Surfing terminology can be confusing for beginner surfers. This is because there are lots of specific surfing terms that are not used otherwise. These surfing terms describe components of the surfing experience.
As a beginner surfer, learning the terminology and lingo is important to understand critical surfing concepts. You need to understand the surfing terminology in order to understand how to properly catch a wave, manage your gear, and read the ocean conditions.
After learning these must-know surfing terms, you’ll be much better prepared to learn how to surf! The terms described here will follow this structure:
Surfing Term – Definition
Example sentence(s)
Surfing terminology about the waves
Surf break – The beach or location of a specific surfing spot; the specific location in the water where the waves are breaking and people are surfing
I went surfing yesterday at my favorite surf break, which is just 15 minutes away.
It was a long and difficult paddle out to the break because I had to paddle through lots of waves.
Swell – General wave activity; typically used to describe the condition of a break
There is a large swell coming in this weekend, so let’s surf!
The swell is looking good today at my favorite surf break.
Broken wave – A wave that has “broken” or turned from smooth rolling water to whitewater
When you surf, you can catch either a broken or unbroken wave and stand up.
Whitewater – The turbulent water of a broken wave
Usually when you are first learning how to surf, you ride the whitewater instead of the face.
Face – The smooth front of a wave before it has broken
Once you learn how to stand up in the whitewater, you should try to ride the face.
Lip – The ridge or crest of the wave as it is breaking
You can ride up the face and sometimes jump off the lip of the wave into the air.
Period – The amount of time in between waves
Longer periods generally make for better surfing because the sets are cleaner.
Set – A group of waves; typically 3 sequential waves
If you don’t catch the first wave in a set, look out for the next ones.
Closeout – A wave that doesn’t break cleanly from one side to another, but rather from both sides at the same time; not desirable
At low tide, the waves at this surf break are all closeouts.
Beach break – a surf break where the waves break on a sandy ocean floor
Beach breaks are common where I surf, but there are generally more reef breaks in tropical places.
Reef break – a surf break where the waves break on a reef
Reef breaks can make for steeper and more extreme waves. They can also be dangerous if you wipeout.
Point break – a surf break that consistently breaks from once side to another, usually due to a mass or land
Point breaks can produce long and consistent waves that are amazing to surf on.
Surfing terminology about surfboards
Longboard – A surfboard usually longer than 8 feet; typically with a rounded egg-shaped nose
Riding a longboard is a lot different than riding a shortboard.
Shortboard – A surfboard that is less than 6-7 feet; usually with a pointed nose
Shortboards are generally under seven feet long and are good for quick turns.
Gun – A surfboard made for riding big waves
Chances are, most surfers will never need a gun in their quiver, because they are only meant for really big waves.
Quiver – The surfboards that you own
I have too many surfboards in my quiver and I need to thin it out.
Rail – The two sides of the surfboard
I grab the rail when I carry the surfboard under my arm and when I am carving on the wave.
Surfing terms about riding and paddling maneuvers
Goofy foot – A surfing stance where the right foot is in front of the left; this is uncommon compared to a regular stance
Most people have a regular stance, but some surfers ride goofy foot.
Frontside – When you catch a wave facing it
I have a regular stance, so a frontside ride is when I catch a wave and turn to the right to face the wave.
Backside – When you catch a wave and your back is to it
I have a regular stance, so a backside ride is when I catch a wave and turn to the left and my back is facing the wave.
Bottom turn – A turn made at the bottom of the wave; the surfer rides down the face, turns, and returns going back up into the wave
Usually, the first turn one makes when catching a wave is a bottom turn.
Cutback – A turn where the surfer turns sharply back towards the part of the wave that is breaking
That cutback was awesome! You almost did a full 180 degree reverse in direction.
Duck Dive – A maneuver used to swim under a wave as a surfer is paddling out to the break.
That big wave made for a tough duck dive.
It is too hard to duck dive a longboard; You’re better off doing a turtle roll.
Turtle Roll – A maneuver used to get underneath a wave while paddling out to the break with a longboard.
A well executed turtle roll, and duck dive, takes a while to learn, but these maneuvers are well worth it because they make it easier to paddle out to the break.
Caught Inside – Being stuck “inside” where the waves are breaking; being inside the impact zone.
I tried to catch a wave but missed. All of a sudden I was caught inside and couldn’t paddle back outside the break.
Wipeout – Falling off while riding a wave
What a wipeout I had back there. It was intense but also fun!
Surfing terms about surf etiquette
Dropping in – Not following proper surf etiquette and stealing a wave from someone
I didn’t see that other surfer and accidentally dropped in on them. As a result I felt bad because I snaked their wave and didn’t follow proper surf etiquette.
Snaking a wave – The action of dropping in on another surfer.
Always follow proper surf etiquette and try to not snake a wave from another surfer.
Lineup – While typically not an actual line of people, the lineup is a loose queue structure for who gets priority of the next good wave. In general, just don’t hog the waves and letters others have a go.
Try to be aware of the general lineup and don’t catch every wave you can if others are waiting too.
Kook – A typically inexperienced surfer who does not follow proper surf etiquette.
On that last wave, I had to dodge a group of kooks caught inside.
Heads up! Surfing is awesome but it can be dangerous! Learn more about how to stay safe and avoid dangers while surfing. If you are a beginner surfer, check out my other articles about surfing and my ultimate guide to learning how to surf.
