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Surfing Lingo and Other Basics
from: Maxx Sports GuidesSurfing has been around for a long, long time. The sport was invented by the islanders of Hawaii way back in the late fourteenth century. In the United States, a massive surge in popularity in srfing started during 1960s. Surfing suddenly became "hip" and "in", creating an entire subculture around this fiberglass board. Movies prominently featured the surfing communities, an entire category of music, lead by the Beach Boys, sang of their exploits, and accomplished surfers became fold heros in many beach communities.
If you get down to it, the basics of surfing aren't really complicated. Of course, you start with a beach and some waves, a surfboard, a leash attached to the board si you can retrieve your board if you fall off. To this you might consider adding a wetsuit to keep you warm during long exposures to the water.
It's a good idea to practice standing on the board and getting onto the board before actually hitting the waves. In addition, get acquainted with proper etiquette rules that are best observed when surfing with others in the area. There's nothing worse than being labeled a rude surfer when this can be avoided with some friendly gestures and good advice from an experienced surfer.
Yet there are those who wonder about the lingo that gets thrown about by veteran surfers. Forget about those strange hand signals and handshakes (they're just showmanship); the lingo, on the other hand, is at times quite important for communicating exactly what you need. Some of these terms should be obvious, but others are somewhat odd, and some may be considered downright Byzantine. Here are some examples:
The term "Eddie would go" is often banded about in surfing circles when surfers are daring and double dog daring each other to take on waves regular surfers would never consider tackling. Eddie is that famous surfer and tragic figure Eddie Aikau, who became famous and achieved a stellar reputation in surfing circles around 1975 to 1977. Eddie disappeared in 1978 while he was trying to get help for some shipmates who were hanging on to a capsized boat.
Never give away the locations of great surfing spots that others may entrusted with you in confidence. If you do, you'll have earned the title, "namer" which is basically a way to blame you for all the crowds that might show up at that spot. When you next face your surfing buddies, that is, if they're still talking to you, you might as well wear a scarlet letter on your wetsuit.
"Quimby" is another term you definitely don't want to get attached to your name. This term describes a surfing newbie who's become a pest and etiquette breaker and not a beginner who's truly trying to learn the sport.
If you go on "dawn patrol", you're going surfing in the very early morning well before the sun rises. The advantages should be obvious -- less people.
A serious term anyone heading for the ocean should become familiar with is "rip tide" or "rip." This is a current that heads straight out into the open ocean. Any swimmer caught in a rip tide is going to be carried out to sea and sometimes they drown because they tire themselves out trying to swim against the current -- an futile exercise. If this should happen to you, just hang onto your board and enjoy the ride, or swim with the current while trying to get to its edge so you can simply swim out of its side. Even though you'll be taken out into the ocean, your surf board will help you get back.
The surfing community clearly thrives on its sense of belonging and of course, when you're a novice you'll certainly earn a some ridicule at the beginning. Don't bother trying so hard to fit in, just do your best to respect others people's space, apologize if you should break any etiquette rules, and do your best surfing when you're out there. Never allow the territorial surfers get to you, but rather hang out with surfers who will willing help show you the ropes. Once you've mastered the sport of surfing, be sure to remember your own humble start when a newbie stumbles onto the beach with his brand new, unused, unscratched surfboard!
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