Surfing Slang: 50 Must-Know Terms to Speak like a Surfer

Surfing lingo is an animated language that perfectly captures the spirit, culture, and camaraderie of the surf world. Whether you're a Kook or a Kahuna, it's essential to understand common surfing phrases. Take a look at our glossary of 50 must-know terms to help you sound like a true surfer (even if your skills on the water don't reflect it)!

surfing

  1. A-frame: A wave that breaks on both the left and the right, resembling the letter "A."

  2. Aggro: Describes aggressive surfing, or an aggressive surfer.

  3. Burn: When a surfer who does not have priority steals a wave from another surfer.

  4. Bogging: This happens when the surfer's weight is too far back, causing the surfboard nose to lift up and slowing down the board.

  5. Charging: When a surfer rides a wave with confidence.

  6. Close out: A wave formation that breaks all at once, preventing the surfer from riding it.

  7. Cutback: A surfing maneuver or turn that allows the surfer to get back on the surf line.

  8. Crest: The highest point of the wave.

  9. Cross step: A technique that allows surfers to walk up and down the surfboard.

  10. Duck Diving: When a surfer pushes the surfboard under and through a breaking wave.

  11. Drop in: To take priority over a wave in which another surfer is already riding.

  12. Froth: Stoked, amped, or ecstatic.

  13. Goofy foot: To ride a surfboard with your right foot forward.

  14. Green room: Another name for a tube or barrel wave.

  15. Gremmie/Grommet: Interchangeable words to describe an inexperienced, new, or young surfer.

  16. Ho-dad: A wannabe surfer or beach bum.

  17. Heat: The competitive period during surf contests.

  18. Impact zone: The area where a wave breaks.

  19. Inside: The area where a wave ends.

  20. Kick out: A maneuver performed at the end of a wave to exit it.

  21. Kook: A novice, newbie or bad surfer.

  22. Leash: The cord that attaches the surfboard with the surfer. Also known as a leg rope.

  23. Line-up: The area in the ocean where surfers line up to catch waves, behind the breaking zone

  24. Localism: Terrioritial protection of a surfing spot by the locals.

  25. Lip: The part of the wave that curls.

  26. Log: Another name for a longboard

  27. Mack: Big, huge.

  28. Mental: Radical, insane, unbelievable.

  29. Mushburger: A slow-moving, fat wave.

  30. Over the falls: A free fall from the top of the wave and into the tumbling water.

  31. Party wave: A wave that is shared and ridden by multiple surfers at the same time.

  32. Pearling: When the surfer's weight is too far forward, causing the nose to dip under the water.

  33. Pop-up: The quick move a surfer does when preparing to ride a wave, where the surfer rises to a standing position.

  34. Perfect 10: A perfect ride in competitive surfing.

  35. Punt: To perform an aerial trick.

  36. Quiver: The number of surfboards owned.

  37. Regular foot: To ride a surfboard with the left foot forward.

  38. Rip: To surf well.

  39. Rip Current: A strong current flowing from the shore to the sea. Also known as a riptide.

  40. Shacked: Another expression for getting barreled, tubed, or pitted, which is when a surfer rides the inside of a hollowed-out, cylinder wave.

  41. Shoaling: When waves enter a shallow area, but increase in height.

  42. Soup: The broken foam from a wave.

  43. Stick: Another term for a surfboard.

  44. Turtle roll: A technique where the surfer flips the board over in front of an oncoming wave to get under it.

  45. Trimming: When a surfer tries to find the perfect surf line for speed on the wave.

  46. Trough: The bottom of the wave, opposite of the crest.

  47. Wedge: A steep wave.

  48. Wetsuit: A full-body garment made of neoprene that provides thermal insulation.

  49. Whitewater: Foamy water, swirling water created when a wave breaks.

  50. Wipeout: An unexpected fall when surfing, or a surfing accident.