Beginner's Surfing Glossary
20 Words to Know Before You Hit the Water
New to surfing? Here’s a mini glossary of the most commonly used words during lessons or out on the water. Speak (and surf) like a pro!
🏄 Why a Surfing Glossary?
When you start surfing, you quickly come across a whole new mysterious language: take-off, baïne, duck dive, rails… You feel a bit like a tourist without a guide in an unfamiliar country.
This little glossary will help you to:
-
Better understand your instructors 🗣️
-
Progress faster by learning the right vocabulary
-
Avoid misunderstandings or awkward situations
-
And most importantly: enjoy yourself even more in the water!
📚 The Essential Glossary for Beginner Surfers
🌊 Words Related to the Sea
-
Wave: What you’ll be surfing 😄 It’s the heart of the session.
-
Foam: A wave that has already broken. It’s softer and ideal for beginners.
-
Set: A group of waves arriving in succession.
-
Baïne: A calm water area between two sandbanks, often tricky as it creates a rip current back to the open sea. ⚠️ Important to spot it.
🏄 Positions and Moves
-
Take-off: The action of standing up on your board to catch a wave.
-
Line-up: The waiting zone offshore, where surfers position themselves to catch waves.
-
Drop: The descent down the face of the wave just after the take-off. Big thrills guaranteed.
-
Duck dive: A technique for diving under a wave with your board (for shortboards).
-
Turtle roll: A method for longboards: flipping the board upside down to pass under the wave.
🛹 The Surfboard
-
Nose: The front of the board.
-
Tail: The back of the board.
-
Rails: The edges of the board, influencing its maneuverability.
-
Leash: The cord that connects the board to your ankle.
-
Fins: The fins under the board that provide stability and direction.
🧭 Behavior in the Water
-
Priority: An essential rule. The surfer closest to the breaking point of the wave has the right of way.
-
Inside: Being positioned closest to where the wave breaks → you have priority.
-
Snaker: Someone who sneaks ahead or steals a wave from another surfer… not cool 😒
-
Wipeout: The classic fall! No worries, it’s all part of the game.
-
Spot: The place where you surf. Each spot has its own features (waves, seabed, currents…).
✅ In Summary
With this glossary, you’re now ready to:
-
understand your first lessons
-
better read the environment around you
-
talk with other surfers without sounding like a tourist 🌊🏄♀️
And if an instructor says:
“You’re doing your take-off too late, in the foam, watch out for the baïne behind you…”
No worries, you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about. 🫡
Other Articles from the Glossary
