If you want to be in the know about surfing, you’re going to need to learn the lingo. We’ve put the most commonly used surfing terms in one handy list for you.
A-Frame
A wave with a peak breaking to the left and right. The waves looks like the letter A, hence the name.
Aerial
A surfing manoeuvre where you jump off the top of a wave with your surfboard, land back on the wave and continue riding the wave.
👉 Watch our “Learn to surf”-video on cutbacks, floaters & aerials here!
Backdoor
Catch a wave from the opposite side of the peak, getting straight into the barrel created by the falling lip.
Backside
Surfing position in which you’ve got your back to the wave.
👉 Check out our blog on hoe to bottom turn: Backside here
Barrel
When the lip of the wave falls over the wave.
Beach Break
A wave that breaks over sandy bottom.
Bottom Turn
The first turn you make on your surfboard after catching a wave.
👉 We’ve got a blog on how to do it here!
Break
A surf spot.
Carve
Deeper, more radical turns used to change direction rapidly and drastically.
Caught on the inside
Being stuck between the shoreline and breaking waves.
Channel
Current pushing through deeper water where waves break less often, giving surfers an easier paddle route out.
Choppy
Rough and bumpy waves.
Close out
A wave breaking, covering the whole of its face and making a ride impossible.
Curl
The top part of a wave which breaks towards the shoulder.
Cutback
Powerful turn on a wave where you hit the curling lip before turning back into the wall.
👉 Check out how it’s done here!
Dawnie
A surf at sunrise.
Deck pad or grip
The sticky and grippy piece of moulded foam that sits on the tail of your surfboard.
Ding
Small damage to your surfboard.
Drop-in
Getting in the right of way of a surfer who is already surfing a wave. Bad form!
Duck dive
Diving under a breaking wave on your surfboard.
👉 Learn how to dick dive with our step-by-step guide here
Epic!
Widely used by surfers to express their support.
Face
The surfable part of a wave.
Fins
Attach to the bottom of your surfboard to give it stability and manoeuvrability.
👉 Want to know more about fin setups? This way, please!
Fish
Type of surfboard design, short, round and wide.
👉 Learn more about different types of surfboards here.
Flat
Sea condition without any waves.
Flicking out or kick out
Surfing out of the wave, ending your ride.
Foamie
Soft top beginner surfboard.
Frontside
Surfing position facing the wall of the wave.
Glassy
Perfect surfing conditions! Very smooth surface of the wave, undisturbed by winds.
Gnarly
Heavy, big and dangerous surfing conditions.
Goofy footed
Surfing with the right foot forward on the surfboard.
Green waves
Waves that haven’t broken.
👉 Check out our “Learn to Surf’ Video on surfing green waves here!
Grom or grommet
A young aspiring surfer.
Gun
Type of surfboard design, big and pointy.
Hang five or hang ten
Riding a longboard with 5 toes or 10 toes hanging off the nose of the surfboard.
Hang loose
Hawaiian expression for an easy-going attitude.
Heat
The format which competitive surfing is based around.
Inside
Refers to the person closest to the peak of the wave.
Kook
A pre-beginner surfer, an aspiring wave rider, a nerd, or someone who tries – and fails – to mimic the surfing lifestyle.
Lefthander
A wave breaking to the left from the surfer’s perspective.
Line-up
The area where the waves normally begin breaking.
Lip
The very tip of the wave where it is breaking.
Localism
Describes aggressive behaviour by local surfers towards visiting surfers.
Longboard
Type of surfboard design, generally 9 ft or longer.