A trick where the board takes off from the lip of a wave and after travelling lands back on the face of the wave and continuing.

Ankle Slop

Waves too small to ride.

B

Surfing while facing away from the wave (also, backside).

Barrel

The inside of a hollow wave (also, Tube).

Beach break

Waves breaking on the beach.

Blown Out

Surf condition in which either onshore (most prominent) or offshore winds have eliminated the ridable sections of waves, reducing them to chop or mush.

Boogie board

Bottom

1. The lowest section of the face of an unbroken wave.

2. The lower surface of a surfboard.

Bottom turn

A turn at the bottom of the wave face.

C

1. Design feature on underside of a surfboard.

2. A trench between sand banks or reefs. Often associated with a strong current.

Choppy

Surf condition in which the waves are inconsistent, broken, or generally irregular (see, Blown Out).

Clean

Smooth waves, usually good surfing conditions.

Close out

An undesirable situation in which a wave does not break uniformly along its length. Instead one or more sections of the wave break ahead of the section the surfer is riding.

Clubbie

Cutback

Turning on the face of the wave to head back to the white water.

D

The upper surface of a surfboard.

Ding

Damage, usually a hole or dent, to the surfboard.

Double Overhead

A wave twice as tall as its rider.

Drop in

Duck dive

A method for getting through a broken or large wave without being washed towards the shore. Basically, pushing the surfboard and one's body under the wave.

Dumped

"Getting dumped" is being pushed underwater by a wave, usually unexpectedly, with reasonable amounts of violence and lack of control on the part of the surfer. Waves that are likely to do this are referred to as "dumpers", and usually contain large amounts of sand. (Possibly Australian slang)

E

Eskimo roll

A method for getting through a broken or large wave without being washed towards the shore. Basically, rolling the board over so the water rushes over the underside (which is facing upwards).

F

Unbroken, forward-facing portion of the wave.

Floater

Frontside or backside maneuver that involves "floating" over the broken part of a wave and re-entering the more ridable crest.

Forehand

Surfing while facing toward the wave (also, frontside. See backhand/backside).

G

A surfer who places their right leg forward while surfing.

Goat Boat

A mildly derogatory term used to describe a surfski used in the surf.

Grommit

Young surfer (Australia).

H

A nose riding trick in which the toes of one foot are curled around the nose of the surfboard.

Hang ten

An advanced nose riding trick in which the toes of both feet are curled around nose of the surfboard.

I

A controlled exit from the wave by riding up and over the top of the wave.

L

A cord used to prevent the board being washed away from the surfer. Surfboard leashes are usually attached to the ankle, whereas bodyboard leashes are usually attached to the wrist.

M

A surfer who places their left leg forward while surfing.

Nose

The front of the board.

Nose ride

A maneuver in which the surfer walks to the front of the surfboard and rides on the nose. It is usually only possible on a surfboard of 8' or longer.

Nova Scotia

One of the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and perhaps the only Canadian locale where serious surfing transpires. Lawrencetown Beach can produce good waves but inconsistency and frigid temperatures make Nova Scotia an unlikely surfing destination, especially during the winter.

O

A wave larger than the person riding it.

P

When the nose of the board digs into the water, generally causing the surfer to tip-off forward.

Pocket

The section of a wave just ahead of the broken section, where the face is at its steepest.

Q

A novice, and often annoying, surfer.

R

Rail

The edge of the board.

Re-entry

Turning on the lip of the wave to come back down into the face of the wave.

S

A group of waves.

Shortie

A wetsuit with short legs and short, or no, arms. Sometimes known as a spring suit.

Shrop

To surf hard in the worst conditions. To surf at one's best when the surf is particularly bad.

Stall

A method to slow the surfboard to allow a wave to catch or overtake it. Performed by stepping to the tail of the surfboard or simply leaning back and resting one's weight on one's trailing foot.

T

The rear of the board.

Take off

To catch a wave and begin the ride.

360

Pronounced "three-sixty". A trick involving turning the board through a full circle on the face of the wave.

U

A frothy, broken wave.

Wipe out

Terminating a ride, ungracefully.

X