Surf Terms

What you need to know if you want to go!

riding waves

If you want to learn to surf you have to learn the lingo. Below is a list of the most common surfer terms.

Peak - the section of a wave that breaks first
Take off - to paddle and catch a wave
Drop in - catching a wave and beginning your ride
Session - the time you spend surfing
Down the line - riding at an angle across the wave away from the peak
Set - a group of waves
Lull - the time the ocean is flat between sets
Stoked - happier than happy
Barreled - riding inside of the curl of the wave, also called 'tubed'
Goofyfoot - to stand with your right foot forward on a surfboard
Regular foot - to stand with your left foot forward on a surfboard
Backside - riding with the wave at your back
Frontside - riding facing the wave
Rashed - spend an afternoon on a board and you'll know
Ripper - a really good surfer
Kook - a person surfing with bad etiquette
Worked, pounded, ragdolled - what the ocean does to you after you wipe out
Wipe out - to fall
Tanker - a long surf board
Short board - a high performance surfboard
Offshore - when the wind blows from the shore, making the waves clean and organized
Onshore - when the wind blows from the ocean, making waves choppy and chaotic
Glassy - the ocean condition when there is no wind

Recommended Beaches For Learning To Surf

The following beaches are not great for surfing every day. Where and when you surf should always depend on current ocean conditions. When in doubt - don't go out! Always ask a lifeguard or local if you have any concerns.

Hanalei Bay - In the summer time, Hanalei's shallow, sandy bottom, gentle swells and pristine waters make for perfect conditions for the beginning surfer.
Kealia - Mostly sandy breaks and almost year round surf, make Kealia a great place to get wet with a board. Beware of underwater rocks at both ends of the beach.
Wailua - The extended shallow sand bar where the Wailua river meets the ocean can make for great knee high waves in waist deep water.

Comments (3 comments) View all comments

Bryan | Feb 27, 2009 5:20AM

My wife and I are currently on Kaua'i
and are staying in Wailua and have heard different thoughts of wailua beach,it looks good and I see a variety of [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Feb 27, 2009 4:45PM

Hi Bryan - Wailua's drawbacks are it's proximity to the highway, generally onshore winds, and murky waters. That said, the currents at Wailua are generally not [...] view more

Krystalyn | Aug 07, 2011 1:58AM

Son of a gun, this is so hpelful!

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