Faky or Fakie

Taking off on a wave with the tail forward (i.e. riding the board backwards).
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Crank A Turn

Making a real sharp turn – really leaning into it.
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Clean

Used to describe glassy surf – i.e. no ripples due to wind and good shaped waves.
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Air, or Catching Air

When a surfer and the board launch into the air and are no longer touching the wave.
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Offshore

When the wind is blowing from the shore out to the ocean. Helps make for hollow waves.
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Rashguard

A shirt (long-sleeved or short sleeved) made of spandex material, that helps protect against developing a rash that can occur due to friction with the board (and wax). A rashguard, when worn under a wetsuit, also helps add a layer of warmth.
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Clam-shelled

When a wave breaks and totally buries a surfer. The breaking wave looks similar to a clam shell – hence the name.
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Baked

Refers to getting a lot of sun (like baked in a hot oven). Also used to refer to smoking marijuana and getting very high or stoned (like baking your brain).
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Skunked

Common term outside of surfing – basically getting denied what you came for. For example, going to the beach to surf when it turns out there aren't any waves.
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Gold Coast

Refers to a stretch of coast in Australia that has numerous world class surf breaks.
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Caught Inside

When a surfer is stuck between the shore and the breaking waves.
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Gloss Coat

The final (shiny) coat of resin on a surfboard. If you like the shiny look – you get a gloss coat. If you don't care (and want to save some money) you don't need to get your board gloss coated.
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Prone

Riding prone means riding on your stomach.
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Zipperless

Refers to a type of wetsuit that doesn't use zipper.
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Cheater Five

Hanging five toes over the nose during a ride, in a squatting position with the leg outstretched. This is as opposed to walking to the nose of the board and hanging five toes over, which would then be called “hanging 5”.
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Primo

Pronounced "pree'-moh". Means excellent, awesome, the best.
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Flip-flops

Another name (one of many) for rubber sandals. Others include “zories” and “go-aheads”.
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Urine Sauna

Peeing in your wetsuit.
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Bone Yard

An area where the waves break and surfers usually end up on the rocks. You don't want to get stuck in the bone yard.
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Flat

No waves :(
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Upwelling

When water from deeper depths flow upward towards the surface.
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Hectic

Intense, gnarly, hairy.
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Bump

A wave spotted out on the horizon - appears as a bump in the horizon.
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Shaper

A person who shapes surfboards. These individuals are skilled craftsmen who understand how various design changes play in the performance of a board out in the water.
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Nose Guard

A piece that fits on your surfboard nose to help lessen the danger of getting stabbed by the pointy nose tip. Made of plastic, rubber, or silicon – softer materials to help lessen the impact.
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AVP

Average time between waves for a given period of time. When this number is very small, then the waves are breaking one right after the other, which makes for a difficult paddle out without a channel nearby.
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Inconsistent

Refers to when the waves don't break at somewhat regular intervals. If some waves break, followed by a long period before another wave, you'd say the surf was “inconsistent”.
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Duct tape

A “must have” in every surfer's toolbox – can be used to temporarily fix just about ANYthing. The saying goes something like “if it can't be fixed [at least temporarily] with duct tape, it can't be fixed”.
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Fiberglass

A woven fabric that is used, in combination with a resin, to form the outer skin of a surfboard.
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Righteous

Awesome, amazing, cool, also a synonym for “right on”.
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