Squid Lid

The name for a piece of head gear that covers the head and ears. Used for protection against cold but also for protecting the ears from cold water and air (see “surfer's ear”)
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Flat Spell

A long break between waves or swells, which can be any length of time, but usually refers to at least a couple days without surf.
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Down The Line

The point or section on a wave where the surfer is trying to get to as they envision their path
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Tube or Tube Ride

A wave that breaks with a large hollow opening between the face of the breaking wave and where the lip of the wave is meeting the wave. A “tube ride” is where a surfer is able to ride inside this hollow area.
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Floater

When a surfer rides on the back side of the wave as it's breaking. Such as when a wave breaks ahead of a surfer and the surfer then rides up on top of the breaking wave and either exits the wave or drops back onto the face on the other side of the broken section.
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Snackle

A surface crack in the board's skin is a snackle. It's just a visual crack and nothing that would let water into the underlying layers.
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Section

Refers to a horizontal area of a wave where it's all about to break at the same time. Different than an entire wave “walling up”.
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Rail Saver

The piece of nylon that extends from where the leash attaches to the board, and a couple inches past the rail before your actual leash (the round rubber part). Designed to keep your leash from cutting into your board's rail.
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Aerial

When a surfer causes the board to catch air (usually flying above the wave for a very short period) and then comes back down to continue riding the wave (see Re-entry).
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Tri-fin

A surfboard that has three fins. One is in the middle at the back of the board, and the other two are slightly forward and toward the side or rails of the board. Designed for performance and keeping traction in the wave during sharp turns. These features enhance the speed and maneuverability of the surfboard. The rear fin is foiled normally but the front fins have flat inside faces to improve drive while turning.
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Top To Bottom

Describes a wave where the breaking lip pitches out and doesn't contact the face of the wave until the very bottom of the wave. The wave is said to be “breaking top to bottom”.
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Stinger

Surfboard design where towards the tail, the rails are cut inward, and then continue on. To picture this design, imagine a board, with the tail section cut off, and then the tail section of a narrower board glued on. Of course the design looks much better than that, but this should provide a visual of this design description. The “break” in the rail line was designed to allow sharper turns in a single fin board.
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Square Tail

A surfboard tail design where the tail is squared off. The width of the tail enhances maneuverability and is especially suited to small waves and heavier surfers.
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Tail Kick

Refers to the amount of rocker (curvature) in the tail.
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Pearl

When the nose of a surfboard goes underwater, either on a take off or during a ride, and causes the board to stop its forward motion – the board or surfer are said to have “pearled”.
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Spaghetti Arms

When a surfer's arms are totally exhausted from paddling after a long surf session. Same as “rubber arms”.
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Stringer

The strip (or strips) of wood that runs up the middle of a surfboard – provides strength and adds stiffness to the foam blank.
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Pin Line

A thin line along a surfboard rail, usually where the deck fiberglass and the rail fiberglass meet.
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Surfers Ear

This is a medical condition (called exostosis) where a bony growth within the ear canal grows due to irritation of the bone by persistent exposure to cold (water and/or air). Cold air (and even warm air) blowing into a wet ear lowers the temperature due to evaporation which stimulates the bony growth. The cure for this is nasty – so prevention is the key. Use your ear plugs!!!
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Wipe-out

Basically falling, crashing, etc..
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Short Board

A board that is usually under around 7 feet – designed for performance and sharp turning capability.
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Swell

Refers to what will eventually become waves when they get closer to shore.
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Shorty

Refers to a wetsuit with short sleeves and short legs – used when the water is a bit warmer. Also called a spring suit.
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Shoulder

Refers to the area of a wave that hasn't broken yet, but where it's moving in that direction and is ridable.
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Rubber Armed

What your arms feel like after a long session – like a couple pieces or rubber. Also called “spaghetti arms”, again, referring to the limpness. This is also a term used to describe when a surfer fains trying to catch a wave by not really paddling hard to catch it.
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Rocker

The curvature of a surfboard – going from the tail up to the nose.
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Flounder

Similar to “flail”. Not having much control over a situation (such as getting pummeled by a wave) and getting tossed around (possibly while flailing).
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Free Fall

When a surfer (and the board) leave the face of the wave and drop to the bottom. Can either happen when taking off on a wave and getting pitched over with the lip, or when riding a big wave and getting too high on the face to where the board loses its grip with the face and drops out.
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Amped

Pronounced "ampt". Very excited. Same as "pumped".
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Dweeb

Derogatory term, similar to “geek”, “nerd”, “goof”, or “goob”.
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