re-entry: Hitting the lip vertically and re-reentering the wave in quick succession.
• Regular/Natural foot: Surfing with the right foot on the back of the board
• Rolling, Turtle Roll: Flipping a longboard up-side-down, nose first and pulling through a breaking or broken wave when paddling out to the line-up (a turtle roll is an alternative to a duck dive)
• Smack the Lip /Hit the Lip: After performing a bottom turn, moving upwards to hit the peak of the wave, or area above the face of the wave.
• Snaking, drop in on, cut off, or "burn": When a surfer who doesn't have the right of way steals a wave from another surfer by taking off in front of someone who is closer to the peak (this is considered inappropriate)
• Snaking/Back-Paddling: Stealing a wave from another surfer by paddling around the person's back to get into the best position
• Snap: A quick, sharp turn off the top of a wave
• Soul arch: Arching the back to demonstrate casual confidence when riding a wave
• Stall: Slowing down by shifting weight to the tail of the board or putting a hand in the water. Often used to stay in the tube during a tube ride
• Side-slip: travelling down a wave sideways to the direction of the board
• Switchfoot: Ambidextrous, having equal ability to surf regular foot or goofy foot (i.e. left foot forward or right foot forward)
• Take-off: The start of a ride
• Tandem surfing: Two people riding one board. Usually the smaller person is balanced above (often held up above) the other person
• Tube riding/Getting barreled: Riding inside the hollow curl of a wave

Accidental

When a surfer loses balance and falls off their board while riding a wave, it’s called a "wipe out." Sometimes, the wave can pull the surfer underwater in a spinning motion, known as "over the falls." If a surfer gets shaken around by the force of the water, it feels like being moved like a rag doll. Another tricky situation is when the surfer tries to climb up their leash while trapped underwater, causing the board to stand straight up — this is called a "tombstone." Accidentally pushing the nose of the board underwater, which usually ends the ride, is known as a "pearl."

About people and behavior

• Dilla: This is a surfer who is easygoing and doesn't worry much. They feel good about being themselves, even if they are different.
• Grom/Grommet/Gremmie: This is a term for a young surfer.
• Hang loose: This means to stay calm and relaxed. You can show this by raising your hand with your thumb and pinky finger up, and the other fingers folded down, then moving your wrist gently.
• Hodad: This is someone who is not a real surfer but acts like one and spends time at beaches where people surf.
• Kook: This is a term for someone who wants to surf but isn't very good at it yet.
• Waxhead: This is a person who surfs almost every day.
• Broligarchy: This is a group of local surfers who spend a lot of time at one surfing spot.

About the board

Further information on surfboards: Surfboard

• Blank: The block from which a surfboard is created
• Deck: The upper surface of the board
• Ding: A dent or hole in the surface of the board from accidental damage^[a]
• Fin or Fins: Fin-shaped inserts on the underside of the back of the board that help steer the board
• Leash: A cord attached to the back of the board that wraps around the surfer's ankle
• Nose: The forward tip of the board
• Quiver: A surfer's collection of boards for different kinds of waves
• Rails: The side edges of the surfboard
• Rocker: How curved the surface of the board is from nose to tail
• Stringer: The line of wood that runs down the center of a board to keep it strong
• Tail: The back end of the board
• Wax: Special surf wax applied to the top of the board so the surfer's feet don’t slip off
• Leggie: A cord that connects your ankle to the tail of the surfboard so it isn’t washed away when you fall. It is made of lightweight material and comes in different sizes for different wave sizes.
• Thruster: A three-finned surfboard invented in 1980 by Australian surfer Simon Anderson. It is now the most popular fin design for modern surfboards.

Clothing

Surfers wear special clothes to stay comfortable and safe in the water. One common type is called board shorts, sometimes also known as baggies. Another popular item is the Pendleton jacket, made famous by the band the Beach Boys. A rash guard is a shirt that helps protect surfers from sunburns and rough water. In colder water, surfers often wear a wetsuit, sometimes called "rubber," along with a neoprene hood and booties to stay warm.