Surfing lingo is an animated language that perfectly captures 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)!
A-frame: A wave that breaks on both the left and the right, resembling the letter "A."
Aggro: Describes aggressive surfing, or an aggressive surfer.
Burn: When a surfer who does not have priority steals a wave from another surfer.
Bogging: This happens when the surfer's weight is too far back, causing the surfboard nose to lift up and slowing down the board.
Charging: When a surfer rides a wave with confidence.
Close out: A wave formation that breaks all at once, preventing the surfer from riding it.
Cutback: A surfing maneuver or turn that allows the surfer to get back on the surf line.
Crest: The highest point of the wave.
Cross step: A technique that allows surfers to walk up and down the surfboard.
Duck Diving: When a surfer pushes the surfboard under and through a breaking wave.
Drop in: To take priority over a wave in which another surfer is already riding.
Froth: Stoked, amped, or ecstatic.
Goofy foot: To ride a surfboard with your right foot forward.
Green room: Another name for a tube or barrel wave.
Gremmie/Grommet: Interchangeable words to describe an inexperienced, new, or young surfer.
Ho-dad: A wannabe surfer or beach bum.
Heat: The competitive period during surf contests.
Impact zone: The area where a wave breaks.
Inside: The area where a wave ends.
Kick out: A maneuver performed at the end of a wave to exit it.
Kook: A novice, newbie or bad surfer.
Leash: The cord that attaches the surfboard with the surfer. Also known as a leg rope.
Line-up: The area in the ocean where surfers line up to catch waves, behind the breaking zone
Localism: Terrioritial protection of a surfing spot by the locals.
Lip: The part of the wave that curls.
Log: Another name for a longboard
Mack: Big, huge.
Mental: Radical, insane, unbelievable.
Mushburger: A slow-moving, fat wave.
Over the falls: A free fall from the top of the wave and into the tumbling water.
Party wave: A wave that is shared and ridden by multiple surfers at the same time.
Pearling: When the surfer's weight is too far forward, causing the nose to dip under the water.
Pop-up: The quick move a surfer does when preparing to ride a wave, where the surfer rises to a standing position.
Perfect 10: A perfect ride in competitive surfing.
Punt: To perform an aerial trick.
Quiver: The number of surfboards owned.
Regular foot: To ride a surfboard with the left foot forward.
Rip: To surf well.
Rip Current: A strong current flowing from the shore to the sea. Also known as a riptide.
Shacked: Another expression for getting barreled, tubed, or pitted, which is when a surfer rides the inside of a hollowed-out, cylinder wave.
Shoaling: When waves enter a shallow area, but increase in height.
Soup: The broken foam from a wave.
Stick: Another term for a surfboard.
Turtle roll: A technique where the surfer flips the board over in front of an oncoming wave to get under it.
Trimming: When a surfer tries to find the perfect surf line for speed on the wave.
Trough: The bottom of the wave, opposite of the crest.
Wedge: A steep wave.
Wetsuit: A full-body garment made of neoprene that provides thermal insulation.
Whitewater: Foamy water, swirling water created when a wave breaks.
Wipeout: An unexpected fall when surfing, or a surfing accident.
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