Surfing in South Florida

Surfing: The sport of riding on the crest or along the tunnel of a wave, especially while standing or lying on a surfboard. Also called surfboarding.

Surfing Lingo

Crest: The top of a wave, also the lip

Curl: Section of the wave face that curls over, right before it breaks. Surfers try to stay as close to the curl as possible. It’s the most powerful part of the wave.

Groundswell: Waves that were generated from storms that were way offshore. These waves have traveled a greater distance to reach the shore than windswell waves, and are generally thicker, more powerful waves.

Grubbing: Same as wiping out: to fall off the board while surfing

Hang Ten: Have all ten toes on the front (nose) of the board

Impact Zone: Where the waves first break

Lip: The top part where a wave is starting to break

Ollie: Get air by hopping the board and lifting the front of the board

Point Break: An area where readable waves form around a piece of land or obstruction jutting out from the mainland, or a break forming around an island

Ripping: Making any series of fast-action surf moves while riding a wave; also to surf at peak performance

Shredding: Aggressive surfing

Swell: A group of waves coming onshore that were originally formed in deep waters by wind; also used to describe waves coming from a storm

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