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Surf Lingo

Here is a list of Surf Lingo I have compiled. If you know of anything I missed or if you have a different definition, please let me know.
There is a form at the bottom of the page to use for this.

Just updated the page with new stuff 7/20/08. Sorry I haven't been updating lately, I have been really slackin on this, being just a block and a half from the beach gets in the way sometimes.

Thanks to the input from our visitors this list just keeps growing, 694 at the last count! Please keep then coming. We do screen entries before adding them to our list, our criteria is A: Try and keep it clean for our younger viewers (I have changed the rating to PG), and B: It must be Surf Related. If it is a regional term please include the region it is common to. That's about all it takes to make the list. I recently visited the ISA website and added some new ones and also some redefines as well, those are noted with being defined by the ISA.

Some of the terms are crossover from slang used by today's younger generation of surfers, thereby qualifying it for the list.

Also some of the terms will be regional, although not universal Surf Lingo, still qualifies for the list. Some just flat out cracked me up and I put them in. They may not be real now but may become real. Use your own judgement.

You may see some off color language, and some content may be offensive. If you are easily offended, you should leave this area.
No one said we were all angels!

Consider this example:
BENNY People who pretend to be surfers by creating web pages about surfing lingo whereas 99% of the words are not said- love, your surfer friend.
Now just what part of the statement above your comment/term did you not understand?
As far as the "pretend to be surfers" part of your "definition" all I can say is..."You know those guys you see walking to the beach with their boards? I'm one of them. Love back, Sitedude BTW.. You should see the rejects, about 1 out of 4 doesn't make it.

Quick Jump
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The ^ symbol next to the letter will return to the top of the page.

Da' List

a
ACCELERATE To achieve max speed from a hard bottom turn so that you can climb the face of the wave in order to set up a meneuver.
ACCESSORY MAN Person who gets every piece of surf gear imaginable - rash guard, booties, helmet, gloves ect.
ACE To be alone or in a solitary state of mind.
ACETONE A cleaning solvent and/or cutting agent used in surfboard manufacturing. Nasty stuff...highly flammable and toxic.
ACHE; ACHING Description for how you feel after being rag dolled, worked by a bomb or after a physically intense session.
ACID DROP When you take off on a wave and suddenly have the bottom fall out as you free fall down the face.
ACTION Something that is either dumb or a mean act. If you pull an action, you do something dumb or just plain mean. Also a term used to modify another term, as in :"check out the action of that rip."
AERIALWhen the wave your riding sends your board above it into the air. An advanced maneuver that involves taking off from the lip of the wave, travelling some distance in the air, then (in theory) landing back on the face of the wave and continuing the ride.
A FAT SHACK To get so pitted and spit out and punch threw the back brah.
A - FRAME Large wave that forms with distinct shoulders on either side (left and right) of the peak. Can result in two surfers surfin the same wave . . . one going frontside and the other going backside.
AGGTo go crazy.
AGGROAlways aggressive.
AHHHHHH YAHSaid only by the man himself John Wyatt visit jacksonville Florida and u`ll hear all about this ahhh yah!!
AIR To be air borne.
AIRDROP A very late takeoff when the surfer drops through the air to the bottom of the wave.
AKAW!! Something surfers shout when they spot a huge perfect wave, or when they are shocked or surprised.
ALIHAMTotally hot surfer chicks.
ALLRIGHT DUDERadical wave man....lingo for doped up water head logged surfer.
ALL SKATE When more than one person shares a wave on a slow day. The only rideable bump comes through in the past hour and someone shouts, "All Skate".
ALOHAA Hawaiian word used in place of hello and goodbye. Also means love. (Pronounced uh-LOW-hah) as defined by the ISA
ALOHA SPIRITTraditionally from the Hawaiian way of life preaching peace and fellowship to all..currently used by surf weasels to mask their kookdom.
AMPED1. Stoked - charged up - fired. 2. Excited; stoked; cant wait. also see; STOKED.
AN EMMA Term for an ultimate hot surfer chick.
AS IF!Yeah right! - Whatever.
ASPAssociation of Surfing Professionals, resposible for organising the annual world professional surfing circuit leading to the crowning of the world champion.
ATE ITBiffed it - Bit the dust- Crashed.
AWESOMEGreat - Gnarly - Cool.
AXEDHit by the lip of the wave leading to a wipeout.
b ^
BABEA girl who surfs.
BABANEES Sexy
BABELINIGirl.
BACKSIDETurns or rotations in the direction your toes point towards, so that your back is facing the outside of the waves arc.
BACKSIDE AIRGetting up in the air with your back to the wave.
BACKWASHThe rush of water coming off the shore against incoming waves.
BACKDOORPulling into a tube from behind the peak.
BACKHANDSurfing with your back to the wave.
BAD ASS Really good.
BAILTo escape immediately- to abandon your board with out regards to its future.
BAKEA closeout wave.
BALLERSomeone who cries on the beach when they break their board.
BALSA A light, porous wood used throught the 1940's and 50's as a standard material for surfboard manufacture. Balsa grows only in Ecuador and must be imported to the USA; it became popular when laminating techniques allowed surfboard cores to be sealed from contact with water. By the early 1960's it was replaced with polyurethane foam.
BAMBOO A natural substance that can be used as a replacement for fibreglass in the surfboard manufacturing process; eg., Bamboo Surfboards Oz.
BAMMERWEE When something is just okay, not all that good.
BANANA HAMMOCK Another name for sausage sling, nannobenders and nannohammies. Mostly worn by muscle beach kooks, non-surfers, and is taboo in the surfing world to be worn while surfing.
BANGIN Hot
BANGBROEK South African term for being wigged-out or generally scared over surf conditions.
BANKSandbank on which waves break.
BARBIE Airheaded female, well endowed,usually blond, prissy.
BARNIE To engage a fight with someone.
BARNEYA person who doesn't know what their doing or a beginner.
BARNWALLER Another name for a kook or barnie with a poor style - "that guy is barnwalling down the line."
BA ROOS Another term for awesome or sick. "That move was ba roos!"
BARREL1. When the waves comes over your head and covers you, inside the wave and surfing. The inside of a hollow wave (same as tube). 2. A breaking wave that breaks from the top to the bottom and leaving a hollow space. as defined by the ISA
BAZZA Another term for a barrell or tube.
BEACH BREAKSurf breaking on a sandy beach.
BEATMessed up.
BEAT DOWN Term used to describe someone who has been worked or rag dolled by a wave or had their butt kicked on the beach for snaking someone once too often.
BEATERCheap trans found at beaches usualy passed or sold from surfer to surfer sometimes found at surf shops like on Hawaii
BEACH BREAK A type of wave or a place where the wave breaks over a sandbar close to the beach. as defined by the ISA
BEACH BUM Someone who basicly lives at the beach.
BEACH BUNNY1. A chick who watches surfers and pretends they can surf. 2. Hot, tan girl on the beach.
BEACHOUSE House where an endless number of surfboards are found,the backyard is the beach (where the real boarders hang).
BEEFA problem with someone or something.
BEEN HAD When someone breaks into your car while you're surfing and steals you wallet. See BUMMER.
BENNY Someone who comes to your beach that isnt from around there.
BENNY GO HOME!Supplement to Benny, found on bumper stickers and graffiti on billboards at the Jersey shore. Meant for anyone with a towel.
BETTYA girl that surfs.
BIFFED ITTo fall
BIG KAHUNA The best dude on the beach.
BIG MAMMA A big wave or object
BITCHEN 1. Cool awsome; that wave's bitchen(that wave's awsome). 2. totally sick and awsome
BITER Someone who copies (bites) off everything you do -aka- annoying ass people.
BLACK BALL A sign that says no surfing, wich sucks because that means it's dangarous meaning aaawsome.
BLAH-MALAH Girl who has taken a board to the face and cant talk right.
BLANKBlock of foam from which a custom surfboard is made.
BLASTEDWiping out.
BLISS When you're about to get cranked by a big wave but don't really care 'cause you're watching that blonde girl who just caught the wave instead.
BLOWN OUTTerm for choppy surf resulting from onshore winds.
BLUE CHUNKSBad waves, the ocean is not moving so it's a chunk. See FLAT.
BODACIOUSVery awsome.
BOGGED To have your board stuck on an object.
BOGLIUS(BO-GLEE-US) Another term like cool and awsome.
BOGUSWrong - Lame.
BOMB Larger than normal set wave.
BOMBORAA deep water, offshore reef break.
BONER STYLE A surfer who has a totally stiff style and doesent move around alot.
BONSNAGLE Ugly dude with a yuckbabe walking with him.
BONUS! Said when someone does something awsome in addition to something normal.
BOOGERSame as a sponger or boogie boarder.
BOOGIE BOARD(also known as bodyboard)A soft foam board ridden on the belly by those who can't or won't stand up, generally hated by all surfers as they usually get in the road.
BOOTYLICIOUS A chick who has a very large ass.
BORD Bro, Dude, Man - Commonly used in San Juan, La Union in The Philippines.
BOSS Cool, awesome.
BOTSFORD A short fat zaboob
BOTTOM TURNA turn at the bottom of the wave face. Taking off on a steep drop (wave) at or near the bottom of the wave it's a must situation to make the bottom turn either right or left and...yehaww!
BOUY Someone who acts like they surf but really just sits on the board acting like they're waiting for wave.
BOWLEDBeing completly covered by the lip of the wave with only one way out.
BOX Abreviated term used to refer to a surfboard fin box.
BRA Bro
BRAHHawaiian talk for brother.
BRAINFREEZE Describes what you feel in the cranium and sinus cavity immediately after the first duck-dive when paddling out in COLD water.
BREW Beer. "Yo! Buy me a brew, brah."
BROA buddy or friend.
BRODADSomeone you dont really care for.
BRODY Another name for bro or dude.
BROHAHDude or guy
BROSEF Another term for "bro" .. or "brah" in hawaiian slang.
BRUDDA Good Friend, bro.
BRUTAL Hardcore conditions, possibility of being worked.
BUBBA Cool dog, nice dog,buddy dog.
BUMMERHuge let down. Upset about something.
BUMPA small swell.
BUM RAP Something unreasonable that is uncalled for ex: students talk queitly, and teacher writes them up. thats a bum rap.
BUMPSWax build-up on the boards deck.
BUM TRUCKER Someone who lands on their bum after a gnarly wipeout.
BUNNY Hot Girl.
BURNOUT One of your bitchy friends who complains too much when you all go surfing.
BUST When you bra totally wipes out
BUSTEDCaught red handed.
BUTT FLOSS A small G-string Bathing Suit that cute chicks wear to the beach. It looks as if they are wearing nothing at all.
BUTT CRUMBA looser, a wanabe surfer. People who buy surf gear, fake bake (use tanning beads) basically people who wishing they were locals.
c ^
CABLE1. To fart. 2. To hang a poo.
CACTUSTo hit the reef pretty hard, eating sand or a type of injury that leaves you unworthy to surf that entire day.
CANVAS COMMANDOPerson surfing with a canvas raft.
CARVESymmetrical, fluid turns.
CARVING1. Powerful high energy surfing. Also known as Rippin. 2. A surfing move in which a surfer moves up and down the face of a wave. as defined by the ISA
CAUGHT IN A FISH NET When a surfer is just havin a bad day and can't seem to stay on the surf.
CAVEBarrel, tube etc
CAVEFISHPale surfer.
CHAAA Another way of saying ahh.. an expression.
CHANNELDeep water gap between sandbanks or reefs, or design feature on underside of a surfboard.
CHEATER FIVEFive toes on the nose - shifting your weight to the back of the board in order to keep trim and speed, squatting down and extending one foot forward.
CHECK IT1. When you want someones attention or another word for hey. 2. A way of gettin someones attention. or if you say "Check it, dude" it is like sayin hey. 3. A way to tell someone to come over there and look because you want to show them something that is totally radical. For example: "Dude, check it, that senior just totally dogged!" (also a way to say hey)
CHERRY Used to describe something real nice.
CHEWBACCA A black surfer dude.
CHIKI-TI-TAS Term used in the 60's, surfer girl.
CHILL 1. To calm down when not getting good waves. 2. Relaxed, calm, cool. example: "He's very Chill."
CHILLAX To totally lax out.
CHINESE WAX JOB When you get wax on the bottom of your surfboard. Usually occurs from a board being packed or stacked against another waxed board. Makes the board slower and less responsive.
CHOCKA Cool, Awsome, Gnarly, Bitchen.
CHODE BURNWhen lower region gets rash from chafing. Usually caused by board or clothing
CHOPPY When the wind is pushing the water to be choppy and not smooth. sometimes can be annoying when trying to look out for a good set.
CHOW Bye bye bye dudes
CHRUBEE A wannabe surfer. someone who wears the surf but doesn't do the surf.
CHUBBIEBig fat roller, not much of a break.
CHUBBY CHECKER Particular breed of poser (usually male, heavyset and middle aged) that spends an excellent surf day checking all the best spots, chatting about conditions, but never paddles out. Usually loiters in the parking lot before declaring the surf is not perfect enough and moves. Roof holds a longboard that looks like it has never been used.
CHURLEY A mixture of sand and small stones wiping around in the water. It stings when they whip you in the face.
CHYEAH Yes.
CIARAVery pretty girl. Most popular.
CLEANGlassy, peeling waves and/or good surf conditions.
CLEAN UPA large set that catches everybody 'inside'.
CLICKITY SCHNAR SNAR A crab that pinches your foot and says "schnar snar!" and then clicks its claws atcha.
CLIDRO Description of process by where a surfer is turning up and down the face of a wave as he/she surfs down the line. Also used to describe the technique for gaining speed as a surfer traverses the wave face.
CLOSE-OUTA wave that breaks along it's entire length simultaneously, no good for surfing.
CLOUD NINEHovering on top of the lip.
CLUTCH See Crucial; "That wave was clutch" Also used to mean cool and/or desired, "Her board is clutch".
COCK SHOCK Another term for peeing in your wetsuit.
COMING DOWNWhat you shout when you are the first one up on the wave and it is yours just while you're dropping (See right and left).
CONCAVEBottom design on a surfboard aimed to give extra lift.
COOHA A gnarly girl sufer.
COOKINGWhen the surf is really good
COOLAPHONICThe coolest of the cool.
COOLEOLEOLCool; Awsome; Rad
COWABUNGAA state of happiness.
CRACKIN' Powerful, clean, perfect surf conditions.
CRANKED To get beat up by a wave or to get stuck on the inside.
CRASHED MY DOOOBIE BOARD To bog or crash ur surfboard/skimboard in an object (seaweed)etc.
CREWGroup of area surfers.
CRIPPLER CHICKPretty girl.
CRON Very good or nice.
CRUCIALImportant "that wave was crucial" like im glad i got tht wave
CRUSIE IT Come join the fun and kick it.
CRITICAL SECTIONThe hardest and most challenging part of the wave to surf.
CRUISIN To like chill and stuff and go out (newport, oregon)
CRUMBEATER A barney wave scavenger, hangs out near the jetty, always in the way.
CRUNCHERHard breaking wave that folds over, almost impossible to ride.
CRUSHER Someone who surfs hard
CUTBACK1. A turn on the face of the wave that takes you back towards white water. 2. A surfing move in which a surfer turns 180 degrees back towards the breaking part of a wave or the direction he or she just came. as defined by the ISA
CUT SICK A cross between cutback and sick but with more generalised meaning as in "man she just cut totally sick today... she was goin off" or "yeah no I had a mad one last night... cut sick mate!" (Aussie)
CUZ Same as brah, was up Cuz.
d ^
DA BOMBThe greatest.
DAHH Mostly meaning Duh or something on the lines of Yeah.
DA KINEThe best.
DANK Sweet
DANKSTER Someone usually between the ages of 13-20 who spends majority of their time hanging out at surf shops.
DALLYA cool girl.
DA MAMIE The best.
DAWG Another name for a guy.
DAWN PATROLTo surf at dawn.
DAWNIEDawn patrol (Cork, Ireland)
DEADNo waves no surf
DECKUpper surface of surfboard.
DELAMINATIONWhen the fibreglass skin of a board becomes seperated from the foam.
DICK DRAGGER A boogey boader.
DIDDY MOW Totaly harsh whip out ie eating sand, loosing teeth breaking arm or leg ect...
DINGA dent or hole in the surfboard.
DISMOUNTA radical fall. To totally fall off of board usually the result of a snapped ankle strap.
DIVA Over forty year old surfing woman.
DODE Similar to dude but its really a derogetory name for someone who is weak/a poser. The person you say it to will think you are calling them your brother, but you really think they suck.
DOEAwesome, cool chick, knarly as hell
DOGGEDBailed badly and nearly drown!
DOKEUnbelievable, crazy.
DONK Somebody who is a stupid dude or dudette.
DONKEYA hawaiian insult, like jerk.. or idiot.
DOOGIE MEAT Pronounced "doe (as is female deer)-gee" Defined as what you will be used for should you wipe out on the jagged rocks/coral below!
DOPE Cool, The shit; "That's dope dude!"
DORK Twerp
DROPDropping from the crest of the wave to the pit, to take off on a breaking wave and ride down the face to the bottom.
DROP IN or DROPPING INCatching a wave that is already occupied ... taking off on the shoulder while someone is taking off deeper. When one surfer takes off on a wave already being ridden by another surfer nearer the peak, very bad style and often ends in bloodshed.
DUCKNWEAVE On the bourbons.
DUCK DIVE1.Method of getting through a breaking or broken wave while paddling out. 2. The art of pushing a board under water and following your board under a breaking wave. Not so easily done with a longboard. as defined by the ISA
DUCKETS Money.
DUDEAnother name for a friend, can be one of your boys, or just anyone you are talking to. Totally cool person!!
DUDER A guy that is a friend.
DUDETTEA girl that is a friend.
DUMPING Onshore wave white wash..wave not holding its form..not good surf!!
DUNDEEA girl surfer that just hit a gnarly wave
DUNE BOARDING Riding the dunes like a wave, can be done on a boogie board or skateboard without wheels, but is illegal in some places because it erodes the dunes.(Is best when the ocean is flat)
DUNZO Totally rad, awesome, best thing ever.
DURFER A dumb surfer (Kauai Originated)
e ^
EPICThe conditions are near perfect...
ESKIMO LIDDER An offensive term for bodyboarders.
ESKIMO ROLLAnother method of getting through a breaking or broken wave.
f ^
FACE1. The unbroken surface of the wave (also known as green water, for obvious reasons). 2. The non-breaking front part of the wave that a surfer rides on. as defined by the ISA
FADE To carve in the opposite direction of a take off point regardless of the waveshape.
FAKEY A bottom turn or carve back toward the whitewater/curl. "He went fakey."
FALLSWhen the top of the wave pitches out and hurls a waterfall shoreward.
FAMBO To really like a guy or a girl, in total fambo.
FANGTo travel across the wave with great speed. eg mick faning
FAR OUTSomething said alot in the 70's for no aparent reason.
FAT WAVE An enormous and sweet ride that comes along maybe once a day.
FESTY Totally wicked, sick, grousome.
FIBRO Surboard.
FIERCE Fiercly riding a wave hardcore with no fear.
FIG Young surfer (boy or girl used in the late 60's to early 80's). Regional from Ormond Beach to Sebastian Inlet in Florida.
FISH SURFBOARD The fish is a later board that was made back in the earlier days to catch waves for mushier days and to still have fun.
FLAILLoss of all control - Freaking out.
FLATWhen there is no waves at all. ex: "It's Lake Atlantic today."
FLAT SPELLTimes that there are absolutely no surfable waves. "Last week was such a flat spell, I hope the waves are better today."
FLOATER1. A maneuver that involves launching the board off the lip of the wave onto a section of broken or breaking wave in front, unweighting, and free falling dwon the face with the breaking white water. Where you are on your board waiting for a wave. 2. A person (normally a tourist!) who swims or body surfs in the water and gets in your way while surfing. 3. When a surfer rides his board along the top of a breaking wave. as defined by the ISA
FLOUNDERSomeone who is splashing around in the lineup and not catching waves
FLUSHOPOLISWhen the waves are to close together, and all closeouts...(Verylarge but chopy)
FLY-A When you go flyin over the wave and land on your head
FOAMERPeople riding the foam ball of the wave. Ok for kids, first timers, and old people. Not cool to do if your girl friend is on the beach watching.
FOAMIES Foam of the wave.
FOOBAR Bullshit or not cool
FOREHANDSurfing with your face to the wave.
FO' SHO Naturaly!
FREAKDUDETTE A freaky/weird girl!
FREAKSHOW To many people at the beach.
FRONTSIDETurns in the direction your heels point towards, so that your front is facing towards the outside of the waves arc.
FROTHING Excited, stoked, anxious.
FRUBE A surfer who dosnt catch one wave in a whole session.
FUBAR Acronym... "*&^% up beyond all recognition"
g ^
GAPERSomeone who watches surfers in awe, but doesnt have the balls to get out there and learn. simular to a Kook, but has never been in the water.
GARSHED Tired after a day of surfing.
GARYISMIronic wit.
GET BENTTo tell off a kook or a stuck up tourist who believes he owns the beach.
GETTIN' COVEREDIn the Tube or Barrel. See Tube or Barrel.
GETTING TUBEDWhen the waves comes over your head and covers you, inside the wave and surfing.
GETTING WET 1. To paddle out 2. Expression used to state you're going surfing ex. " dude you wanna get wet? "
GETTING WORKEDThe action a wave plays on you.
GFAD A girl that looks hott from a distance, but once seen up close is really a swamp donkey.
GIDGET Surf Chick who can hang with the crew.
GLADIATORMale who has more than one strap on his sandles
GLASSY1. Smooth seas resulting from calm wind conditions - provides excellent surf when combined with a swell. 2. Wave conditions in which there is no wind and the ocean surface has a shiny appearance. as defined by the ISA
GNARSame as gnarley but you put it in a sentence like this "I surfed the gnar today and it was awesome."
GNARLY(Also spelled 'KNARLEY') 1. Heavy, intense. Heavy, difficult waves, usually quite big. 2. Rough Going. Danger Ahead. "That knarley wave fully biffed my board on the rocks."
I was the creator of the word gnarly. I was taking metal shop in junior highschool at freemont junior high in anaheim about 1975. There is a tool for turning a on the lathe called a gnarl tool, it makes a bumpy surface for grips on handles. I realy liked the pattern it made. I was also surfing with my friends alot from huntington to san diego with my friends. I started calling choppy waves gnarly, then all my friends started saying " that was gnarly" then the word mutated,,, anyway thats where gnarly comes from. roger callen
GNARLY CHARLIE BROWN Some kid with blonde hair who talks to himself.
GNAR GNAR Way sick or awsome.
GOAT BOATERA Kayaker riding the surf and getting in the way.
GO DEEP A replacement for the term hang loose
GOIN' DEEP Going far on the wave.
GOING OFFA break under optimum conditions. Waves really high; a lot of them.
GONEIFThe wave is gone if you don't get your on ass on it.
GOOFY FOOTAKA GOOFY A surfer who surf with his or her right foot forward on the board.
GRAND Awesome. Rad. Saweet.
GRAZE ZA To eat pizza.
GREEN ROOMInside a full cover-up tube.
GREMMYFrom gremlin, young hanger-on who are troublesome to surfers.
GRINDAGE To "get some grindage" to get some food.
GRIPTION Having fresh wax on the board.
GROM1. Young boy surfer. 2.Short for grommet; a younger surfer. as defined by the ISA
GROMMET1. Young girl surfer. 2. A younger surfer. as defined by the ISA
GROUND SWELLA clean swell with evenly-spaced lines, usually from a distant storm.
GUNA large surfboard. A big wave board - long and narrow in shape.
GUNSMOKETake off really quickly on the board
GUSTER Totally ripped. eg. "that was totally guster bro."
h ^
HACKED Cut off by another surfer.
HACK SHACK Hospital.
HADJAMA BRAH When the water is cold on your ass!!! brah!!!
HAMMERED When a big wave breaks right on top of you...you get hammered.
HANG FIVE or HANGING FIVETo ride with five toes curled over the nose of the board, more common on longboards.<
HANG LOOSE1. Being in a relaxed metabolic and clear minded state. Inverse Application of Up Tight, Circa 60s. 2. A surfer term that means to relax and enjoy the ride. It can be used to refer to surfing style or life in general. as defined by the ISA
HANG TEN or HANGING TEN1. To ride with ten toes over the nose of the board, a very stylish an very difficult longboard move. 2. Riding a longboard on the nose with all 10 toes hanging over the nose. as defined by the ISA
HAOLEProper spelling of "howlie" Term meaning white man.
HAPPY DAYS Just ridden a slick wave.
HARPOONINGCopping wood while surfing.
HATER Someone who does not understand that to be a surfer you must be a surfer. Surfing is a way of the spirit and life. surfers are those who are one with Kai and ther bourd. haters are the ones who are not but pretend to be and get angry when real surfers wont accept them. Surfers arnt makeing fun of these posers cuase we hate them we make fun to force them to stop being posers learn how how to surf force themselves to become one with Kai and their Bourd and become REAL surfers, till then they are nothing but smogbreather posers.
HATERS All I see are definitions against other people who don't know how to surf and are trying to learn or don't surf - waves are not only for surfers! Why are surfers such haters? I thought it was all about zen and love and relaxing? What is this definition all about: "a soft foam board ridden on the belly by those who can't or won't stand up, generally hated by all surfers as they usually get in the road." So now I can't boogy board cause I might be hated by some dude that can hop on a big flat thing - get over yourselves!
People who diss others because they are jealous of them. surfers are sometimes haters on all non-surfers.
HAYDN The best surfer ever in South Australia. "oi man you surfed like Haydn today".
HEAD DIP Catching the lip with your head as it pitches over.
HEAVING A thick, heavy lip throwing out also large surf conditions.
HELLA1. SoCal term for awesome; totally sweet. 2. This is said up north in california...otherly known as Nor-Cal......it means "really" Like thats really gnarly...they say..."Thats hella cool" Hella, is a term that originated in NorCal. Duh!
HELL MUNCHED To be totally smashed by the wave during a wipe out
HELLO Definately not a SoCal term, only NorCal.
HEROOne who thinks they are greater than they are.
HIDDIE Derivative of hideous, used to describe a particularly intense situation, maneuver or wave.
HIDO Some who trys to surf but still can't.
HIGHWAY SURFER Someone that is bad at surfing or a fake surfer.
HILLBELLYSurfer who wipes out on his stomach
HODAD or HODADDYA beginner or non surfer. A kook, a weasel, a person trying to be a surfer just to pick up chicks. Also known as the "greasers." The hodadies were car guys who hung out with the scene but weren't surfers.
HOGGER Someone who takes all the waves
HOLLOWA cylindrical wave, common with powerful swells and offshore winds. See TUBE or BARREL
HOTDOGGEROne who rips. A great and showy performer on a surfboard.
HOT DOG BUDGETTo safari at the lowest possible cost.
HOWZIT Another way of saying hello, How's it going?
HUCKERSomeone who does awkward unstylish airs
HUGANGUS Very very big
HYPE OUT A surfer that eats it due to overenthusiasm.
HYPER FIERCE GNAR GNAR Upbeat, totally awesome, hella rad.
i ^
ICEDTo execute a wave perfectly.
IMPACT ZONEThe point at which the swell is breaking most heavily and frequently.
INDICATORAn offshore deep-water reef or bank. Only a big swell or big set will break on this, so it acts as a good indicator of something big approaching.
INFUSIONS When 2 surfers collide.
ISAInternational Surfing Association. "Surfing's World Governing Authority" Recognized by the International Olympic Committee. ISA Website
INSIDE1. Shoreward of a breaking wave or set (as in 'caught inside'), or an expression for life in the tube. 2. The area between the shore and where most of the waves are breaking; generally not a good place to be. as defined by the ISA
INSIDE RAILThe one nearest the wave face.
INVERTED AERIALSAirborne and upside down.
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JACKEDHaving your car trashed or getting jumped by locals in the parking lot.
JAZZ THE GLASS Jazz the Glass - means to ride the waves. This is a vintage term from our days in the 60's.
JED Something very smelly and disgusting.
JOHN A name used for calling everyone.."Johns, whats up?"
JONESINIf u really want something or u are ready for something..ex. if u are thirsty...I am jonesin for a drink.
JONESING Paddling for waves with the urgency of a crack fiend
JONES SESSIONWhen you surf crappy waves just because your're jonesing for a sesh.
JUICYA good wave. Wave are said to be "juicy" if they have power, speed and clean faces. "The waves are really juicy today."
JUDITH A newbie surfer chick whos only there to get the boys.
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KA-BIFF Somewhat like "as if" or "you wish". "Ka-Biff" would be used in a situation when someone says something but just was proved wrong. S1:"I could SO carve that smackable." *wipe out* S2:"Ka-Biff!!!"
KA-CHING!Getting shown the money.
KAHUNAMan that surfs.
KAI Ocean (hawaiian)
KAMIKAZE A cool, totally awesome, rad, huge ex. "That was a kamikaze wave!"
KART A pro, leader, or legend
KEG The barrel/tube.
KHAKI Faux beach bunny that claims her tan is from being outside all the time.
KICK-OUTTo make a controlled exit from a wave by riding up the face and over the top.
KIFFWhat?
KILLABRENDATo have a misunderstanding.
KILLER"That was a killer wave"; difficult, challenging, intense.
KNARLEYSee GNARLY.
KNAT BOX Where you slam you nads onto the water.
KOMIZZIE SURFER A surfer who heads straight for the other surfers paddling outside.
KOOKDork. Someone who says they surf but they can't.
KOOKDOMThe philosophy of the surf weasel that just because they exist, they deserve the right to paddle out into the lineup.
KOOKMIESTER-FLEXAfrican american kook
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LAKE No Waves, Like it has been at Ditch Plains, out here we call it "Lake Atlantic".
LALA Totally awesome, mad, cool, sweet, rad.
LAMO Lame.
LAND LORD Great White shark.
LAMEWeak.
LATER!See ya - Adios - Hasta La Vista Baby.
LAUNCHEDTo be thrown in the air, usually from a wipeout.
LEASHUrethane cord which attaches the board to the surfer by means of a velcro strap.
LEFT!What you shout when you catch a wave and intend to go to the left, leaving the right for someone else to catch.
LEFT-HANDERA wave the breaks from the left to right as viewed from the shore.
LEGENDSurfers over 50, men and women. Amazing, should be remembered.
LID OR LIDIOTBodyboarder
LINE UPJust beyond the impact zone where you wait to catch waves. The area of surfers already in the water, or the area of the surf beach that is known best by the local community. Usually this is the most dangerous area to surf.
LINED-UPTerm to describe an even, well developed swell.
LIP1. The crest of the wave, which may 'throw out' to create a tube. 2. The top part of the wave face just before it starts to break. as defined by the ISA
LOCALS A group of surfers that grew up there (can be territorial).
LOSER-HER Someone who is double loserish.
LULLTime spent waiting for a rideable wave.
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MADSame thing as sick, cool, rad.
MAHALOA Hawaiian word for "Thank you." (Pronounced muh-HAH-low) as defined by the ISA
MAHINA Surfer girl/woman who just likes to hang on the low flat waves of waikiki or so cal
MAJA A tight sufer mom.
MAJOR Really big, huge.
MALIBU BOARDAnother term for a long board, usually between 8ft 6in/2.60m and 10ft 6in/3.20m in length. named after the beach in Southern California.
MANKFACE Someone with very bad acne.
MARIANNE A surfer chic who can't surf and just falls off her board all the time and flaps about in the water and everyone laughs. (regional to Wirral)
MARLEY Contented, laid back surfer, after a long, really good surf session. Usually accompanied by sunburned glazed over eyes that look stoned. Probably derived from Bob Marley. West Oz.
MASSA lot, short for massive, too much
MASSIVE1 big wave
MATEO A mad righteous surfer dude
MAUINGToo scarf a lot of food after surfing to replenish yourself.
MAVERICKSGreat beach off the coast of cali, death location of Mark Foo, amazingly huge waves.
MAYTAGGED Whiping out and getting worked by the white wash - as in maytag washer.
MAXED-OUTA break is said to be 'maxed-out' when the swell is so big it will no longer break cleanly, but will close out or 'section'.
MENEHUNESTeen age surfers, boys and girls.
MEN IN GREY SUITS Sharks.
MINTVery Good indeed
MOOSE A fat boy/girl that tries to surf.
MOOSETTE A fat girl who cannot surf!
MOST EXCELLENT! A variation of 'awsome!'
MUCK FRUCKAGE The like garbage floating all in the water on east coast beaches during summer.
MURFF Used to describe a husky guy.
MURK'D When someone totally kills you at something.
MUSSY 'Keen as mustard' to get out in the surf!!
MUSCLE BEATERRevved up re-built old car to trans tribe and boards to break
MUSHBURGER Waves that have no juice; it has no power behind the break and is very slow riding.
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NACHOA surfer says this when they mess up
NAH BRAH A way of saying no in a more polite manner.
NAKED Good e.g (those waves were naked).
NARDUDE Hot guy with sculpted abs.
NAR NARNorthern California term derived from gnarly, meaning super awesome; super rad
NATURAL OR NATURAL FOOTA surfer who surf with his left foot forward, which is the natural stance.
NECTERTotally sweet; awesome waves, really good.
NICORICO A girl who gets a surfboard and says there gonna surf but they never do and pretend there all 'surfer girl' also like poser.
NITCHEN Opposite of bitchen. totally lame.
NOAHS Sharks. Adapted from Cockney rhyming slang: Noah's ark = shark.
NOICEAnother word for nice, totally, rad.
NOLLIE Awesome and coolll!! ex: thats nollie brah.
NOODLEDExhausted.
NOSEThe front of the board.
NOSE DIVEWhen the weight of the board is too far forward and the nose starts to dig into the wave face. as defined by the ISA
NOSE-RIDINGTechnique used by longboarders who attempt to ride as close as possible to the nose of the board.
NOTORIOUS Thats crazy, thats awesome, thats BIG.
NUBA beginner of and weak surfer. See Noob
NUBE-DUDE Freak/uncool.
NUGGA small wave or a hot girl.
NUGGETA huge or buff person.
NUTTER (short for nutcase) Term for disliked people, people acting strangely, NUTTER also used for a respected surfer who attempts something extreme on a large wave. West Oz
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OFF THE LIP or LIP BASHTo ride the wave up to the lip and quickly turn back in to the wave. A maneuver whereby the board hits the breaking lip of the wave before continuing along the wave.
OFFSHORE1. When the wind is blowing from the land out to sea and holding up the face of the wave , will usually produce ideal surfing conditions, especially when the wind is reasonably light. 2. When the wind is blowing out to the sea producing the best wave conditions. as defined by the ISA
ONSHORE1. The opposite, when the wind is blowing from the sea onto the land, this messes up the face of the wave and produces poor surfing conditions. 2. When the wind is blowing towards the shore. Usually onshore winds make wave conditions worse. as defined by the ISA
ORBITSVILLETo launch off the lip to land on the back of the wave. Replaced with Aerial.
OUTSIDE or OUT THE BACKThe area beyond the impact zone. the outside rail is the edge furthest from the face of the wave.
OUT THERE Crazy, whoaa.
OVER IT Anything that you don't like/want or don't want to do. Ex. "I'm over this weather."
OVER THE FALLSTo fall down the face of the wave inside the falling lip. Getting pitched head-first and slammed by the lip of a crashing wave. See PITCHPOLE
OWNED That wave owned you dude! See wipeout
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PADDLEPUSS Someone who stays in the shallows riding the white water
PANCAKE STYLE When thier is absolutley no waves just sitting water.
PARTY WAVE When more than one person takes a wave.
PASTING When you fall from the lip of a large wave (to get a pasting).
PEACHY When something goes exactly the way you want it to go!
PEAK1. The point at which a wave breaks first, from which it ideally peels in one or both directions. 2. The central point on a wave that is about to break in both directions. as defined by the ISA
PEALA newbie surfer, for ex. "What a peal bro!"
PEARLThis is when the nose of the board buries itself under water and the surfer usually goes flying over the front, most common on take-offs.
PEELA wave is said to peel when it breaks away evenly and cleanly from the peak.
PERF Perfect, excellent, awesome, correct. Ex: "Dude, that wave was perf!"
PILLAR To come off the lip to take out an other sufer or remove him from his board. First performed off Redondo in the summer of 1970.
PIMPIN When somthing is totally cool. "Pimpin wave".
PIPELINEFamous surf location in Hawaii that has huge powerful and hollow waves.
PIRATES Surfers that hate Vals and represent locals only.
PITA breaking waves hollowest part.
PITCHPOLEWhen your nose goes under, you go over the nose, the board flips behind you, the wave closes on you and you become a sandwich. Can be a dangerous situation..
POCKETThe steepest and most powerful part of the wave, just ahead and under the breaking lip.
POINT BREAK1. A break where the waves are refracted around a headland or point and then peel along the inside of the point. 2. A place where waves form and break continuously around a point of land. as defined by the ISA
POO MANTo stand extremely wide-legged with your arse sticking out.
POP-OUTA machine moulded surfboard, ideal for beginners.
POP-UPQuick jump on to ur board
POSERWannabe. Someone who tries to hard to be what they're not.
POUNDED Getting hit hard by some gnarly sets.
POWNED Showed Up. Normally used as "You Just Got Powned!"
POW POW Term for good snow surfers use if in a snowboarding scenario. Desribes fresh deep powder snow and they're stoked about it. sometimes stated as just "pow", "pow-pow-nar-nar", "freshy-freshy" etc.
PRO-BRO A guy who sucks up to the cool guys, in hopes of being seen as one of them.
PRONE-OUTDropping from your feet to your belly to ride the board into the beach.
PSYCHE Just kidding, dude.
PSYCHEDThrilled by surfing the wave. Excited-stoked,amped. See STOKED.
PULA KAHULA Hot mama, as in "hey there pula kahula".
PULL A KALIDo something stupid, or dorky.
PUMPINGA term used to decribe a good powerful above average large swell.
PUMPING THE BOARDA means of increasing the speed across the face of a wave.
PUNKYoung boy who thinks he is all that.
PUNKEDTo get a prank played on you or to be taken the piss out of.
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QUANTUMSweet, awesome
QUIVERA surfer's collection of boards. A selection of surfboards for differing conditions.
QUEBEEA female surfer.
QUEER EYEA surfer who wears hairspray or gel to the beach
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RADICAL1. (RAD) Something was really awesome or cool. 2. Crazy, insane, wierd, unplanned. 3. Awsome, on the edge. See Sick.
RAG-DOLLED To get smashed by a wave.
RAILThe side or edge of a surfboard.
RAILERThe "Ultimate" Cool in surfer lingo.
RANDOM STANDERInexperienced / weekend surfer.
RANK (Go or Went) As "It was goin off he just went totally rank on that wave dude!" or "Just go rank at the dude! what a wanker!" etc (Australian)
RAT Annoying idiot. Kook
RAW Somthing bad ass or really f*ckin awesome
REEF BREAK1. Waves breaking over a projection rising from the sea bed, usually a corel reef or rock shelf. 2. A place where waves form and break over a reef or rocks. as defined by the ISA
RE-ENTRYManeuver which involves surfing up into the lip of a breaking wave, then coming back down with it.
REGULARA surfer who surfs with thier LEFT foot forward
RESINChemical used in a two part mixture with catalyst to convert fibreglass into a hard outer skin.
RICKEDAwesome.
RICTOff the ricter scale; awesome.
RIG To fix a competition or event to person's advantage.
RIGHT!What you shout when you catch a wave and intend to go to the right leaving the left for someone else to catch.
RIGHT-HANDER or RIGHTA wave that breaks from right to left as viewed from the shore.
RIGHTEOUSTotally awesome or honorable. Another word for Gnarly.
RIGHT ONGood job,nice effort
RIPTo surf your max.
RIP or RIPTIDEA channel of water running out to sea
RIPPIN'Surf hard and energetically.
RIPPINGWhen a surfer performs unbelievable moves and totally conquers a wave. as defined by the ISA
ROAD BLOCK When u and another surfer are paddleing out then all of a sudden you bail and thow your board in front of the other surfer causeing them to have to bail also.
ROCKERThe curve in a surfboard when viewed side on.
ROCKET Hot guy.
ROOMInside a large barrel.
R.T.D.RTD: referencing a surfer on a long board who cannot turn. As in, Rapid Transit District, similar to a bus.
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SALTY SISTER Girl who surfs.
SANDBANKAn elevation in the level of the sea floor on a beach, causing waves to break over it.
SANDBOXAn old ghetto VW van with a bunch of boards on the roof.
SCHLONGThick, long, old style single-fin surfboard.
SCHWAG Said When Something Sucks. Ex "That's effin schwag." instead of "That sucks."
SCOOP Totaly awesome; off the chain.
SCOOPS Free stuff, or an exclamation of intense joy.
SCORE To acquire, gain or achieve, i.e.; Scored a some great rides today.
SCHWACK The sound made by a surfboard as it hits the lip from a hard, slash on the wave lip.
SCHWINGA SWOOSH Sound the water makes off the bottom of your board when sound echoes inside a righteous tube!
SCUBETUBEULARAwesome underwater poundage.
SENIORSOld farts that can still paddle out and catch a ride.
SETA group of waves. Usually three in the group.
SETSA group of waves caused by a swell that come ashore at regular intervals. Usually the set will gradually build in size and then diminish in size. as defined by the ISA
SHASame as yes or okay.
SHACKED Being barrelled or getting drunk. To get caught under a closed out wave.
SHADES Glasses protecting you from the sun; sunglasses.
SHAGGY HAIR The typical surfer hair
SHAKAA hand signal where you stick out the thumb and pinky and fold the other three fingers in. The meaning varies from cool to Hang Loose! as defined by the ISA
SHANK Catching a sweet wave and wiping out right at the peak of the wave.
SHARKBAIT1. A person that is your friend and that is crazy. 2. The person that is the furthest out from the shore.
SHAVE ITShave the top off a wave
SHAZZAM Term used after Powning a weasel or barney.
SHEA A term for a crazy girl surfer who is very good.
SHIBBYOh man! Like "gnarly"
SHEILA Rad girl, What guys call girls to get their attention.
SHIFTINGTo shift the board from side to side.
SHOCKA NAR NAR A mix between Totally awesome, hangten, nice wave.
SHOOBIE 1. Actually, this is a redifinition more so as an arguement against the spelling. Considering Shoebie was a term started on LBI to describe the workers from the mainland who came to the beach to eat with their lunches in "shoe boxes" the alternate spelling shoebie should be included. The nick cartoon "Rocket Power" made this term known nation wide because one of the two writers came from LBI. A lot of the area that cartoon takes place in is based off of LBI. (Two random facts).
2. People or some one who take over someones surf spot and claim it as there own. See SHOOBIES below.
SHOOBIESTourists and beach newcomers that spoil the waves for the locals. People from the city who wear socks and sandles at the beach, who swim and play with plastic blow up toys in the surf section
SHOOK A crazy guy that talks like he knows everthing about surfing but really doesn't. Makes up board brands and usually looks like he never goes to the beach.
SHOULDER HOPPING, HOPPERDrop'n in on someone else's wave (surfer closest to break owns the wave)
SHREDAbility to execute rapid repeated turns on a shortboard.
SHREDDIN THE GNARLTo shred a gnarley wave. (matt-california)
SHOCKA BRA To hang loose man!!! hawaiian style-Keith(California).
SHOMMY Not too good.
SHOREBREAKWaves crashing very close to shore or on the beach.
SHRALPINGExcellent surfing. similar to ripping and shredding
SHUBEE Somebody who wears ando buy surf gear but have never surfed on their entire lifes.
SHUT DOWNTo wipeout while inside the barrel,surfing a wave that closes out causing you to wipeout.
SHWAYAwesome-stroke of luck.
SHWHAT Another way to say what
SICK1. Excellent, the best. Totally cool, something that rocked or just a term in place of "wow" for example.. "oh dude, these waves are sick." Awesome insanely cool. 2. Rad, awsome, good, cool.
SICKANT A person who is sick.
SICKO DECE Sick nasty, decent, combination of both
SISA radical girl surfer.
SILIVER SURFERSee Seniors.
SINISTERKick ass..."Thats sinister bro"
SKANKThe rich poser who'll by everyone stuff but never paddle out, sells himself out to the pros and the naturals just so he can have some friends.
SKEPTIC What you call a good friend who is fat and they are cool about it. Regional.
SKIMBOARDA small board made of plywood or fiberglass. The rider skims over the wave wash on the shore or shoots out from the shore into an oncoming wave.
SKIMBOARDERA person that rides a skimboard. A surfer with balls
S`LATER Combo of see ya + later..."alright, s'later brah"
SLAMMINWord used to described as cool or awesome
SMACKABLECertain type of wave that you can smack your board off the lip
SMOGBREATHER A totally unrighteous non surfer someone who lives on rock and not the hydro.
SMOKINWhen the surfer does so well they are on fire.
SNAKEPaddling around behind someone who is in position and stealing their wave. Taking ownership of a wave. A legend who thinks they are greater than they are, a real weasel.
SNAKE OUTWhen person backs out of wave..making you miss it.
SNAP UPTo stand up fastly on your board.
SOCOFCan't surf as they are ill.
SOLID Decent "thats a solid set".
SOUPThe white water of a broken wave (also the stuff you heat up and eat after surfing so you don't get pnuemonia)
SPEEDBUMP1. Those irritating people who stand right in the way of a good ride. 2. A kook who is in your way
SPIFFY Refer to awesome or radical. Also used to refer to an awesome or hot chick.
SPIKINGTo launch your board into another surfer or their board. Considered a misdemeanor assault or felony assault with a deadly weapon (see toenail)
SPIN CYCLEWiping out and getting thrashed underwater until you don't know which way is up.
SPINNERTurning 360 degrees on your board while still steering the board straight.
SPIN-OUTWhen the fins of the board break loose from the waters surface.
SPITThe spray of water coming out of the barrel when the barrel is closing.
SPONGERBoogey Boarder. Boogey boarder who drops-in on the shoulder of an occupied wave.
SPRING SUITWetsuit with short arms and short legs.
SQUIDA beginner or newcomer. A new kid.
SQUISHED RACCOONS Waves that are practically non-existent, unrideable, "dead"
STALLA maneuver where the board is slowed or 'stalled' to allow the curl to catch up with the surfer.
STANDARD Nothing new.
STAVEWAVEThe rainmaker of waves.
STEALING THE BEACHHow much sand you take home in the crack of your butt.
STEAMERA full wetsuit with long arms and long legs.
STEAMER LANE A.K.A. "Steamers" or "The Lane". A legendary surfing location in Santa Cruz, Ca.
STELLAR Gnarly, rad.
STICKYour board.
STINK EYEHard, cold, menacing stare.
STRINGERThe thin piece of wood running down the center of a custom board.
STOKEDFull of enthusiasm.
STUFFEDBeing driven under the water by a wave coming down on you.
SUCKYA hollow, often heavy wave. Not Cool.
SUNNIES1. ( SUNNY) people or a person who stays in the sun all the time and most likely has a great tan! 2. Sunglasses
SUP Another word for alright dude, whats up.
SURFARISurfing safari, out of town surf trip. See SURFING SAFARI
SURFBETTYA girl that surfs. See The