4-3 or 3-2

Pronounced "four-three" or "three-two". Refers to the thickness of a wetsuit. A 4/3 is four millimeters in the body and three millimeters in the arms. Similarly, a 3/2 is three millimeters in the body and two millimeters in the arms.
More Surf Lingo

Highway Surfer

People who drive around with boards on their car surf racks, but don't go out in the surf. However, this can also refer to when everyone is driving around trying to find some good surf - a bunch of highway surfing going on.
More Surf Lingo

Frontside

When a surfer is riding the wave with their back to the shore and facing the wave, they are riding it frontside.
More Surf Lingo

Board

A surfboard
More Surf Lingo

Beef

When someone has an issue with something or someone else - they have a “beef” with it.
More Surf Lingo

Beach Break

Describes waves breaking on a sand bottom and shore, as opposed to a rock or coral reef.
More Surf Lingo

Fetch

The distance that wind and seas (waves) can travel toward land without being blocked.
More Surf Lingo

Leg Rope

Refers to a surfboard leash - the cord that attaches from a surfers ankle to the surfboard and keeps the board from getting too far away after a wipeout or a big kick out.
More Surf Lingo

Hosed

Ripped off, screwed, broken – a bad situation.
More Surf Lingo

Surf Lingo

Short for “Zulu time”. Basically it's the time at 0 degrees longitude and 0 minutes, which is a time standard that is not affected by time zones or seasons. Anyone can translate Zulu time to their local time by adding or subtracting the appropriate number of hours and/or minutes.
More Zulu

Wax Bum

Someone who sits on the beach with their board and is continually waxing the board and getting ready to go out in the surf, but never really makes it past the “getting ready” stage.
More Surf Lingo

Shred

Riding the waves with really good maneuvers – also called “tearing it up”.
More Surf Lingo

Accelerator

Also called “hardener”, this refers to the catalyst that is mixed with resin, and causes a chemical reaction that “hardens” or “accelerates” the hardening of the resin. Used in making surfboards.
More Surf Lingo

Endless Summer

Used to describe a perfect summer – taken from the movie “Endless Summer” which is an all time classic surf film (not a surf flick – this is the real deal) about seeking out the perfect wave.
More Surf Lingo

Pigment

The coloring agent that's added to clear resin to produce color in a surfboard's skin.
More Surf Lingo

Skeg

Same as a fin.
More Surf Lingo

Chinese Wax Job

Wax on the bottom of your board - you don't want that.
More Surf Lingo

Men In Grey Suits

Refers to sharks.
More Surf Lingo

Hybrid Board

A board that combines multiple designs into a single board in an attempt to have the best qualities of long boards (flotation) and short boards (maneuverability).
More Surf Lingo

Board sock

A bag for your board, but unlike a board bag with a zipper or velcro seam that opens up, a board sock is (as the name implies) more like a big sock with a drawstring.
More Surf Lingo

Born Again Surfer

A person who takes up surfing again after a long exodus – usually due to “life” getting in the way of surfing.
More Surf Lingo

Aggro

Pronounced "a'-groh". Short for "aggressive", originating from Australian slang. Can be an attitude or the manner in which a surfer is riding the wave - i.e. very aggressively.
More Surf Lingo

Hair Out

Having too much fear.
More Surf Lingo