Surfing is a culture. Like any other culture, surfing can seem to have its own language. If you’ve spent any time at the beach or hanging out in the local surf shop, we’re sure you’ve already picked up on some of that lingo. But that doesn’t mean you’re not still left scratching your head at what someone has just said to you. To help, we’ve put together some of the best slang, phrases, and surfer dude quotes that define the surfing culture.
Slang
We could fill pages with the amount of surf slang that is used, but here are some that you will commonly hear on just about every beach.
1. Dude: The word “dude,” meaning any male person, wasn’t invented by surfers, and is a common word in many English-speaking countries. However, it is a word used most often in the surfing culture today.
2. Dudette: “Dudette” is another word that isn’t exclusively used by surfers but is a very common term in the language.It can be used as the feminine version of dude and to describe a woman who is tough or capable.
3. Kook: Most commonly used to describe a new or inexperienced surfer, the term “kook” is also used by surfers to describe someone who tries too hard to look cool while surfing or someone who does not follow the basic surfing rules.
4. Log: This is a slang word used to describe a longboard.
5. Billabong: Most of us would recognize “billabong” as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of surf gear and clothing, but it is also a term used by Australian surfers to describe their local watering hole.
6. Cowabunga: While the term “cowabunga” has lost some of its lusters when compared to the surf culture of the 1960s, it is still used today when surfers are catching a big wave.
7. Gnarly: The word “gnarly” is used to describe particularly rough conditions or a nasty wipeout.
8. Hang Ten: When you are “hanging ten,” you are riding your board with both of your feet directly on the front of the board.
9. Landlord: If you’re catching a wave and you hear someone shout the term “landlord,” it’s time to get out of the water. This is surf slang for a shark, the landlord of the ocean.
10. Licked: “Licked” is a slang word that means not only wiping out, but also getting hit by the wave in the process.
Read next – What to do if a shark approaches you while surfing
Phrases
Not all slang in surf lingo isa single word. Here are some of our favorite phrases.
1. You Should Have Been Here Yesterday: This is a phrase that you will often hear on days where the conditions are less than ideal. Surfers will say this to imply that the surfing was better the day or days before.
2. I’mStoked: The phrase “I’m stoked” is used to show excitement and exhilaration. It has moved from surf culture to mainstream in recent years.
3. It Was Killer: Another surf term that has moved into the mainstream, “It was killer”is a term used to describe something exciting or impressive.
4. He/She Rips:“He or she rips” is a term used to describe an experienced surfer who moves with quickness and precision.
5. Surfing Has Lost Its Soul: Surfing is a sport that is rich in history, culture, and spirituality. “Surfing has lost its soul” is a phrase that you might hear some old-school surfers use to show their displeasure in the fact the sport has become more commercialized over the years.
Surfer Dude Quotes
As with any culture, surfing comes with some great quotes that have been said over the years. These are some of the funniest and most notable.
1. “Sand in my shower means I had a good day.” – Unknown
2. “It’s like the mafia. Once you’re in, you can’t get out.”– Kelly Slater
3. “Waves are not measured in feet and inches; they are measured in increments of fear.” – Buzzy Trent
4. “Surf girls rip, and they are hot.”– Alana Blanchard
5. “My passion for surfing was more than my fear of sharks.”- Bethany Hamilton
6. “Wiping out is an underappreciated skill.” – Laird Hamilton
7. “Surfing in crowds is mind over matter. If I don’t mind, it don’t matter.” – Brodus Rogers
8. “The three most important things in life: surf, surf, surf.” – Jack O’Neil
9. “Surfing is very much like making love. It always feels good, no matter how many times you’ve done it.” – Paul Strauch
10. “There are a million ways to surf – as long as you’re smiling, you’re doing it right.” – Unknown