Basic Surf Terms Every Beginner Should Know

Surfing has its own language, and knowing a few key terms will make your first lesson (and the surf talk afterward) a lot easier to follow.

The Basics

• Lineup — the area where surfers wait to catch waves

• Pop-up — the motion of going from lying down to standing on the board

• Whitewash — the foamy, already-broken part of a wave, often used for beginner practice

• Set — a group of waves arriving together

• Lull — the calmer gap between sets

• Duck dive / turtle roll — techniques for getting under or past oncoming waves

• Goofy / regular — which foot you lead with on the board

Why It's Worth Learning

You don't need to memorize a dictionary before your lesson — your instructor will teach you as you go. But knowing a handful of terms in advance helps instructions land faster once you're in the water.

Ready to put these words into action? Book a beginner lesson and hear them explained hands-on, wave by wave.