Want to know how to speak like a surfer? It’s actually easier than you think. Learn some common surfing terms that every beginner surfer should know and get a jump start on your next surf trip to France.
Do you know the difference between cowabunga and bodacious? Neither do we! But there are some terms to help you speak like a surfer that are actually useful, such as barrel, shorey and dawnie. By learning these common surf terms you’ll be able to talk like a salty dog surfer in no time at all. Become fluent in surfanese and get ready to drop some epic slang at Southwest Surf House with these 10 terms.
1. Wettie
This is the slang term for a wetsuit or neoprene suit. You will need to wear a wetsuit while surfing in France during the colder months but come summer it’s warm enough that you can wear a bikini or boardshorts. Don’t worry about bringing your own wettie to Southwest Surf House either as we have a massive stock of quality suits for you to borrow.
2. Barrel
The most critical part of any wave, the barrel is the name given to the part of the wave where the lip throws out and creates enough space for a surfer to slot themselves within the wave. Getting barrelled is often regarded as the pinnacle of surfing pleasure, the place where time actually feels like it comes to a stop.
3. Shorey
Refers to the zone where waves break onto the shoreline. Hossegor, and in particular La Gravière, are famous for having a shorey that experienced surfers and professionals can ride. For everyone else it is a terrifying mish mash of whitewater and granulated sand breaking in ankle deep water. In short, the shorey is not a place that you want to find yourself if you’re a beginner.
4. Dawnie (early)
A surf session undertaken either at dawn or pre-dawn. Usually in the hope that you can score some waves in solitude before the crowds arrive, however, the bonus is that you will also be able to witness a beautiful sunrise and smell the scent of freshly baked bread as you walk back up the beach after a satisfying start-of-day session. The team here at Southwest Surf House are big fans of the dawnie or early as its otherwise known.
5. Wipeout
The act of falling off your board or being detonated on by a breaking wave. Pretty much any instance in which you are schooled by Mother Nature while surfing.
6. Set (set wave)
A grouping of waves that are larger and more powerful than other waves on a particular day or during a particular swell. These waves often offer the best rides (but not always) and as such people tend to opt for set waves over normal waves.
7. Banks (sandbanks)
The way in which sand settles on the ocean floor is called a bank, which is just the shortened way of saying sandbank. Good banks will be higher at one point and taper towards the beach on both sides to create a main peak plus both a left and right breaking wave.
8. Offshore/onshore
Refers to the direction from which the wind is blowing. Offshore means its blowing from land out towards the sea while onshore is the opposite (from the sea towards the land). Offshore waves are neat and smooth while onshore waves are crumbly and rough.
9. Stoked/Frothing
To be so excited about something or someone that you’re figuratively frothing at the mouth. Can be used to exclaim your keenness for a dawnie or describe the feeling you get from riding a wave all the way to the shorebreak. Just remember to pull off before you hit the sand!
10. Pop up
The motion of going from a lying position to your feet is called a pop up. It is a fundamental skill of surfing. The faster and more fluidly you can pop up, the better your ride will be.
Speak fluent surfanese the next time you’re surfing in France! Book a stay at Southwest Surf House today
