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Surfer Slang To Learn So You Won't Sound Like A Barney

By Every Day Story25 items
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About this list

Surfers have their own lingo, a tight-knit language that can be tough to decipher. Like bikers, they use slang to identify insiders and outsiders. Movies and surf brands like Billabong and Quicksilver have popularized some terms, but plenty of surfing vocabulary still sounds like gibberish to non-surfers. Master these terms and you'll sound like a surfer, even if you're a kook in the water.

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  • 1

    Description of 'Gnarly' in the list 'Surfer Slang To Learn So You Won't Sound Like A BarneySurf conditions that are impressive but at the same time very dangerous.

    Use It In A Sentence: Things are looking a little too gnarly out there - we better bail.

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    🔥 20 up · 5 down▲ 4 above editor
  • 2

    Impressive but dangerous surf conditions.A beginner or novice surfer who lacks proper surfing skill.

    Use It In A Sentence: Meaning:

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    🔥 15 up · 2 down
  • 3

    The act of surfing with both feet at the very tip of a longboard to the point where all ten toes are hanging over.Use It In A Sentence:

    The hang ten may be an old-school move, but it never goes out of style.The hang ten may be an old-school move, but it never goes out of style.

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    🔥 17 up · 4 down▲ 3 above editor
  • 4

    A position where a surfer balances on the tip of their board with both feet.In addition to being the title of an action-packed '90s film starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, point break also refers to a uniquely angled wave that’s caused by a protruding rock formation or a sandbank.

    Use It In A Sentence: The rocks on Ollie’s Point make for a mean point break.

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    🔥 13 up · 1 down▼ 3 below editor
  • 5

    The act of entering a barrel wave from behind its highest point. Surfers consider this maneuver more impressive than cresting the top of a wave.A maneuver where a surfer enters a wave from behind its highest point, considered more impressive than cresting the top.

    Use It In A Sentence: A backdoor ride isn’t perfect unless you make it out the other side.

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    🔥 14 up · 2 down▼ 2 below editor
  • 6

    A maneuver to exit a wave from the opposite side of the barrel.To surf impressively, especially on a longboard. You can also use the term in reference to snowboarding, BMX riding, or playing guitar.

    Use It In A Sentence: You know you’re shredding when you break the wave with your own board.

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    🔥 14 up · 2 down▼ 2 below editor
  • 7

    A surfer who is aggressiveeither on the waves or in their general behavior.either on the waves or in their general behavior.

    Use It In A Sentence: Meaning:

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  • 8

    A surfer who is aggressive.A large, loose pair of board shorts.

    Use It In A Sentence: That dude’s baggies are so loose they nearly fell off.

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    🔥 15 up · 4 down▲ 1 above editor
  • 9

    A loose or baggy pair of board shorts.A surfer’s arsenal of boards, stemming from the name for an archer’s container for holding arrows.

    Use It In A Sentence: A solid quiver isn’t complete without a shortboard, longboard, fish board, gun board, and Malibu.

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    🔥 13 up · 3 down▼ 1 below editor
  • 10

    A container for arrows.The taboo act of dropping in on someone else’s wave before your turn.

    Use It In A Sentence: There’s nothing worse than being snaked when you’re about to catch the biggest tube of the day.

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    🔥 11 up · 3 down
  • 11

    A young surfer.A young surfer, usually just a kid.

    Use It In A Sentence: Look at that little grommet try to shred.

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    🔥 12 up · 4 down
  • 12

    A young surfer.A novice surfer who lacks skill and doesn’t follow the rulesof surf culture. They are the “posers” of the surfing world.

    Use It In A Sentence: If this kook takes my wave one more time, I’m going to lose it.

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    🔥 11 up · 4 down
  • 13

    A cry of enthusiasm.A cry of enthusiasmfrom the early days of surfing made famous by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

    Use It In A Sentence: That tasty wave had me saying cowabunga!

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    🔥 12 up · 5 down
  • 14

    An expression of excitement or excitement about surfing.Much like it sounds, the term “lineup” refers to a queue of surfers waiting for their turn on a set of waves.

    Use It In A Sentence: Don’t disrespect the lineup unless you want trouble.

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    🔥 10 up · 5 down
  • 15

    A queue or line of surfers waiting for their turn.An evasive move to tuck under big waves. While paddling out, grab both sides of the board and roll onto your back, thus flipping the board upside down. Only the board remains above the water, with its fins in the air.

    Use It In A Sentence: Pull a turtle if a duck dive won’t pass the white water.

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    🔥 7 up · 2 down
  • 16

    Meaning:This points to either the surfer community's rank in an area or the local surfer'stendency to avoid outsidersfrom their preferred spots.

    Use It In A Sentence: Tourists who try to surf this private spot face localism.

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    🔥 9 up · 4 down
  • 17

    Meaning:A light-hearted term for sharkssuggests their water authority.

    Use It In A Sentence:Watch out for the men in gray suits today; they look hungry.

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    🔥 7 up · 5 down
  • 18

    Meaning:Refers to chickening outfearing a big wave

    Use It In A Sentence: That wave was so big I clucked out.

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  • 19

    Meaning:Traditionally, this means a Maori woman from the Polynesian islands. Now, it often meansfemale surfersof any background.

    Use It In A Sentence:Nothing is more beautiful than a wahine shredding through a pipe.

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    🔥 6 up · 5 down
  • 20

    Meaning: When a surfer loses board control and ithits their groin.

    Use It In A Sentence: Brah took a rail bang after that wave. Ouch!

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  • 21

    Meaning:An an exclamation of surprise, especially when a good wave or anything cool appears.

    Use It In A Sentence:Akaw! Check that backwash!

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    🔥 6 up · 8 down
  • 22

    Meaning:This cheeky term names a male surferriding nude.

    Use It In A Sentence: Forget skinny dipping; hanging eleven is the way to go.

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    🔥 5 up · 7 down
  • 23

    Meaning:The nickname for video footageof someone surfing. This comes from the shore or, via GoPro cameras, inside the pipe.

    Use It In A Sentence:Did you see that righteous footy of Bodie making the drop?

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    🔥 4 up · 7 down
  • 24

    Meaning:A severe case of awipeout. It comes from “muller,” an tool used to grind things on stone.

    Use It In A Sentence: That wasn’t just any wipeout; that was a mullering.

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    🔥 2 up · 7 down
  • 25

    Meaning:A shubie wears surf clothes and might own a board butdoes not surf.

    Use It In A Sentence:Shubies might shop at Pac Sun, but that does not mean they surf.

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    🔥 1 up · 7 down

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