Surfer’s Vocabulary and Slang
Surfer’s Vocabulary and Slang
The first time you heard a surfer speak, you may have become very confused. The people are dudes and brothers (often pronounced as brathaas) and they may do baffling things like kicking out and cutting back. The online dictionary for surfers, Riptionary, will be very useful if you are planning to learn surfing. Here we have explained few of the many words used by the surfers constantly. Some of the terms are slang words created by a newer generation while others belong to the universal surfer’s lingo.
Some of the most commonly used surfing terms are the following:
aerial – the word aerial describes a tricky move where a surfer jumps up from the wave along with the surfboard in the air and lands back in the water to continue riding. The maneuver is very difficult and can only be performed by highly skilled surfers.
A-frame – it is a massive, peak shaped wave with right and left shoulders. The highest point of the crest is in the middle of the peak. Two surfers can ride it at the same time; one on the front while the other on the back.
ankle-breaker – a very small wave which is not worth riding.
ASP – stands for Association of Surfing Professionals. The organization arranges international surfing competitions annually.
axed – getting hit by a crest of the wave when it drops down on you
backside or backhand – it is a position in which the back of the surfer is facing the wave.
backside air – the term describes a surfer jumping into the air with his/her back to the wave.
beach break – beach break takes place when a fast and normally steep wave breaks over a sandy beach.
barrel – a hollow wave that totally covers the surfers. Also known as “tube”.
channel – a design feature on underside of a surfboard. Also, a large gap between reefs.
choppy – a bad, inconsistent surf condition.
clean – smooth, good surfing condition.
cutback – a classic move which takes a surfer back towards the white water by quickly reversing direction twice
dawn patrol – surfing just before the sunrise. The beach is usually secluded at this time.
ding- phrase used when a surfboard is damaged.
drop knee – riding with one knee on the deck of the surfboard
duck diving – diving under an oncoming wave when paddling out
Eskimo roll or turtle roll – maneuver when a surfer rolls a board over to get through a large wave without being washed towards the shore.
flail – losing control or freaking out
far out – a term used to describe an amazing experience.
fin – a warning term used among the surfers.
forehand – surfing while facing towards the wave
glassy – a nice, windless surf condition in which the ocean surface is glass like smooth
green room – the inside of a tube.
heavy – a powerful condition in which surfing can be dangerous.
kick out or pull out – it is an exit from the wave by riding over the top of the wave.
leash – a surfboard leash attached to the ankle.
lip – crest of the wave
macking – conditions in which the waves are enormous (as in Mack trucks)
mushy – condition in which the waves are weak
nose – the front of the board
nose guard – to prevent injury to the nose, a rubber guard is stuck on the front of the board
nug – it is a slang term used to describe a good wave
overhead – waves which are taller than the surfer
pancake style – a wave-less, sitting water
pop out – a surfboard ideal for novices
quiver – a collection of surfing boards
rip current – a channel of water running out to sea.
set – a group of waves coming at a regular pace
shore breaker – a set of waves that break close to the shore
take of – begin to ride a wave
tube – inside of a hollow wave
wipe out – falling off a surfboard
For more on Surfer’s Vocabulary and Slang, visit:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Glossary_of_surfing
http://rippinh2o.com/dropzone/surflingo.shtml
http://krankykids.com/research/surf_slang.html