Surfer Slang 101: Surf Term Dictionary

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There are few sports around the world that have cultivated their own slang as iconic as surf culture. In this guide to surfer slang, we’ll show you the most common surf terms so you don’t sound like a kook out in the water.

Feel overwhelmed when you listen to glimpses of the World Surf League announcer?

As Marlin says in Finding Nemo, “It’s like he’s trying to speak to me, I know it!”

Fear not, friend. Aside from surfer slang, we’ll also define common surf terms and contest lingo as well.

Glossary of Surfer Slang Terms

A

A Frame

When a wave breaks right and left, forming what looks like an A.

Aggro

An aggressive surfer who brings bad vibes into the water.

Amped

The act of being excited, usually before a surf session.

Ankle Biter

Surf slang for small waves, as if they’re lapping at your ankles.

B

Backdoor

Taking off behind the peak and surfing through the barreling part of the wave.

Backside

To surf with your back facing the wave. Most surfers prefer to surf with the front of their body facing the wave, as it offers a bit more control.

Bail

To ditch your surfboard or to jump off a wave before it ends.

Barrel

When a wave forms a hollow tube. Getting barreled means you surf inside of the barrel of the wave.

Beach Break

Waves that break against the beach or shoreline instead of at a point or reef.

Betty

An older surf term for female surfer.

Blown Out

When the wind ruins the waves, usually caused by howling onshore winds flattening waves.

Boardies/Board Shorts

Swim shorts or trunks used for surfing.

Bodyboard

A piece of foam used for the sport of body boarding, also called boogie boarding. Bodyboarders tend to ride a wave on their belly and wear short fins.

Bomb

A massive wave, oftentimes the largest wave of the set or the day.

Booties

Neoprene socks/shoes that keep feet warm and protect feet from getting scraped by reef or rock.

Bottom Turn

When a surfer turns at the bottom of the wave.

Break

The place where a wave forms, usually known as a surf break.

Bro

A surf friend.

C

Carve

The act of turning on a wave; usually surfers carve the face of the wave.

Channel

Deep water between the reef where waves typically don’t break. Surfers often use the channel to paddle out to outer reef waves.

Charging

Going for big waves oftentimes beyond the surfer’s comfort level.

Choppy

When the surface of the water is bumpy, usually caused by competing swells or wind.

Clean

When the surface of the water is smooth, creating ideal surf conditions.

Cleaned Up

When a large wave or set of waves comes and catches surfers off guard. Usually this means surfers are stuck in the whitewash.

Close Out

When a wave walls up and breaks at once without providing a way for a surfer to turn right or left. The opposite of a peeling wave.

Crease

When a surfboard bends without snapping, forming a crease in the surfboard itself.

Crest

The highest point of a wave. The opposite of a trough, which is the lowest point of a wave.

Curl

The part of a wave that forms a C shape. Surfers prefer to surf within the curl of the wave.

Cutback

When a surfer completes a sharp turn on the face of a wave.

D

Dawn Patrol

Surfing at sunrise, when waves tend to be best around many parts of the world.

Deck

The top of the surfboard where surfers place their feet.

Deep

When a surfer is sitting close to the peak of the wave.

Dick dragger

Surf slang for bodyboarder, usually used as an insult.

Ding

A dent in a surfboard, typically means the fiberglass of the surfboard has been cracked and the inner foam core is exposed.

Drop

When a surfer stands up on their board and rides down the face of the wave.

Drop In On Someone

When a surfer takes a wave that another surfer is already on, surfing in front of the surfer who is entitled to that wave.

Duck Dive

To paddle underneath a wave by pressing down on the surfboard and ‘ducking’ underneath the wave.

E

F

Fins

Glass or plastic fins are placed at the bottom back part of the surfboard to aid with steering and speed.

Fin Box

A part of the surfboard that secures the fin to the surfboard.

Fish

A surfboard shape that tends to be short, wide, and has a tail with two V-cut outs, resembling a fish tail.

Frontside

When a surfer surfs with the front side of their body facing a wave.

G

Goofy Foot

A surfer who surfs with their left foot back and right foot forward.

Green Room

When a surfer is inside of a barrel and able to look around them. The unbroken part of the wave usually looks teal, green, or turquoise depending on where the wave is located.

Green Wave

A wave that is unbroken with a wide, clean face. The opposite of whitewash wave.

Grom

A kid who surfs and is obsessed with the sport of surfing.

Gun

A large surfboard shape used for big wave surfing.

H

Hanging 5, 10, 11

Hanging five means hanging five toes off the nose of a longboard. Hanging ten means standing with both feet on the nose of a longboard. Hanging eleven is when a surfer noserides a longboard in the nude.

Hang Loose

To be relaxed, happy.

Heavy

When surf conditions are big and waves are powerful. A heavy wave can simply mean a large wave with tons of force.

Held Under

When a surfer is pushed underwater by a wave and forced to hold their breath longer than what they’re comfortable with.

Hodad

Someone who hangs around the beach and participates in surf culture without being a surfer themselves.

Hollow

When a wave barrels and forms a tube.

I

Impact Zone

Where the wave breaks. If a surfer is stuck in the whitewash of a wave and there are waves to come, they are stuck in the impact zone.

Inside

A surfer is caught inside when they are in the impact zone of the wave; between the whitewash of the wave and deeper water or the beach, where it’s safer to be. Sitting inside is catching the shoulder of waves that have already broken, or smaller waves in between set waves.

J

Jack Up

When a wave suddenly grows in height, usually due to an increase in swell size or a double-up of waves.

K

Kahuna

Hawaiian word for wave.

Kneeboard

The sport of surfing on your knees instead of standing.

Kook

A new surfer, usually used as a derogatory surf term.

L

Left

When a wave opens to the left, a surfer is able to go left after popping up on a wave.

Leash, Leggie, Leg Rope

A plastic rope that attaches the surfboard to the surfer, usually at the ankle or below the knee. A leash keeps the surfer from losing their surfboard after a wipeout.

Line Up

Where surfers sit and wait for waves among one another. Surfers also often line up according to a point on the shoreline, using it as a reference point of where waves will break next.

Lip

The top edge of the wave that then curls and connects to the ocean.

Localism

When local surfers form a de facto group and act rude or aggressively towards newcomers to the surf spot.

Longboard

A surfboard that is over nine feet long. Longboard surfboards are more stable and easier to paddle than shortboard surfboards, but are not as agile to turn.

M

Make the Drop

When a surfer paddles into a steep wave and manages to pop up successfully.

Malibu

A traditional longboard surfer that is usually around nine to ten feet long.

Maxed Out

When a surf break reaches its maximum size, causing the wave to break in an un-surfable or unpredictable way.

Man in a grey suit

Surf slang for sharks.

Messy

When the surf conditions are choppy or hard to navigate. Oftentimes caused by wind, currents, pollution, or contradicting swells.

Mini Mal

A minature longboard that usually has a wide nose and spans between seven to eight feet long. Very stable surfboard and an ideal pick for beginner surfers.

Mush

A powerless wave; also called a mushburger. Usually consists of small waves of whitewash.

N

Nose

The tip or front of the surfboard.

Nose riding

Standing on the nose of a surfboard, usually done on a longboard.

O

Offshore/Onshore

Wind direction; when wind is blowing offshore, it tends to be better for surf conditions. Onshore winds often cause waves to blow out and lose form.

Outside

Deeper water, outside of where the waves break. Paddling outside means a surfer is paddling towards deeper water.

Over the Falls

When a surfer gets caught by the lip of the wave and tumbles over the front of the wave, connecting with the water below.

Overhead

Used to describe wave size; usually means the face of the wave is over five feet tall.

P

Paddle Out

(1) When surfers paddle towards breaking waves. (2) An organized paddle out is usually when surfers gather and paddle their surfboards into the ocean at the same time, usually to commemorate a person or to raise awareness for a cause.

Party Wave

When multiple surfers ride the same wave at the same time.

Peak

The part of the wave that is first to break; optimal place to catch a wave.

Pearl

When the nose of a surfboard dives into the water, causing the surfer to fall off the front of the board and face first into the water.

Peel

When a wave breaks slowly and in a predictable fashion.

Pig Dog

The crouched body position surfers take when surfing inside of a barrel.

Pintail

When a surfboard has a narrow tail, usually used on large surfboard to help navigate big waves.

Pit

The barrel of a wave. Getting pitted means the surfer is inside of the hollow part of a wave.

Pocket

The curl of the wave; the optimal place to surf as it has the most energy.

Point Break

When a wave breaks from the edge of a reef or sandbank; point breaks tend to always break at the same spot.

Poop Stance

When a surfer has a very wide stance and squats like a sumo wrestler; commonly seen among beginner surfers.

Pop Out

Surf slang for a standard surfboard made by one of the large surf brands; opposite of a custom surfboard.

Pop Up

The movement of standing up on a surfboard. Surfers go from laying on their bellies to popping up onto their feet.

Pounding

When a surfer wipes out and is thrashed by the wave.

Priority

Part of surf etiquette; when a surfer is entitled to take the next good wave.

Psyched

The state of being excited before a surf session or after getting a great wave.

Pumping

When surf conditions are ideal; usually implying big waves.

Q

Quad

A surfboard with four fins.

Quiver

A collection of surfboards.

R

Rad

Surf slang for amazing, epic, awesome.

Rail

The edge of a surfboard.

Reef Break

When a wave breaks over reef rather than sand.

Reef Rash

When a surfer hits and cuts their skin on the reef.

Regular Foot

A surfer who surfs with their right foot on the back of the board; opposite of goofy foot.

Right

When a wave opens to the right, a surfer is able to go right after popping up on a wave.

Rips

When someone ‘rips,’ it’s surf slang for a very good surfer.

Rip Current/Rip Tide

A current that pulls water out to sea or along the shoreline.

Roastie

When a surfer skins themselves on sand or reef, forming a painful raspberry patch on their skin.

Rocker

The curve from nose to tail of a surfboard.

S

Section

The part of a wave with an open face. Some waves have multiple open sections that are broken up by closeout sections.

Set

A series of waves that come in a row. Most sets have between three to six waves in a set.

Set Wave

The largest or best wave in a set of waves.

Shacked

The act of getting barreled, when the lip of the wave comes over a surfer’s head forming a ‘shack’.

Shaka

A hand signal with the three middle fingers pointing out and the thumb and pinky extend out. Used as a greeting or positive gesture in surf culture.

Shaper

Someone who designs and shapes surfboards.

Shoobie

Surf slang for loser. A beachcomber who wears socks and sandals on the beach; rarely used.

Shoot the Pier

When a surfer catches a wave and rides it underneath a pier, dodging pillars as they surf.

Shore Break

When a wave breaks directly onto the shore.

Shoulder

Part of the wave that has yet to break, trailing from the peak of the wave.

Shred

Surf slang for surfer who is great at surfing.

Single Fin

A surfboard with one fin, usually a longboard surfboard.

Sketchy

Surfing in dangerous conditions. This can mean the waves are too big, are breaking too shallow, or are very unpredictable.

Slot In

Pulling into the ideal part of a wave; usually inside the barrel.

Snake

When a surfer paddles around another surfer who has priority and steals the next best wave. A sneaky move and poor form when it comes to surf etiquette.

Soft Top

A soft top surfboard has a soft foam deck rather than a hard fiberglass or epoxy deck.

Soup

Mushy surf conditions; usually small waves and wind chop.

Sponger

Surf slang for bodyboarder.

Stall

To slow down on a wave; when a surfer drags part of their body into the wave itself. This is usually done to help a surfer tuck into a barrel.

Stick

Surf term for surfboard.

Stoked

To be excited or happy, a feeling of elation after a good surf session or in anticipation for surfing.

Stringer

A piece of wood that runs along the inside of a surfboard to help keep it stronger and more table.

Sunnies

Surf term for sunglasses.

Surf Camp

A retreat where you can learn how to surf or progress existing surf skills. Usually is located near a surf break and includes accommodation, food, lessons, transport, and gear rental.

Sweeper

Surf term for standup padlleboarder as they oftentimes look like they are ‘sweeping’ a broom when they paddle.

Swell

A series of waves propagating on the ocean’s surface. Surfers look at swell forecasts to influence where and when they will surf.

T

Tail

The back end of the surfboard, where fins are located.

Tail Pad/Traction Pad

A pad on the tail of a surfboard where a surfer places their back foot and gains traction.

Take Off

The initial act of paddling into a wave and popping up; the beginning motion of surfing a wave.

Tandem

When two surfers ride one surfboard at once.

Thruster

A surfboard with three fins.

Tombstone

When a surfer is held underwater and their surfboard is partially pulled under as well, resembling a tombstone.

Tow In

When a jet ski or wave runner pulls a surfer into a wave. Commonly seen in big wave surfing.

Tube

Hollow, barreling wave.

Turtle Roll

When a surfer rolls their surfboard upside down to get under a wave.

Twin Fin

A surfboard with two fins.

U

V

W

Wahine

Hawaiian word for woman; surf slang for surfer girl.

Waterlogged

When water seeps into the internal foam a surfboard, causing it to become heavy. Usually a result of a ding left unattended too long.

Wax

Surf wax is wax made specifically for surfboards. It forms small bumps on the deck of the surfboard, helping the surfer gain traction.

Wave Hog

A surfer who catches wave after wave without considering other surfers; poor form of surf etiquette.

Wave Pool

An artificial wave created outside of the sea.

Wettie/Wetsuit

A neoprene suit that traps a thin layer of water between the surfer’s skin and the suit, helping the surfer stay warm.

Whitewash

The part of a wave that has already broken; the white foamy part of the wave. Beginner surfers often surf in the whitewash, while more experienced surfers tend to ride along the face of the wave.

Wipeout

When a surfer falls off of a wave, may sometimes result in damage to the surfboard or injury to the surfer.

Worked

Getting thrashed around in the water, pummeled by waves.

X

Y

Z

What surf terms and surf slang have we left off the list?