Wipeout: When the surfer is knocked off the board by the wave or falls into the water. White water: When a wave breaks, the water continues in a frothy foam called white water. When the swell arrives at shore they begin to break and can be surfed.
SURFER LINGO SERIES
Swell: A series of waves usually created further out at sea in a storm. Snap: A very quick turn on the top of the wave. Pump: The surfer pushes the board up and down with their legs to create more momentum and increase the speed. Pop-up: When starting a ride, the surfer will go from a lying position to standing on the board, popping-up to surf the wave. This is less common than the regular footing of left foot forward and right back. Goofy foot: Surfing with the right foot forward and the left at the back. Watch one of the masters, Garrett McNamara, at work.Ĭarve: The surfer will turn or change direction on the wave.ĭuck dive: As they’re paddling out to catch a wave, the surfer will dip the nose of their board underwater to dive underneath a wave rather than choosing to ride it. The surfer will then land back on the wave and continue to ride.īail: The moment when the surfer steps off their board to avoid being knocked off by the wave or wiping out.īarrel: When a large wave rolls over and creates a tunnel or barrel shape with the surfer still inside.īig wave: The most impressive and nail-biting spectacle surfing has to offer, big-wave surfing involves waves at least 20 feet – or 6.2 metres – tall. GlossaryĪir: This is a moment when the surfer rides the wave to the top and briefly leaves the water to perform a jump or an aerial manoeuvre. To help you prepare for some truly thrilling viewing, we’ve created a helpful glossary with all the surfing meanings you need, so you know exactly what’s happening. It’s more than a sport – it’s a way of life, according to South Africa’s Bianca Buitendagss.
Speed, agility and drama are all essential elements of this adrenaline-packed event. The shortboard is around six feet – or 1.85 metres – long, with a pointed tip for fast and easy handling through the water. While competing in the Olympics, the surfers will ride a shortboard. The surfers aim to perform difficult manoeuvres to gain more points, and their best two waves are added together for the final score. During competitions, surfers catch waves which are judged and ranked out of 10 by a panel of judges. Surfing is the sport of riding a wave to the shore while standing or lying on a surfboard. It’s one of five new sports on the 2020 programme and has been included in the events list in an effort to bring an even more youthful and vibrant theme to the Games. This is a chance for the surfers involved to write themselves into a chapter of Olympic history.
Twenty women and 20 men will compete in the shortboard competitions. Offshore– Where the wind blows from the land to the sea, holding up the waves.As the Tokyo 2020 draws closer, the best surfers around the world are preparing to celebrate their sport appearing for the first time on the Olympic stage. Regular– When you ride with your left foot forward Goofy– When you ride with your right foot forward Lefthander– A wave that breaks to the left (Righthander being the opposite) Rip– A dangerous current that can pull you out to sea (Paddle across it to where the waves are breaking)ĭuckdive– Where a surfer pushes their board under an oncoming wave to paddle out (Not advised on a foamie) Lineup– The area where the waves elevate before they break, where the surfers wait. Impact Zone– The area where the waves break (Stay out of this!) Set- A group of larger waves which come in periodically Remember, big swell is good! (but maybe not for beginners)
Swell– When a mid ocean storm brings in a set of waves. So here’s a few technical terms to start with so that you’re a little more savvy next time you’re hitting the swell. This surfsaurus has been created for you to pick up a few words, both technical and slang, so you’ll be understanding the lingo in no time. When you’re a beginner, you hear words like “left hander”, “hang ten” and “gnarly” and wonder what on Earth people are talking about.