Regular Footed
Left foot forward
Goofy Footed
Right foot forward
Face Side
Riding the pocket facing it
Driving Back Side
Riding the pocket with your back to it
Close Outs
Waves where the whole top comes over at once
Walled Off
Same as close outs and difficult to ride
Angling
Taking the wave at an angle towards the break
Driving
Running down the pocket without maneuvering. Usually for speed
Carving
Leaning into the rails to turn the board
Pearling
Board goes nose first into the water, ending the ride, sometimes abruptly.
Over the Falls
Getting pulled over the lip with centrifugal force. Most hurtful of all falls.
Cut Back
Turn in a 180 degree motion toward the lip or back toward the pocket
Bottom Turn
First turn coming off the face to get momentum back up the pocket
Corner
Outside of break away from the lip where the wave can still be caught
Shoulder
Outside part of the wave where the momentum is probably gone
Premium part of the wave where all the maneuvering is performed
Apex/Peak
Where the foam first comes over the lip. Closest surfer to peak has the right of way.
Break
The direction the wave is unfolding. Right or left from surfer’s point of view.
Line up
Group of surfers waiting for the waves
Right of Way/Surfing Etiquette
The surfer on the inside closest to the lip has the right of way. The surfer on the wave has the right of way over person paddling out. You should back off if you don’t have the right of way. Always look to the inside before you pop up.
Kook
New surfer that gets in everyone’s way. One who doesn’t look before they leap.
Stoke
Surfers term for being excited
Chill
Surfers word for being calm and chilling means just hanging out doing nothing
Surfing Glossary from my book Surf Instructions Beginner to Advanced on Amazon
For the following services call 760-696-7149: Individual Surf lessons in Oceanside, private group and family surf lessons, Oceanside surf lessons for kids, package lessons for vacations and more in-depth learning.