Rose Garalde
Every sport has its own unique vocabulary, specific terms, jargon and slang. However, surfing is in a league of its own. To someone who is unfamiliar with the said sport, surf lingo can seem like an entirely different language. If you have ever had the chance or overheard two seasoned surfers talk about a swell forecast, you will know exactly what we are talking about.
To be able to speak like a surfer, you need to know the language of surfing. Quite honestly, speaking like a surfer is easier than you might think. All it requires is a quick glance at the list below to grasp the basics of surfing terms and dig right into that conversation. Hereafter, you will finally be able to understand what the competitors are saying in those WSL post-heat interviews, instead of just sitting there and nodding your head.
To help you get started, we have selected some common and useful surfing terms so that you fit right in at the beach next time you go for a ride on the waves.
Wipeout is the act of falling from your surfboard when riding a wave. Novices and beginners who want to speak like a surfer will find themselves very well acquainted with this word.
Akaw, in surfing, means awesome, cool.
A term used by surfers to describe a feeling of excitement or being pumped up.
In surfing, bailing means jumping off your board into the water in order to avoid a bad encounter.
It is the point at which the surfer is cleared out and sinking underneath the surface and their surfboard is weaving here and there connected with them through a leash.
Leggie is the leg rope, lease or the cord that ties your ankle to the tail of the surfboard so it is not washed away into the ocean when you wipeout. It is made of lightweight urethane and is available in varying sizes. The thicker Leggies are for big waves and thinner ones are for the small waves.
Any individual who needs to talk like a surfer should realize that a Cutback is a riding move. Performed by cutting on the open face and bringing the surfboard back around in an arcing movement; to the point that you bounce back off the whitewash. Since a Cutback can be performed on the flattest portion of a wave, it is viewed as one of the principal moves beginners and intermediates will learn.
The demonstration of propelling your board over the lip and getting off the surface of the water is called Punt or Aerial. It is an accomplished move that should just be endeavored by an absolute best surfer. It requires loads of speed and a decent incline from which to launch off.
Pura Vida can also mean "Remaining with Rapture and scoring waves like this in Costa Rica"
Pura Vida is an idea in Costa Rican culture that has now become a lifestyle. It is difficult to characterize, yet local people trust it to be a mentality, a feeling and a sentiment of happiness all folded into one. In the event that you truly need to understand what it is, you could generally join our Costa Rica surf camp and experience it firsthand.
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