To greet a surfer, use the Shaka sign (extend thumb and pinky, curl middle fingers) with a "Hey" or "Aloha," or simply say "Stoked!", "Swell!", or "Good vibes!", reflecting the relaxed, positive culture of sharing good energy and wave appreciation. A simple nod or "Hello" works too, especially for beginners to show awareness, while saving "Sorry" for accidental mistakes like dropping in.
#33 — Shaka
The universal symbol of "aloha" in the surf world! To make a shaka, extend your pinky and thumb and curl the other fingers in. It's often used as a friendly gesture when greeting or thanking fellow surfers. It's all about good vibes, so throw it up when you're stoked!
The shaka sign, sometimes known as "hang loose" or "hang ten", is a gesture representing "aloha spirit, love and local pride" that is the official hand gesture of Hawaii and is also associated with global surf culture.
“Going off” – “Dude, Brookhurst is going OFF!” This means the waves are good. You could also say, it's “off the richter”, “cranking”, “macking” or “epic”.
47 Surfing Terms To Speak Surf Like a Pro
"Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, Oi, Oi, Oi!" is a popular Australian sports chant, a variation of the British "Oggy, Oggy, Oggy" cheer, used to express national pride and support for Australian teams, with "Ozzy" being slang for "Australian" and "Oi, Oi, Oi" a general interjection for enthusiasm or attention, much like "USA!". The chant involves one group shouting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" and the crowd responding "Oi, Oi, Oi!".
Green room - another word for tube or barrel; Gnarly - awesome; Goofy foot - a surfer who rides waves with his right foot forward; Gremmie - nearly the same as a grommet.
Just "Hang ten, dude," and scream out loud: "So stoked! Gnarly!" Finally, a true classic: "You should have been here yesterday." Also, take a look at the best surfing quotes of all time.
Common surfer slang for a girl includes Wahine (Hawaiian for woman/girl), Betty (an older term for a female surfer), and sometimes Surf Bunny, though modern slang often just uses "surfer" or "girl surfer," with more inclusive terms like Gurfer (girl + surfer) emerging, while less flattering or older terms like Gidget (small female rider) or Barney (beginner) also exist.
The gesture was devised by Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy as a salute for the alien Vulcan species, and is popular within the science fiction fandom and nerd culture. The blessing phrase "live long and prosper" (written by Theodore Sturgeon) is frequently spoken alongside it.
In Hawaii, greetings without the “Hang Loose” greeting and the accompanying Shaka sign are no longer imaginable at all. Hang Loose! The Shaka sign means something like “Stay cool!”, “Everything's okay”, “How are you?” or “Aloha”.
When thinking of a 'two-finger wave' the first notion that comes to the mind is that: your index and middle finger are straight, touching your forehead, while the rest are folded. This is a kind of salute used by the armed forces in different parts of the world, symbolizing honour and fatherland.
Mahalo: A Gracious Expression of Gratitude
Mahalo is a beautiful way to express thanks in the Hawaiian language. It's a recognition of the kindness and effort of others. After a fun surf session, don't forget to say mahalo to your instructors.
Learn who has the right of way on the wave: Furthest out: the surfer that is furthest out or that has been waiting longest. Furthest inside: the closest surfer to the peak of the breaking wave. First to feet: the first to feet or first onto the wave.
“The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.” "One of the greatest things about the sport of surfing is that you need only three things: your body, a surfboard, and a wave." “Surfing is the most blissful experience you can have on this planet, a taste of heaven.” "Surfing is very much like making love.
Cowabunga is an interjection that expresses excitement or exhilaration, like when catching a big wave while surfing or while performing skateboarding tricks. Shouting cowabunga is roughly equivalent to shouting woo-hoo or something similar. Cowabunga is a US slang expression that is used less often these days.
The name is often used to describe a person, a situation, or something that is simultaneously exciting or cool, dangerous or challenging, and even bad or gross. However, within the surfing community, the adjective is mostly used to highlight a big wave, rough closeouts, or an extreme surf stunt.
Examples from Collins dictionaries
I'm going to buy a surfboard and learn to surf. I'm going to be surfing bigger waves when I get to Australia! No one knows how many people currently surf the Net.
Surfer girls are connected to nature.
This means they have perspective and respect for the elements. Understanding the majesty and inexorable power of the ocean makes a person humble, even if they don't show it. The beach is a playground and surfer girls love it as much as anyone.
DON'T BE A “BARNEY” For anyone new to the surfing world, it's worth getting in some practice or a few lessons before you join the pros. This is because you don't want to be called a “Barney” aka someone who's not cool or is untalented. By knowing the lingo, no one can talk behind your back without you realizing, right?
"hang ten" is a nickname for any of several maneuvers used in sports, especially surfing, wherein all ten toes or fingers are used to accomplish the maneuver. surfing: the surfer stands and hangs all their toes over the nose of the board.
The most Australian thing to say often involves casual abbreviations, laid-back optimism like "She'll be right" or "No worries," and unique slang for everyday items, such as "Arvo" (afternoon) or "Barbie" (barbecue), often delivered with "mate," making phrases like "G'day, mate, chuck us a coldie at the barbie this arvo?" quintessentially Aussie.
Another classic case of Australians shortening everything. Meaning 'thank you', ta is usually used for the times when you are in a rush or want to send a quick text to show your appreciation for something.
According to Stephen Alomes, a professor of Australian studies at Deakin University, the chant represents "enthusiasm for the tribe" and a "celebration of 'us' ", but at the extreme may act as a symbol of aggressive nationalism and xenophobia.