Surf dictionary for beginners

  • Veröffentlicht am 01.07.2019 10:00

Many surf beginners will wonder what is meant when the surf coach says: "Take a Lycra!", "There's the channel!" or "Don't pull the leash through the sand! We assure you that you will hear some of these expressions in your first surf sessions right away. But what is meant by that? Today we explain the most important terms for the first surf sessions.

 

The Beachbreak is one of three forms of surf. It refers to waves that break on sandbanks.

 

The Break is the point in the water where the shaft breaks.

 

The Channel is a calm place in the water where no or only a few waves break. This is caused by currents or deeper water. The channel is good for paddling out.

 

A surfer makes a Drop-In when he drives into another surfer's wave and takes his right of way. Of course, this is not seen with much pleasure.

 

The Duck Dive is a diving technique where the surfer dives under the wave with his board. He grabs his board in front and shifts his weight as far forward as possible. The board then dives into the water and the surfer dives under water to swim under the wave.

 

The fins are placed under the rear end of the surfboard, the so-called "tail". They look like fins, hold the board and serve as directional stabilizers.

  

Goofy is a surfer who stands in front when surfing with the right foot.

 

The Impact Zone is the area in the water where all waves of a set break.

 

The Leash is a line attached to the surfboard that connects the board to the surfer. The leash is attached to the surfer's foot and serves to prevent the surfboard from simply shooting away when the surfer falls.

 

The Line-Up is the area behind the already broken waves. Here the surfers wait for incoming waves, which they then paddle from there.

  

Lycra is a thin T-shirt made of the same named material Lycra, which you will wear over your wetsuit during your surf course. In different colors it makes it easier for you and your surf coach to recognize who belongs to your course. This shirt protects against sun and rashes.

 

The Nose is the top of the surfboard.

 

As Onshore is the wind that blows from the sea to the land. Surfing is made more difficult because the waves are pushed and pushed down by the wind so that they are not surfable for long.

 

Offshore is the wind coming from land. Offshore winds are good for surfing, as the waves are kept open longer and therefore long surfable.

 

Pointbreaks are waves that break at a point on a headland. Here the wave always starts to break at one point and runs from there towards the beach.

 

The Rails are the sides of the surfboard.

 

As Set a group of waves is designated.

 

Shorebreaks are waves that break directly onto the shore. They make starting very difficult. Shorebreaks often occur at high tide.

 

The Tail is the back part of the surfboard.

 

The Take-Off describes the beginning of the wave ride: the gliding of the wave and the jumping up.

 

Als Wipe-Out are falls of surfers called.

  

  

These are only a few terms of surf jargon. First they should prepare you for the first days. If your surf instructor praises your take-off, shows you the channel or is happy about the great offshore winds, you now know what is meant :) All other expressions you will surely pick up at your surf camp, on the beach or in the next surf bar!