A Frame
Peak shaped wave with shoulders producing lovely hollow waves and rides from left and right.
The Complete Glossary of Surfing Terms
Did you see that goofy foot grommet with a longboard noseriding that point break?
Feeling a bit lost?
With the help of our partners Surfing England, we've put together this comprehensive guide to help you understand all things surfing.
From 'ebb and flow' to 'duck dive', get ready for your next sesh by learning to speak like a true rider.
Adaptive Surfing
Surfing movement making the sport more accessible and inclusive for physically impaired surfers.
Aerial / Air
Technical manoeuvres where surfers build speed, use the steep section of a wave like a ramp, launch themselves into the air and perform different tricks.
Backside
Riding with your back facing the wave.
Bail
To give up on a manoeuvre or diving away from your board when caught inside a wave.
Beach Break
The most common kind of wave we have in the UK, where waves form and break over sand.
Beachie
When waves break really close to the shoreline, which can generate quite dumpy and sometimes dangerous waves.
Bottom Turn
Turn used after making the initial drop on a wave, a good bottom turn will set up the rest of your ride.
Carve and Carving
Riding style focusing on long powerful turns. Carving across the face of a clean wave is pure bliss for any surfer.
Close Out
A wave to be avoided! One that does not peel and give the surfer the illusion of a good ride, but breaks down the line all at once.
Counter Rotation
Shifting the upper body in the opposite direction of the surfboard, used by surfers to create energy for their next turn.
Cross-Stepping
When a longboarder walks to the nose of their board to noseride.
Curl
The point where the wave breaks from, and peels down the line.
Cut Back
When a rider turns back to the wave curl or pocket, where the wave is most powerful.
Deck
Top part of the surfboard where you’ll hopefully be standing!
Dig a Rail
When too much weight is put on the front or sides and the rail disappears into the wave face, making the rider lose balance and fall off.
Duck Dive
Pushing your surfboard nose first underneath an incoming wave when paddling out. An essential move for any beginner !
Ebb and Flow
The state of the tide, Ebb means coming in and Flow means going out. Many breaks depend on a particular state of the tide.
Flats
Flat section of a wave away from the steepest part. Generally lacking energy, making it hard to ride on a smaller board.
Floater
Advanced manoeuvre where the surfer rides the back of a wave, giving the illusion of floating across the whitewater before the wave crumbles.
Frontside
When a surfer rides facing into the wave, most riders favourite position.
Glide
Style of riding when a surfer is able to maintain speed through flat sections, usually in long boarding.
Goofy foot
Surfers who have their right foot at the front of the board and left foot at the rear.
Grommet or Grom
Young surfers keen to get into the scene.
Hanging Five and Hanging Ten
Riding a surfboard with one or both feet curled up around the nose of the board.
Impact zone
Area where the wave breaks.
Leash
String which attaches you to the board, an essential piece of kit for safety.
Lip
Tip of the wave as it spills over.
Longboards
Surfboard measuring nine feet and up.
Mushburger
Wave that collapses softly and slowly down its face.
Noseriding
Riding a longboard while standing on its tip
Peak
Steepest part of the wave that rises up before collapsing/ breaking.
Pearl
When a surfboard nosedives and digs into the water, usually due to extreme forward trim.
Point Break
When waves form around a point of land or underwater feature, like a reef, and peel from this area down the line.
Pop-up
Action of going from lying down on their board to standing up in one smooth movement. One of the most important moves for surfing.
Pump
Action of pushing the front foot down on the board and relaxing it in a pumping motion to generate speed and navigate flat spots.
Quiver
A surfer’s collection of boards.
Rail
Edges of a surfboard. Different rail shapes give a board different performance specs.
Rocker
The flexibility of a surfboard. Boards with a high rocker are used to take on strong waves, whilst ones with little rocker are better for calmer sea.
Shaper
Person who designs and crafts surfboards.
Shortboard
A surf board generally under 7 feet in length.
Shoulder
The part of the wave away from the breaking point, i.e. the flats.
Stall
Action of slowing down the board by loading weight onto the tail and trimming onto the back foot.
Stance
Foot and body position of the surfer.
Take Off
Moment when a surfer catches a wave.
Top Turn
Action of turning the board at the top of the wave, redirecting it back down the wave.
Trimming
Maintaining balance and consistent speed through good foot placement and weight adjustment.
Tube
Hollow curl of water created by a breaking wave, allowing a rider to surf through. The ultimate move in surfing and what most surfers aspire to do.
Wall
Steep and unbroken section of a wave before the break.
Wax
Surfing essential that allows better grip and traction to the board.
White Water
Part of the wave that breaks into the water.
Now you should be well-versed in the surfing world, see you on the waves !
Surfing England
We've decided to partner with Surfing England to make surf and other water sports more accessible in the UK. This organisation, started by riders for riders, supports the development of surfing in England through memberships, classes and events all over the country.