Surfing Lingo
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If you are just getting started in surfing, it helps to know what other
surfers are talking about! Here is a limited glossary of surf lingo.
- BACK OFF
- When a wave dies down by encountering deep water. This term can also define the deep water where a wave dies down.
- BACKSIDE
- Surfing down the line, with your body facing away from the wave.
- BAGGIES
- Surf shorts.
- BODYBOARD
- A sawed-off surfboard that you ride lying down. They are usually about four feet long, and made of spongy material.
- CLEANUP SET
- A set of especially large waves.
- CLOSEOUT
- When a long wall of wave breaks all at the same time.
- CORD
- Leash that velcros around your ankle and attaches to your board.
- CUTBACK
- A turn where you reverse your direction completely, right to left or left to right.
- DECK
- The upper surface of your surfboard that you stand on.
- DING
- Any damage to your surfboard.
- DROP IN
- Catch a wave. This term can also mean to steal a wave from someone else.
- FACE
- The smooth, unbroken part of the wave that you ride.
- FIN
- The piece on the back of your surfboard that goes down into the water and allows you to steer.
- FRONTSIDE
- Surfing down the line, with your body facing the wave.
- GOOFY FOOT
- Surfers who surf with their right foot forward.
- HANG TEN
- Running up to the edge of your longboard and placing the toes of both feet over the edge while you ride a wave.
- KOOK
- A novice surfer.
- LINEUP
- The location where a wave breaks.
- LULL
- A period of time when waves quit coming or come at a reduced size.
- MUSH
- Waves that break softly and have no power.
- NOSE
- The front end of your surfboard.
- OFFSHORE WIND
- A breeze that blows out to the surf.
- ONSHORE WIND
- A breeze that blows in to the surf.
- OVERHEAD
- Waves that exceed the height of the surfer.
- PEARL
- When the nose of the board catches, dips under water, and sends you head over heels into the water.
- RAIL
- The side of your surfboard.
- REGULAR FOOT
- Surfers who surf with their left foot forward.
- SET
- A series of waves.
- SHAPE
- The characteristic way a wave breaks.
- SIDESHORE
- A breeze blowing parallel to the beach.
- SLOP
- Weak surf.
- SOUP
- Whitewater.
- SPINOUT
- When the fin of your board comes out of the wave, causing a wipeout.
- SURFSPOT
- A geographical location for riding waves.
- TAIL
- The rear end of your surfboard.
- TRIMMING
- Riding the board at an angle to the wave.
- VICTORY AT SEA
- Large, choppy surf.
- WIPEOUT
- To fall off, or get knocked off, your surfboard.
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