Surf Glossary

A

A-Frame
A wave that breaks both left and right. You can ride it in either direction.

ASP
Association of Surfing Professionals – founded in 1983 by pro surfers to organize world championships. Since 2015, it’s known as the World Surf League (WSL).

Aerial
A trick where the surfer launches off the wave into the air, completely leaving the water.

Alaia
A finless surfboard made entirely out of wood.

Aloha
A classic surfer greeting meaning “alo” (experience) and “ha” (breath of life).

B

Backside
Riding with your back facing the wave.

Barrel
When you’re inside the hollow part of the wave, basically surfing through a tunnel. (See also Tube)

Beachbreak
A surf spot where the waves break over sand.

Big Waves
Really massive waves, starting around 5 meters (16 ft) high – often surfed with jet ski support. (See Tow-in)

Blank
The raw foam block used to shape a surfboard.

Board
Your trusty wave-riding tool. There are tons of types like Longboard, Fish, Shortboard, Gun, Alaia, and more.

Bodysurfing
Catching waves without a board – just you, your body, and usually a pair of fins.

Bomb
The biggest wave in a set.

Bottom Turn
A turn made at the base of the wave to set up your next move.

Bowl
A super powerful, steep, and fast-breaking section of a wave.

Bumpy
Choppy water conditions, usually caused by wind.

BSA
British Surfing Association – part of the ISA, supporting surfing in the UK. Now called Surfing GB.

C

Carving
Smooth, flowing turns down the line of a wave.

Channel
A current pulling back out to sea. Surfers use it like an escalator to paddle out easier.

Closeout
A wave that breaks all at once across its whole length – no good ride possible.

Custom Surfboard
A board made specifically for you and your style.

Ding
Damage to your board.

Drop
The first steep descent down the face of a wave.

Drop In
Cutting in on someone else’s wave – not cool!

Duckdive
Diving under a breaking wave with your board to get through it.

D (weiter)

DWV
German Surfing Association, founded in 1991 in Cologne. They represent the sport of surfing in Germany.

Ebbe
Low tide – when the water level is at its lowest.

F

Face
The unbroken part of the wave (also called the Wall).

Fins
Attached under the back of your board to help you stay stable and steer.

Foot
A measurement used for board length and wave height. 1 ft = 30.48 cm.

Frontside
Surfing with your chest facing the wave.

G

Goofy Foot
When you surf with your right foot forward.

Gun
A big wave board designed for charging monster waves.

H

Hang Loose
Classic surfer greeting – throw up that shaka 🤙

High Tide
When the water level is at its highest.

I

Inch
Board dimensions (length, width, thickness) are measured in inches. 1 inch = 2.54 cm.

ISA
International Surfing Association – manages competitive surfing worldwide, sets teaching standards, and handles anti-doping stuff.

K

Kickout
Exiting a wave over the back safely.

L

Leash
The cord that keeps your board attached to your ankle so it doesn’t drift away.

Left
A wave that breaks to the left from the surfer’s perspective.

Line-Up
Where surfers wait for waves out the back.

Locals
The surfers who live at and know a spot best.

Low Tide
Same as Ebbe – lowest water level.

Lycra
A surf shirt that protects you from sunburn and board rash.

N

Natural Foot
Surfing with your left foot forward (also called Regular Foot).

New School
Modern surf style with lots of progressive tricks like aerials.

Nose
The front tip of your board.

O

Offshore
Wind blowing from land to sea – makes the waves nice and clean.

Onshore
Wind blowing from sea to land – usually messes the waves up.

Overhead
When the wave is taller than the surfer.

P

Peak
The highest point of a wave, where it starts breaking.

Pointbreak
A wave breaking along a point of land, often giving long, perfect rides.

Pushen
Pumping your board to pick up speed.

R

Rails
The edges of your surfboard.

Reefbreak
A wave breaking over rocks or coral instead of sand.

Regular Foot
Same as Natural Foot – left foot forward.

Right
A wave breaking to the right from the surfer’s view.

S

Section
A part of a wave.

Session
The time you spend out surfing.

Set
A group of waves that come in together, usually 3-7.

Shape
The design or outline of your surfboard.

Shorebreak
Waves breaking super close to the beach.

Shorty
A wetsuit with short arms and legs.

Snaken
Stealing someone’s wave by sneaking inside of them – big no-go.

Spot
A place to surf.

Spray
The water that flies up when you throw a hard turn.

Stoked
That super hyped feeling after a good wave or session.

Stringer
The wooden strip down the center of your board for strength and flex.

Surfcamp
A place where you can stay and take surf lessons – the full surf holiday package.

Surfen
Riding waves with a board (or just your body).

Surflehrerausbildung
The training you need to become a qualified surf instructor.

Swell
Waves generated by storms out at sea.

T

Tail
The back end of your board where the fins are.

Take-Off
The moment you stand up on your board and start riding the wave.

Tide
The movement of the water – high and low depending on the moon.

Top Turn
A turn you do right at the top of the wave.

Tow-In
Getting pulled into huge waves by a jet ski.

Tube
Surfing inside the hollow part of a breaking wave. (See Barrel)

W

Wall
The open face of the wave.

Wax
What you rub on your board for grip.

Weißwasser (Whitewater)
The foamy part of the wave after it breaks.

Wetsuit
Keeps you warm in cold water.

Wipeout
When you totally eat it and fall off your board.