There are many terms used in the surfing world which you may not have heard before. Below is a list of these words along with their meanings.
A-Frame
A wave that breaks both left and right simultaneously.
Air (Aerial)
A maneuver where the surfer jumps into the air with their surfboard.
Ankle Strap
The part of the leash that wraps around the ankle.
Back-hand
Riding a wave sideways while facing away from the wave.
Backwash
Waves that hit the shoreline and bounce back toward the ocean.
Bailing
Letting go of the surfboard, usually in dangerous conditions or when encountering a very large wave.
Barrel (Hollow)
A steep wave forming a tube-like tunnel.
Beach Break
A surf spot where waves break over a sandy seabed.
Blown Out
When an otherwise good wave is ruined due to strong winds.
Booties
Rubber shoes worn to protect the feet from sharp rocks or reefs.
Bomb
A set of large waves.
Bombie / Bombora
A wave breaking far offshore, away from the beach.
Bottom
The underside of a surfboard.
Bottom Turn
A turn performed at the base of the wave.
Carve
A sharp, continuous turn while riding a wave (bottom turn, up turn, cutback).
Channel
An area in the ocean where waves do not break, usually due to currents. Surfers use this to paddle out to the lineup.
Channels
Grooved contours on the bottom of a surfboard that help with water flow.
Choppy
When onshore wind makes the waves rough and disorganized.
Closeout (Closing Out)
A wave that breaks all at once, turning into whitewater across the entire face.
Concave
The curved shape or contour of the bottom of a surfboard.
Crest
The highest part of a wave before it starts to break.
Cross-shore Wind
Wind that blows sideways across the incoming waves.
Curl
The top lip of a wave that pitches forward when breaking.
Cutback
A maneuver where the surfer turns back toward the wave’s pocket.
Deck
The top surface of the surfboard where the surfer stands.
Ding
Damage to a surfboard, usually from impact.
Double Up
When two waves merge into a single, larger wave, usually when the first wave reaches shallower water.
Drop In
When a surfer takes off on a wave that another surfer is already riding, which is considered poor etiquette.
Feet (ft)
A unit of measurement used for surfboards. 1 ft = 0.3 meters.
Fins
The fin-like structures under a surfboard that help with control and stability.
Flat
Calm ocean surface with no waves.
Fore-hand
Riding a wave sideways while facing toward the wave.
Foil
The hydrodynamic shape of a surfboard’s rail.
Glassy
Smooth, ripple-free water conditions, often when there is no wind.
Goofy Foot
A surfing stance where the right foot is placed in front.
Green Wave
An unbroken wave, ideal for surfing.
Grom
A young or junior surfer.
Hang Five
A noseride where one foot (five toes) hangs over the surfboard’s nose.
Hang Ten
A noseride where both feet (ten toes) hang over the surfboard’s nose.
Impact Zone
The area where waves break with the most force.
Inch
A unit of measurement used for surfboards. 1 inch = 2.5 cm.
Inside
The deeper section of a wave, closer to where it is breaking.
Kick Out (Flick Out)
Exiting a wave by turning out and away from it.
Kook
A beginner surfer who lacks experience.
Leash (Leg Rope)
A safety cord attached to the surfer’s ankle and the surfboard.
Line-up
The area where waves start to break and where surfers wait to catch waves.
Lull
Calm period between waves, or between sets of waves
Mushy
Weak, soft waves with little power.
Nose
The front tip of the surfboard.
Nose Dive (Pearling)
Falling forward when the surfboard’s nose dips underwater.
Noseride
Riding the surfboard while standing near its nose.
Offshore Wind
Wind blowing from land toward the sea.
Onshore (Inshore) Wind
Wind blowing from the sea toward the land.
Outside
The area further out to sea, beyond the breaking waves.
Paddle
Moving through the water on a surfboard by paddling with the arms.
Paddle Out
Paddling from the shore to the lineup.
Peak
The highest point of a wave before it breaks.
The steepest, most powerful part of a wave near the curl, where surfers gain the most speed.
Point Break
A surf spot where waves break due to a rocky point extending into the ocean.
Pop Up (Take Off)
The movement of standing up on a surfboard while catching a wave.
Rail
The edge of the surfboard between the deck and bottom.
Reef Break
A surf spot where waves break over a coral or rocky reef.
Riptide (Rip Current)
A strong offshore current pulling water out to sea.
Rocker
The curve from the nose to the tail of a surfboard.
Section
A part of the wave that is breaking.
Set
A group of waves arriving in succession.
Shorebreak
Waves that break suddenly in shallow water near the shore.
Shoulder
The unbroken, sloping part of a wave outside the pocket.
Stringer
A wooden strip running through the center of a surfboard for structural reinforcement.
Surf Break (Break)
The underwater topography that causes waves to break, such as sandbars, reefs, or rocks.
Tail
The back end of the surfboard.
Trim
Riding a wave in a straight line.
Turtle Roll / Eskimo Roll / Roll-Over
A technique where a surfer flips upside down under an incoming wave to avoid getting pushed back.
White Wave (Foam)
A broken wave that appears as white foam, often used for practicing pop-ups and balance.
Wipeout
Falling off a surfboard and getting tumbled by the wave.
Do you have any other surfing terms you’d like to add? Let us know in the comments!