Surfing Glossary

Wondering what your buddy meant when he was out driving the boat for a surfing session? Then you have come to the right place. This wakesurfing glossary carries most slang and phrases that you might here out on the water, but also some words you might here surfing out on the ocean break.

A constantly updated surfing glossary that includes slang, famous figures, and any other important verbiage relating to surfing. Leave a comment below to let us know what we missed!

A

  • Aerial – any movement where the surfer leaves the water whether it be with or without the board
  • Aggro – an Aussie term for an aggressive move by the wave or surfer
  • Amped – used in the same context as “excited”
  • Axis Boats – boat company owned by Malibu boats. These are in the economy tier of boats

B

  • Backside – Movements or tricks that are done spinning the front of the board towards the side the rider’s heels are on. For goofy riders, this will be any movement to your right and regular riders with movements to the left. Opposite of frontside.
  • Bail – Jumping off the board while riding a wave to prevent a bad wipeout
  • Barrel – another word for wave. Usually used in terms of large ocean waves that crash over themselves
  • Barreled, to get – to ride an incredible wave
  • Billabong – surfing brand

C

  • Cutback – maneuver while riding a wave to aim towards the apex of the wave and then back towards the base of the wave

D

  • Dawn patrol – going out and catching a wave as the sun rises
  • Deck – top of the board where the rider stands
  • Double up – when the power of two waves combine

F

  • Fin – used underneath the board to stabilize the board’s trajectory
  • Frontside – Movements or tricks that are done spinning the front of the board towards the side the rider’s toes are on. For goofy riders, this will be any movement to your left and regular riders with movements to the right. Opposite of backside

H

  • Hurley – surf brand founded by Bob Hurley in 1979
  • Hydrofoil – a board equipped with a wing underneath that will keep riders several feet in the air while being propelled by the wave/wake. The height in the air depends on the size of the mast of the foil (the mast is the distance between the board and the foil/wing)
  • Hype(d) – getting pumped for someone/something

G

  • Gnarly – used in the same context as “awesome”
  • Grom – young, inexperienced surfer

K

  • Kelly Slater – one of the most talented surfers to ever compete. Originally from Cocoa Beach, Florida
  • Kook – a term used to describe a clueless surfer who could endanger others (not necessarily a beginner)

L

  • Leggie – leash that connects the board to your leg

M

  • Mad – used in the same context as extreme
  • Malibu Boats – wakesurf boat manufacturer based out of Tennessee. Owner of Axis Wake Research. These boats are mainly in the luxury tier of boats

O

  • O’Neill – surfing brand
  • Offshore wind – winds blowing from the land towards the ocean. Ideal for surfing by creating an easier wave to ride. Opposite of onshore winds
  • Onshore wind – winds blowing from the ocean towards the land. Not ideal for surfing as it keeps waves smaller. Opposite of offshore winds

P

  • Pocket – in any wave, the section is the steepest near the whitewash. Will give the rider the most speed coming off of it
  • Punt – see “Aerial”

Q

R

  • Rip Curl – surfing brand
  • RVCA – surfing brand (pronounced REW-KA)

S

  • Steez – Style that’s made to look easy. Originated by Method Man

T

  • Thruster fin setup – three fin surfboard set up that is the most common set up seen today. It was originally created by Simon Anderson in the 1980’s
  • Tonic – of well-being

V

W

  • Wet Suit – layer of thick rubber encompassing the whole body to keep riders warm in chilly water
  • Wipeout – falling off of your board when trying to ride a wave

Did we miss anything in this surfing glossary? Let us know what we missed in the comment section below!

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