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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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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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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Tanker Surfing

Surfing the waves that result from the wake created by a large ship.
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Mellow or Mellow Out

To be calm, relaxed.
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Juice

A wave 'has juice” when it's got a lot of power or energy.
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Point Break

Describes where the waves wrap around, and then along, a point of land.
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Big Wednesday

Comes from the title of several films and historical dates that have produced extra large waves. Now used to refer generically to days of exceptionally larger waves.
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Hang Loose

Hawaiian for "take it easy".
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Booties

Like little wetsuit shoes for your feet. Good for keeping your feet warm in frigid water, or for walking on sharp rocky or reef areas without tearing up your feet.
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Squirrely

Loose, a little out of control. When referring to a board, it means the board that rides real loose – maybe a little too loose, because it's hard to control.
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Bro

Friendly greeting to a friend.
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Wiggin' Out

Same as 'scared', 'freaking out'.
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Sand Surfing

Riding obstacles down a sanding berm. Small wood boards, waxed on the bottom can really move on the dunes.
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Board Rash

A rash you get from surfing. Usually occurs on the chest and stomach or inner thighs – those places that come in contact with the surfboard and wax.
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Epic

Pronounced "e'-pik". Used to describe a perfect surf session.
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Walled Up

Where a wave basically breaks all the way across at the same time, leaving it unrideable.
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Knots or Surf Knots

Spots where a surfer's body (usually the knees or feet) has built up padding (thick skin and/or calcium deposits) where a surfer frequently rubs against their board. Checkout the feet of a surfer and you'll usually see one or more large “bumps” or knots somewhere on their feet.
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Betty

A good looking female.
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Sex wax

While trying to steer clear of including products in this dictionary, this seemed to be a needed exception. This is simply a brand of surfboard wax that appeared on the market in the 1970's.
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Dawn Patrol

Refers to getting up real early (like at dawn) to hit the surf.
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Beach Bunny

Older term for good looking female on the beach.
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Surf Rat

A young surfer who enthusiastically spends all their time surfing.
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Channel

A section perpendicular to the shore where the waves aren't breaking - usually due to the bottom being deeper. Allows a surfer to paddle out to the break without getting hit by the waves.
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Quiver

A “quiver” is a collection of surfboards, usually of different sizes and styles in order to have the right tool for the right wave conditions.
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Double Overhead

Used to describe the size of a wave and refers to being double the height of the surfer.
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Schwag

Pronounced "shh-wag". Goods, usually referring to stuff that you received for free.
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Rager

Pronounced "ray'-jur". Something, like a large gathering, that's a bit out of control. Also used to refer to a surf session, that again, is somewhat out of control either due to too many people (or the actions of the people) or due to the waves themselves.
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Backside

Surfing with your back to the wave and facing the shore.
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Head Dip

When a surfer bends their head down to get wet by the breaking wave they're riding.
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River Mouth

Describes a location where water spills out into the ocean. The deposits from the flowing water can sometimes form exceptionally shaped waves.
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Artificial Reef

A man-made attempt at duplicating a natural reef in order to produce surfable waves in an area that otherwise would not have surf.
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Minus Tide

A very low, low tide that is below sea level (sea level is at a tide level of “0 ft.”)
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Locked in

Being in a critical position on a wave with no where to go - the surfer just goes hard and fast to avoid being consumed by the wave.
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Pounded

Same as getting “munched” or “crushed” or “wrecked”, or even “slammed”.
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Hoot

A positive yell of approval or props to another surfer, usually after some well executed maneuver.
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Foamer or Foam Rider

Someone who rides the whitewash (i.e. where the wave has already broken). This is where most newbies begin to learn how to stand up on their board.
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Drift

Moving with the current. Experienced surfers usually pick a spot on the shore and make sure they're not drifting too far from their spot.
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Jack / Jack Up

When a wave hits a shallower spot or a reef and instantly grows in size, usually also causing it to break. An alternate definition is when something (like your car or your board) get “all jacked up” - it means messed up, broken, trashed.
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Cowabunga!

Pronounced "cow-a-buhng'-a". A nonsensical exclamation, similar to saying the expression “hot diggity”. Example: “Cowabunga! That was some great surf”.
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Poser

Someone who doesn't really surf, but dresses and acts as if they do.
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Ebb Flow or Ebb Tide

When the water level is moving from high tide towards low tide.
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Paddling Gloves

Webbed gloves (i.e. gloves with material between the fingers) that are used to increase paddling power.
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Angling

An older term used to describe riding across the face of the wave.
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Egg

Refers to a short round shaped board.
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Surf Lingo

When one wave overtakes another and combines to create a larger more powerful wave.
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Mondo

Pronounced "mahn'-doh". Big, lots, abundant.
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Gyrator

Pronounced "jiy'-ray-tor". A surfer who insists on aggressively wiggling the board back and forth and up and down trying to maintain forward movement on a wave.
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Beached Whale

Derogatory term used to refer to a large person laying on the beach.
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Butt Breach

When a bathing suit is hanging low showing too much butt crack.
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Stand-up Tube

A tube ride where the surfer can stand totally upright without being hit by the breaking wave or lip.
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Backside Air

When a surfer's back is to the wave and both the board and surfer launch into the air and are no longer touching the wave.
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Backside Rail Grab

Grabbing the outer rail of the board while surfing backside. Used to keep the board turned in a position to keep in the fast middle part of the face.
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Take-off Point

This is the point where the wave first breaks and where a surfer wants to catch the wave.
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Spinout

When the fin on a board loses its grip in the water (like when making a really sharp turn) and causes the board to break loose from the wave and to “spinout”.
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Regular Foot

Refers to a surfer who rides the board with their left foot forward and right foot back. The opposite (i.e. right foot forward and left foot back) is called “goofy foot”.
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Wind Swell

Waves produced by more local winds that usually produce less clean surfing waves. Waves produced out at sea over longer distances usually produce more consistent cleaner waves.
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Reef rash

When a surfer gets too close to the reef and gets all scraped up. Not really a rash, but the small scrapes and resulting scabs can appear as a rash – hence the name.
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Backwash

The energy of a wave reflected back from the shore. This occurs where either the beach is steep, or when the tide is very high, and the breaking waves energy is reflected all the way back to the breaking waves causing a collision of the two forces.
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Standing Wave

When water is flowing very fast and hits against a stationary object to form a continuous wave – such as would be seen on a fast moving river. This is also the idea behind the indoor surf machines.
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Beater

Can be used to describe just about anything (a board, a car, and towel) that shows a lot of wear, like it's been beaten up - it's a beater.
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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.
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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.
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Frontside

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

A surfboard
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Beef

When someone has an issue with something or someone else - they have a “beef” with it.
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Over The Falls

When a surfer gets caught or pulled by a breaking wave from the lip all the way down to the bottom. This can happen either as the wave is just breaking, or even after a big wave has broken, if the surfer isn't able to paddle through the wave and get far enough past it so they don't get sucked back in by the powerful rushing water.
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Beach Break

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

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

Ripped off, screwed, broken – a bad situation.
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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.
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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.
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Shred

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

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

Same as a fin.
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Chinese Wax Job

Wax on the bottom of your board - you don't want that.
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Men In Grey Suits

Refers to sharks.
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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).
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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.
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Born Again Surfer

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

Similar to a Net Surfer – a computer hacker or geek “surfing” the internet.
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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.
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Ankle Slappers

Very small waves - basically just breaking at the height of your ankles or calves.
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Reek

Something that smells really bad, or stinks, is said to “reek”.
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ASP

Acronym for the Association of Professional Surfing, the organization that manages professional surfing by defining the official rules for events, such as scoring points, judging, defining prize money, etc…
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Humongous

Large, huge, big, monstrous.
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Spit or Spitting Tube

When the inner part of a tube collapses and causes water mist and air to rush out of the tube.
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Hair Out

Having too much fear.
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Da Hui

Pronounced "dah-hoo'-ee". Originally a group of Hawaiian locals (calling themselves the Black Shorts) who set up in the 70's as a reaction to tourists who weren't respectful of the Hawaiian culture and the surf breaks. If you were disrespectful, Da Hui would inform you of such (usually with a little blood being spilled).
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Gassed

Getting wiped out on a wave.
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Noodle Arms

Refers to a surfers arms being exhausted from paddling.
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Aussie

Pronounced "aw'-see". Refers to an Australian.
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Period

The interval of time between waves. The closer the period, the more difficult it is to paddle out (on a beach break) because there's less time between breaking waves.
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Bitchin'

Old term for "really cool". Watch out, this term is making a come back.
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Sideslip

A maneuver where the board slides sideways, instead of in a forward motion.
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Inland Surfer

Someone who lives inland and has a good distance to travel to get to the surf.
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Nose Ride

A longboard maneuver – standing with both feet on the nose of the board.
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Surf Lingo

Pronounced "broh'-dad". An unfriendly term used to identify a wannabe surfer.
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Carve or Carving

Turning on a wave fairly sharply is called carving.
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Doggy Door

When two sections of a wave are closing out, it's the opening between the two where a surfer can exit without getting buried.
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Jam

Means to get going quickly, to hurry up.
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Brain Drain

When water is dripping out of a surfer's nose after a session, due to getting a bunch of water up the nasal cavity This drainage can sometimes occur at the most inopportune moments – like that business meeting you're in as you lean over to handout your presentation.
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Right or Breaking Right

A wave that breaks from left to right from the surfer's vantage point (i.e. as a surfer faces the beach from out in the water). So out in the water, facing the beach, a wave that breaks “right” would be moving towards the right. Observing from the shore, this would be just the opposite, and a “right” would be moving to the observer's left. Confusing?
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Slash

Similar to “snap”, but less instant. For example, if someone snaps a 180, they're changing direction almost instantly, whereas if someone is slashing a 180 they're making more of a hairpin turn to achieve it.
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Surf Lingo

Waves with no power or speed. You can catch and ride them, but they don't have any umph.or power.
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Onshore

When the wind is blowing from the ocean onto the shore. Usually makes for poorer surfing conditions.
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Fade or Stall

When a surfer slows down – often by making a lazy (slow) turn to let the wave advance a little more relative to where the surfer is.
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Peak

The highest point on an oncoming wave just before, or as, it's breaking. This is the point where the wave first breaks.
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Choppy

Bumpy water surface - as opposed to smooth or glassy.
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Hoodie

Basically a hooded sweatshirt.
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Surf widow

A wife or girlfriend, of a surfer, who doesn't see their surfer guy because he's always surfing. Nowadays we may see a few surf widowers as more female surfers take to the water.
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Oz

Refers to “Australia” (the land of Oz). Oz seems to have its origins from referring to Australia as Aus, which sounds like “Oz” when pronounced.
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Scratch

To paddle really really hard, like paddling for your life.
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Barney

A derogatory term used to identify a surfer who doesn't surf well. The term is from the Flintstones cartoon which characterizes a dimwit or a doofus.
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Boil or Rock Boil

A small area of water that almost looks like it's boiling – caused by the water flowing over a shallower rock or reef.
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Da Kine

Pronounced "dah-kiy'-n". Hawaiian term that can be used to mean just about anything. It's most often used to represent “the best”, but in pidgin English it's actually used for many many other meanings.
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Kelp Mooring

Refers to a surfer holding onto a strand of kelp to keep their location in the water. This also is used by ocean kayaks to keep from drifting away, either while fishing or doing some underwater diving. Not a strong mooring, but enough to do the trick.
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Reverse V

A bottom design where the stringer is lower than the rails (like the reverse of a concave). This design supports quicker rail to rail action – primarily designed for riding fast powerful waves.
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Locals

Surfers that regularly surf a certain spot or area. Also used to describe a territorial vibe (or actions) by surfers attempting to “protect” their surf spot from the invasion or use by other surfers.
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Dragging A Hand

Letting your finger tips drag in the water during a ride across the face.
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Land Shark

Refers to a guy who aggressively goes after girls on the beach.
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Shaka Brah

Pronounced "shah'-kah- brah". The 'shaka' is a Hawaiian hand sign meaning “how's it going” or “right on”. To make the hand sign, make a fist and then extend the thumb and little finger out – now face the back of your hand towards the person you're signaling, and shake your hand very gently like you're trying to get some water off it.
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Asphalt Surfer

Skateboarding. Skateboarders are also referred to as “wood pushers”, 'cause they push their wooden boards across the asphalt.
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Rad

Short for radical – meaning something incredible.
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Sick or Sic

Cool, awesome, excellent, really really good.
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Scope Out

To check something out, to investigate.
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Sucked Dry

A wave that, when it breaks, leaves a very shallow bottom in front of it.
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No Ka 'Oi

Pronounced "noh-kah-oy'". Hawaiian for “the best”.
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Micro-mini

Refers to a tiny wave breaking on shore that has the characteristics of a good surfing wave, but you'd have to be a bug riding a popsicle stick to ride it.
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Bail

To leave, or in reference to riding a wave it means to jump off your board and totally ditch your ride (usually just before you're about to get pounded by the lip).
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Comb or Wax Comb

A stiff piece of plastic with teeth, like a tiny wood saw, used to rough up the wax on a surfboard (rather than just adding more wax to what's already there).
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Hardcore

Focused, intense, extreme.
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Biff

Wiping out, eating it. “Timmy got totally biffed by a big wave”.
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Long Period Swell

When the time between waves is longer, this provides the possibility of larger more powerful waves.
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Haole

Pronounced "how'-lee". Originally a derogatory word for any non-Hawaiian (usually directed to white folks), but today the term seems to be less derogatory and more just used as a descriptor. Of course this can still be used in the derogatory sense surrounded by other words or tones.
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Trim

Positioning on a board to where the board rides flat, or parallel, to the wave.
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Kook

A newbie to surfing.
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Soul Surfer

Someone who doesn't surf for the competitiveness, but instead for the pure joy of surfing.
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Brainfreeze

The pain a surfer feels smack in the middle of the forehead after paddling through very cold water (starting at around 54 degrees and colder). It's the same feeling as when you slurp down a cold drink too fast.
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Corner or Shoulder

The part of the wave that hasn't broken yet, but is ride-able. It's the section of the wave just ahead of where it is breaking (i.e. the part where you surf).
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Corner or Shoulder

The part of the wave that hasn't broken yet, but is ridable. It's the section of the wave just ahead of where it is breaking (i.e. the part where you surf).
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Shoot The Pier

Riding a wave through the pilings that hold up an ocean pier.
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Two-stroke Takeoff

When a surfer only takes a couple strokes to catch a wave. Not something newbies find easy to do.
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Washing Machine

The churning waters of a wave after it has broken, which can spin a surfer around and around both above and below the water surface.
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Bruddah

Pronounced "bruh'-duh". Hawaiian slang for "brother", used to refer to a friend or just a friendly greeting. Similar to "brah" or "bro".
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Quad

A “quad” refers to having four fins.
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Billabong

Originally an Australian name for a stagnant pool or pond, but the name has become more popular as a brand in the surf clothing market.
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Party Wave

A wave that has a lot of people surfing it all at the same time.
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Pile Drive

To get driven into the sandy bottom.
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De-laminate

When the outer skin of a board (usually fiberglass & resin, or epoxy) begins to separate from the inner core.
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Pipe

Same as “tube”.
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Stick

Slang for a surfboard
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Mainlander

Refers to anyone living somewhere other than the islands.
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Backoff

When a wave appears like it's going to break but then somewhat subsides.
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Drop-knee

A bodyboarding maneuver or position, where the rider is on the bodyboard with one foot and bent knee, while kneeling on the board with the other leg.
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Howzit

Hawaiian Pidgin for “How's it going?”. Very common expression today on the islands.
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Accessory Man

A surfer who has all the gear there is, without regard for whether it's appropriate or needed.
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Shore Break

When the waves don't break until right when they reach the shoreline, or very close to it, not leaving much of a wave for surfing.
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Refraction

The “bending” of a swell as the water passes over varying depths and even runs into land. Think of a swell as a single straight line, but as the water runs over varying depths, or even comes in contact with land masses, it essentially slows down sections of the wave, while the rest of the wave continues traveling at the original speed, thus causing a bending of the original straight line.
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Kneeboarding

A sport similar to surfing, but where the rider is on their knees and rides a much smaller board.
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Leeward

The protected and less-windy side of an island.
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Freeway Surfer

People who drive around with boards on their car surf racks, but rarely go out in the surf. They spend more time driving around checking out the surf spots, than actually hitting the water.
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Catching Big Air

Launching off a wave with your board and getting some major distance between the surfboard and the water.
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Digging or Burying A Rail

When a surfer makes a turn and causes the rail to submerge into the wave – usually resulting in a fall or wipeout.
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Eat It

A fall, a wipeout.
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In The Soup

Describes being in all the whitewash after a large wave has broken.
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Slammed

Smacked, hammered, munched, clobbered, wrecked, ...etc.. you get the picture.
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Worked

Refers to getting tossed around by a wave (or waves), like after a wipeout where the breaking wave tosses the surfer around for awhile.
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The Oval Office

Refers to a tube ride. “I had a meeting in the Oval office this morning”.
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Backdoor

Refers to riding into a barrel (and out the other side – hopefully).
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Covered

When a wave covers a surfer while riding the wave – i.e. a tube ride. This can also describe when the wave isn't hollow and the surfer is getting covered (or more like drenched) by the breaking wave during a ride.
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Pulling In

Turning into the hollow part of a wave (could be a tube, or could just a hollow section).
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Pintail

A tail design that's similar to a square or box tail, but comes to a slight point at the very end. Commonly used on big wave boards. This design has a small area that allows it to hold in critical situations where a wider tail would cause the surfboard to spin out.
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Deck Pad

A material (usually neoprene) that is stuck to the deck of a board for grip-ability in place of wax.
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Paddle-in Surfing

A newer term used to clarify the distinction between tow-in surfing and your standard surfing where you paddle yourself to catch the wave.
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Roundtail

A tail design that's basically roundish in shape.
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Barrel

A large breaking wave that has a hollow space for a surfer to ride in without getting hit by the breaking water. Also referred to as a tube.
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Green Room

Refers to being inside the tube, that hollow part of a wave.
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Bowled

Similar to getting tubed. Usually refers to a ride where a section of the wave bowls up and the surfer gets a fast hollow ride.
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Thruster

Another name for a tri-fin short board.
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Dry Tube

A tube ride where the tube is large enough to where the surfer isn't getting hit by the wave as it barrels around forming the tube.
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Tail Pad

Also called “traction pads” are rubberized pads made of EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) that are affixed to a surfboard deck at the tail. These are used to provide more traction so a surfer can really dig into a turn or maneuver without their back foot slipping off the board.
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Room Time

Refers to time spent in the tube (also known as “the green room”).
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Soul Arch

A posture of standing very upright with the back arched while riding through a fast part of the wave or in a tube. This was made famous by Gerry Lopez as he glided through some amazing tube rides at Pipeline in Hawaii.
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A-Frame

Big barreling wave that pitches out and offers a hollow tube ride in both directions on the wave.
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Compression Ding or Pressure Ding

Essentially a dent on a surfboard. Hard to see sometimes because they don't damage the fiberglass or cause cracks or snackles that would encircle the dent.
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Full Suit

A wetsuit with long fully covered arms and legs. As compared to a spring suit or shorty, where the arms and legs are very short and expose the surfers arms and legs to the water and air.
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Going Off

When the waves are good and pumping, the surf is said to be “going off” (also said to be “firing off”).
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Corduroy

Refers to the lines of a swell that all line up and resemble corduroy fabric.
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Swell Period

The frequency or time period between each peak or trough of a given swell. Shorter periods means the waves will be breaking closer together (making it more challenging to paddle out at a beach break).
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Tow-in Surfing

Being towed into the wave by a jet ski. Used in very large waves where paddling by hand to catch the wave is either too difficult or too dangerous.
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Outside

Refers to being outside the surf break where most of the waves are breaking. This applies either to a surfer's position relative to the lineup, or to a larger wave breaking out past the lineup.
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Degrees (of a swell)

Refers to the angle a swell is approaching the shore. Directly North starts at 0, then directly from the East would be 90, then directly from the South would be 180, and directly from the West would be 270.
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Bowl

When the left and right shoulders of the wave wrap around slightly forward (closer to shore) than the breaking crest, and make a semi-hollow form (almost like a clamshell stood on end). The ride is very hollow and fast.
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Roller Coaster

Turning up towards the top of a wave followed by turning down towards the bottom and then repeated several times. Used to power across a fast breaking section of a wave.
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Make A Section

To “make a section” of a wave is to ride your board past a part of the wave (usually a steep or fast breaking part).
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TOAD

Stands for “Take Off And Die”. When waves are breaking hard and with no shoulder to ride on, they're referred to as TOADs - you just take off and get munched in the resulting whitewater
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Swallow Tail

A tail design where the tail has a sweeping “V” cutout – designed to provide the benefits of a pintail and a square tail. Good for maneuverability especially in small waves, and/or where the board wants to stick into the face of the wave on sharp turns.
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Blank

The foam and stringer of a surfboard before it's covered with fiberglass and resin (or epoxy) and becomes a surfboard.
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Cleanup Wave

A single wave that breaks out beyond the lineup, usually catching everyone by surprise and "cleaning up" the lineup by washing everyone to the inside.
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Mack

To aggressively scarf down food – like after a heavy surf session when your appetite seems endless.
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Cut-off

When a surfer who is out on the shoulder of a wave drops in on another surfer who is closer to the breaking lip, they have essentially “cut-off” the original surfer. Not a cool thing to do.
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Swell Height

The vertical distance between the peaks and troughs of a swell. Larger swell height means larger waves.
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Diamond Tail

Surfboard design: a tail that comes to a shallow point, as opposed to being rounded or having a cut-away (such as in a swallow tail).
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Diffraction

Relates to a swell coming in contact with another object on the surface (like an island). Such contact will have an impact on the swell.
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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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Firing

When the waves are good and pumping, the surf is said to be “firing” (also see “going off”).
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Deck Patch

An additional layer of fiberglass used to reinforce sections where the surfer stands on the board to help protect from pressure dings.
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Gnar-gnar

Pronounced "nahr-nahr". A playful abbreviation for “gnarly”.
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Peel

The description of a well shaped wave breaking, where it doesn't break ahead, it just breaks at the peak and then peels on down the line.
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Pumped

Excited, exhilarated.
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Hodad

Pronounced "hoh'-dad". Another name for a newbie surfer, gremmie, grommet.
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Pummeled

Getting hammered or drilled by a wave
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Toes-on-the-Nose

A longboard maneuver – with one's toes wrapped around the nose of the board.
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Off The Lip

A maneuver where the surfer drives up the face of the wave and snaps back right at the top (the lip).
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Goob

Short for “goober”, a derogatory term similar to dweeb, nerd, goof, kook, goon.
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Munched

Getting crushed by a breaking a wave. Similar to drilled or hammered.
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Hang Ten

Walking up to the nose on a board and hanging all ten toes over the nose of the board – a longboard maneuver.
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El Rollo

Pronounced "el- roh'-loh". When a surfer catches the nose of the board in the wave and continues falling end-over-end
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Scarf

To energetically eat in order to calm a huge hunger attack.
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Flail

Pronounced "flayl". To flail is to make erratic clumsy movements. Often seen when someone gets munched by a wave, they'll be “flailing” around trying to get back to their board and to the surface for air.
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Inside Break

Refers to an area where waves are breaking between the shoreline and main break further out.
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Hollow

When referencing a wave or waves, refers to the hollow area formed when the lip of the wave breaks out in front of the face, rather than straight down, creating a large hollow area.
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Hammered

When someone gets hit by the lip of a breaking wave, same as "drilled"
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Feathering

Describes the edge of the lip of a wave just as it's breaking – the thin edge with tiny little fingers and spray, which has the look of the edge of a feather.
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Turtle Roll

A maneuver used in paddling out, primarily for longboards, when going through a breaking wave. The surfer rolls the board over so the breaking wave hits the bottom of the surfboard. The slight curvature of the board also helps the board penetrate deeper under the wave, and helps the board go through the wave, rather than being pushed back to shore.
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One Handed Air Grab

When a surfer launches off the lip of a wave and grabs the board's rail with one hand, and then comes back down onto the wave.
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Flying Kickout

When a surfer exits the wave by flying up the face of the wave with the board and launches high into the air.
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Kick Out

Exiting the wave by going back over the lip and letting the wave continue on.
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Late Takeoff

Catching a wave as the lip is already breaking, but where the wave itself hasn't fully broken. Makes for a very bouncy condition to try and stand up on your board.
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Cleanup Set

A set of waves that break out beyond the lineup, usually catching everyone by surprise and "cleaning up" the lineup by washing everyone to the inside.
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Shifting Peak

When the place in the line where the waves are breaking, changes with each wave – due to irregularities and changing bottom surface.
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Crest

The area on a wave just as it begins to break, where the lip begins to feather and then eventually falls over onto the face of the wave, thus breaking.
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Thick or Thick Lip

Describes the “thickness” of the wave as it breaks. A thin lip would be easy to paddle through and may even be transparent, whereas a thick lip will pound you as you try to paddle through it.
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Snap

A quick sharp change of direction, such as snapping off-the-lip or snapping the board around 180 degrees in an opposite direction.
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Pitch

Describes the amount of distance between the face of the wave and the lip as it is breaking on the wave. A wave really pitches out when the lip breaks far out from the face and doesn't touch the face of the wave until the very bottom – this is also called “breaking top to bottom”.
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Kook Cord, Leash, Ankle Strap

Refers to a surfboard leash. Some longtime surfers used to refer to a leash as a kook cord since they felt an experienced surfer shouldn't need a leash. Today a leash is a standard part of the equipment and provides safety for others in the water. In fact, today, if you don't use a leash, you're referred to as a Kook (or worse).
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Drilled

When someone gets hit by the lip of a breaking wave. Same as "hammered".
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Wave Hog

A surfer who takes the majority of the waves at a break. This doesn't mean they're cutting other surfers off, they're just aggressively taking every single wave they can without letting others in the lineup get some of the action.
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Dope Rope

A derogatory term for an ankle leash.
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Lineup

The place where the waves are breaking for a given surf spot. Everyone essentially "lines up" to catch the waves here.
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Planing

When a board (with a surfer riding it) is skimming across the water under its own power (i.e. not while riding a wave), like after kicking out of a wave and continuing to ride the board's momentum across the water.
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Launched

When both surfer and board are hurled some distance.
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Leash

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.
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Log

Refers to a longboard – a surfboard usually 9 feet or more in length.
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Lip

The very top edge of a wave.
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Impact Zone

The point where a wave is breaking. If you're in the impact zone, you're probably getting clobbered by the waves.
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Glass-on Fin

This is when a fin is permanently attached (fiberglassed) to the board – i.e. it's not the kind you can slide in and out of a fin box.
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Hot Coat

One of the final coats of resin when building a surfboard. The “hot” portion of this term refers to the heat generated by the resin and a higher amount of catalyst (aka hardener) mixed in to produce a quick setting/drying coat. This coat is lightly sanded, and then final gloss coat is applied, though some surfers prefer to use a board with just the hot coat as the final coat of resin to get the lightest board they can.
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Switch Stance

Riding the surfboard with the opposite foot forward than the surfer's normal stance. If the surfer normally rides with their left foot forward and right foot back (aka regular stance), then a “switch stance” for them would be riding with the right foot forward and left foot back (aka a goofy foot stance).
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Hairy

Synonym for scary.
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Grommet / Grom

Pronounced "graw' met". An older term used to describe a newbie surfer. Gremmie is the same thing.
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High Surf Conditions

Usually means some larger than usual, possibly dangerous, waves.
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Baby Gun

A short board with the shape of a large gun board (defined earlier).
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Gnarly

Pronounced "nar'-lee". A situation or maneuver that is extreme, and has an element of being dangerous or treacherous. This has become used excessively to pretty much describe anything outside of “normal” or “standard”.
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Fin Box

The receiving end for a fin on a surfboard. The fin slides into the box on the bottom of the board.
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Goofy (footed)

A surfer who rides on the board with their right foot forward is said to be a “goofy foot”. Have seen a few notes stating the origin of this goes back to Goofy the Disney character, and him being drawn in cartoons with his right foot out in front during surfing.
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Punch Through

As in punching through a wave (piercing the face and going through the wave to exit out the back).
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Tail Slide

A maneuver where the surfer slides the board by making the fins break loose of the water, thus allowing the board to slide in a non-forward manner.
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Wave Height

Two very different measurements. The original style (also referred to as “Hawaiian style”) is to measure the back of the wave – which was then multiplied by 1.5 or 2.0 to get the size of the wave's face (surfing side). The other method (sometimes referred to as “California style”) is to measure the front of the wave – the part surfers are more interested in anyway.
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Steep Takeoff

Refers to the steepness of a wave's face. Some faces are very mellow and flatter – so they're easier to stand up on because the board isn't changing position much from the takeoff (the point where the wave is caught) to where the surfer is standing up riding the wave. Others are very steep and may even provide a bit of a drop before the board can be positioned to riding the face.
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Acid Drop or Free Fall

When a surfer catches a wave, but then the bottom of the wave face just drops out and the surfer and board fall down the face.
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Gun or Big Gun

A large board for big waves, but different than a long board. A gun is narrower and pointier in the nose and tail.
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Ground Swell

Large swell originating from storms far away – as opposed to those produced by local winds. Distinction is that ground swell waves are a bit more powerful and maybe a bit larger.
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Fin Rake

The amount of curvature in the shape of the leading edge of a fin. This is a factor in determining the turning radius of a board.
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FCS

Acronym for Fin Control System, which is a system for removable fins. You'd want to remove a fin in case of damaging one so you can replace it, but also different fins haver different performance characteristics. In addition, if you're traveling, removing the fins makes packing up the board easier.
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Fin / Skeg

The sharp things attached to the bottom of a surfboard that keep the board from sliding sideways or spinning out during turns on the wave.
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Foil

The thickness of the board from nose to tail, and the rate of change in the thickness. When a board has a foil that goes from very thick in the middle to very thin, it's said to have a lot of lift in the tail.
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Right Of Way

One of the most important things to know when surfing – who's got the right of way. The surfer on a wave, who is closest to where the wave is breaking (i.e. the curl, the tube), has the right of way. Any surfer who is closer to the shoulder of the wave (i.e. where it's not breaking) needs to get off the wave and out of the way of the surfer who has the right of way.
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Sweeping Cutback

The maneuver of a long drawn out turn, as opposed to a sharp snappy cutback.
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Shoot The Curl

Riding through a hollow section of the wave, making it through the curl (where the lip is breaking or falling forward to meet the face of the wave)
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Bomb

A large wave that just closes out
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Diurnal Tides

Pronounced "di-yur'-nal". Means “daily” tides and refers to having one high tide and one low tide during a 24 hour period.
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Bonzer

A short board designed for better performance in big waves through the use of channels, foils, and multiple fins in the design.
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Drop In

When a surfer who is out on the shoulder of a wave catches the wave in front of another surfer who is closer to the breaking lip, essentially cutting-off the original surfer.
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Rail

The sides of a surfboard. Not the nose, not the tail, not the deck, and not the bottom.
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Drop

When a surfer catches a wave at the crest and then "drops" down the face.
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Ding

Damage to a board - usually a small indentation that doesn't break the outer skin of the board.
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Deck

The top part of a surfboard – i.e. the part you stand on.
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Accelerate

Obviously means going faster, but usually refers to coming off a bottom turn in preparation for going up the face to pull off some move.
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Zoo

Refers to too many people out in the water at a particular break.
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Booger

Refers to a boogie boarder or bodyboarder
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Sneaker Set

A set of larger waves that appear out of nowhere and catch folks at the surf break off guard.
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Barrel Roll

A maneuver used by bodyboarders where they roll by essentially following the face of the wave as it forms the barrel, thus doing a complete roll over.
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Closeout

Where a wave basically breaks all the way across at the same time, leaving it unrideable.
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Sponger

Pronounced "spuhn'-jer". Another name for a bodyboarder – because Boogie Boards look like big sponges.
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Bodyboarder

Also called a “boogie boarder” – after the well known Boogie Board foam boards. A bodyboarder rides on their stomach on one of these foam boards and rides the waves.
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Face (of the wave)

The shore facing part of the wave – the part a surfer rides on.
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Cut-Back

A very sharp 180 turn back towards the breaking part of the wave.
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180 and 360

Pronounced "one-eighty” and “three-sixty". Refers to the radius or degrees a surfer turns the board. 360 would be a turn completely around back to the starting point, whereas a 180 would be half way around. This can be done by either jumping the board and popping the fins free from the wave to kick the board around, or by steering the board around (also called a "power 360"), which usually requires a larger wave surface to complete.
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Tail

The back end of the surfboard – i.e. the end opposite of the nose.
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Nose

The front of the surfboard – the pointy end.
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Bottom Turn

When a surfer makes a turn at the bottom of the breaking wave.
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Breakline, or Main Break

The point where the majority of the waves begin breaking at a given surf spot.
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