While You're Here...
-Articles
dahaole Dictionary
Don't be a wandering barney. If you really want to surf, you need to know the language. The dahaole dictionary is all you need to be a little less out of place. Face it haole, this isn't the kind of foxy attention you're looking for.
Terms for Preventive Annoyance
A] Air, Aloe B] Barney, Barreled, Beach Towel, Beanie, Big Brimmed Hat, Binoculars, Blown Out, Board, Board Bag, Board Shorts, Board Wax, Booties, Bradduh, Brah, Bug Bite Medicine C] Caught Inside, Cell Phone, Close Out, Cloud Break, Coffin, Cold Water Wax, Cut Back D] Dahaole, Ding, Ding Repair, Ding Repair Kit, Duck Dive, Dropping In, Diving Knife, Dude E] Extra Leash F] FCS Fin System, First Aid Kit, Fish, Flat, Floater, Fun Shape G] Going Left, Going Right, Green Room, Ground Swell, Gun H] Hang Ten I] Impact Zone, Interval K] Kook L] Leash, Leash Strings, Left, Line Up, Localism, Long Board M] Mosquito Netting, Mushes Out N] Nectar, Nose, Nose Rider, Nose Riding O] Outside P] Passport, Peak, Pocket, Plug R] Racks, Rash Guard, Reef Shoes, Re-Entry, Reform, Rhino Chaser, Right, Rip Current, Rips, River mouth S] Set, Set Wave, Shaper, Shaping, Short Board, Shoulder, Sistah, Snaked, Snorkel and Mask, Sock, Soft Racks, Stalls, Stick, Straps, Sun Block, Surfboard, Surf Break, Surf Etiquette, Surf Reports, Surf Sesh, Surf's Up, Swell T] Tropical Wax, Try Look, Tubed, Tube Ride, Turtle Roll U] Uggs W] Wall Up, Warm Water Wax, Washing Machine, Wave Count, Wax Scraper, Wax Comb, Wetsuit, What's the happs?... Y] Yellowing
Air: Launching oneself above the wave, "getting air".
Aloe: General term given to lotion or material derived naturally from a tropical plant used to combat reef scars and sun exposure.
Barney: 1. Almost interchangeable with Kook. Term invented in the cult classic movie, "North Shore", that became part of the surfer lexicon. Means "haole to the max", super tourist, dilettante. 2. Reknown Santa Cruz surfer, Shawn "Barney" Barron, a member of the Mavericks Crew.
Barreled: The art of being tubed or surfing inside the curl of the wave.
Beach towel: Used to dry off after a surf or wrap around ones body while putting on or taking off a wetsuit.
Beanie: A knit hat or Snowboard hat used by surfers in cold environments or to attain warmth after a surf session.
Big Brimmed Hat: A hat used by surfers in tropical environments to shield ones head, face and shoulders from blistering heat.
Binoculars: Optical magnification tool used to locate; fellow surfers in the line up, eye candy, and/or to locate good waves/peaks from a distance.
Blown Out: An oceanic condition during which waves are unsuitable for surfing. This condition is due to excessive wind that "blows" out the wave - think birthday cake.
Board: An abbreviated or more widely accepted way of saying surfboard by the surfing community.
Board Bag: Used to protect and/or carry surf boards from potential damage (dings) and may also reduce the potential of wax melting all over other gear or the roof top of the car. Board bags are also known to reduce the potential for surfboard “yellowing.”
Board Shorts: Trunks, shorts used by surfers. Board shorts are often made with a longer inseam to keep wax from ripping off leg hair.
Board Wax: Refers to the material used to enhance the grip a surfer has on the surfboard. Applied to the top of the surfboard at appropriate locations.
Booties: A loathed term by surfers used by many surf industry freaks to describe boots worn by surfers in cold water. A more appropriate term is “Surf Boots.”
Bradduh: Phonetic Pidgin term for "brother". Term generally used in lieu of a formal name towards a fellow surfer or dude. Frequently shortened to "brah". Synonymous with similar slang terms like "bro" and "bud." Spellings vary, but the meaning is the same. So what do you call a chick? See "sistah"
Brah: Phonetic Pidgin term for "brother". See "bradduh"
Bug Bite Medicine: A term for ointment used to alleviate to pain and itching associated with Bug Bites which are sometimes an inherent part a surf trip to Tropical locations.
Caught Inside: A situation in which a surfer is trapped against incoming waves and outgoing currents and is getting pounded by detonations in the impact zone. Very dangerous.
Cell Phone: A communication device that is sometimes viewed with great disdain by surfers especially if it is used to notify other surfers of good conditions at a particular surf break.
Close Out: When a wave does not peel and sections of the wave break off and reduce riding time. During a Closeout the surfer does not have a shoulder (of the wave) to ride on. Beach Breaks, especially with sand bottoms, are notorious for close outs.
Cloud Break: Often thought of in a mystical way, this term refers to a surf break in the distance. Typically a cloud break is thought to be a large break typically off a remote South Pacific island or chain of islands which tends to exist on a relatively shallow reef a great distance from the island.
Coffin: A piece of equipment used to transport a surfboard or more often several surfboards. Coffins are essential when traveling internationally or whenever traveling by Airplane.
Cold Water Wax: Wax used in colder water and is generally softer and more pliable for cold conditions. It is generally less prone to brittleness.
Cut Back: Going to the top of the wave and performing a quick turn using momentum and body weight (often resulting in a large spay of water from the bottom of the board) and returning to the pocket.
Dahaole: Tired of being pushed around and racially profiled, a group of friends got together and decided to create and organization (Dahaole) that promoted surfing for what it should be…a fun experience. The dahaole mindset encourages: a fun and safe environment in the water, not one which results in fights or black balling certain individuals. No one owns the surf, a particular break, or the ocean. The ocean is public domain.
Ding: A dent, stress fracture, hole, etc. in a surfboard. Often caused by dropping a surfboard onto bituminous concrete pavement, bumping the surfboard into a doorway or over tightening the surfboard on to a car rooftop board rack.
Ding Repair: The art of fixing damaged surfboards.
Ding Repair Kit: A kit containing items used to fix dings (Fiberglass resin, wooden stick, fiberglass cloth, etc.).
Duck Dive: Using ones body weight to push the surfboard down under an oncoming wave or whitewater with the purpose of going underneath most of the waves force (forward motion) and resurfacing on the other or backside of the wave. If done correctly, the surfer can escape the wrath of the wave, use the board's buoyancy to pull ones body through the wave and reduce the distance the wave can potentially pull the body back towards shore.
Dropping in: Refers to an etiquette infraction. “Dropping in” is when one surfer takes off on a wave that someone else is already riding. Or “Dropping in” occurs when someone is taking off at the peak of the wave and another surfer moves into the path of a surfer or potential path of another surfer. Dropping in is a reckless maneuver and can lead to injury. This is probably the most dangerous surfing maneuver. It can lead to fights and ridicule by other surfers.
Diving Knife: A tool legendary Kook Fred Reardon began using as a security blanket in 2002 to reduce the potential fear generated by predators (Whitey) in the ocean. It is not a tool recommended for dealing with localism.
Dude: Typically a term of endearment towards a fellow surfer. Although it is sometimes used to poke fun of surfing in general and surfers.
Extra leash: Phrase used to describe the necessity of having an extra leash in case one breaks or if a surfer is on a trip and should have an extra.
FCS Fin System: Most widely used detachable fin system. An Allen Wrench is used for installing and removing the fin system. There are many type of fin systems. Fin systems are great for travel because removing fins when traveling reduces space requirements, potential damage to the fins, boards or other gear. The fins can also be changed out and larger or smaller fins can be used for varying surf conditions.
First Aid Kit: An essential weapon/tool in any surfer’s arsenal. Isoprophol Alcohol, Ear Medicine, Bandages, tourniquet, medical tape, etc. are necessary for potential accidents.
Fish: A surfboard popular in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s that is again popular today. The inherent features of a “Fish” are short length 5’ 0” to 6’ 6” +/-, Swallow Tail, larger width, shovel or more of a full nose and sometimes channels or groves on the bottom. The fish is often fun in small to medium surf and often powerless surf.
Flat: No waves or surf to speak of.
Floater: Surfing on top of a breaking wave or closeout. Floaters can result in gaining speed and momentum which can propel a surfer into a section of the wave farther down the line or simply a dramatic end to a ride on a wave that is closing out.
Fun Shape: A good Beginner transition board from a Long Board to a short board. Good for surfers who are learning to turn the board with body weight and momentum. This is also a good board for poor surf conditions when wave count is desirable.
Going Left: Expression used by a surfer, usually yelled or spoken allowed, when there is a need to establish with other fellow surfers (for safety or etiquette purposes) the direction a surfer intends to go or surf. Going Left means that the Surfer is going to his or her immediate Left.
Going Right: Expression used by a surfer, usually yelled or spoken allowed, when there is a need to establish with other fellow surfers (for safety or etiquette purposes) the direction a surfer intends to go or surf. Going Right means that the Surfer is going to his or her immediate Right.
Green Room: The term refers to being in an elated state resulting from being inside a tube. The translucent light emitting nature of the “Green Room” is described by most individuals who have experienced it as the ultimate euphoric state in surfing. Once a surfer has experienced the green room, he or she knows the meaning of “time standing still.”
Ground Swell: Waves traveling a long distance at large intervals from a storm (or volcano, Typhoon, or Tsunami) also a great distance away. Ground swell waves are typically very desirable because of their power, size and time between sets.
Gun: A surfboard used in big waves. Designed to maximize speed and the surfer’s ability to catch larger waves. This surfboard is long, narrow and pointed in nature. (Also known as a Rhino Chaser.)
[H]
Hang Ten: Occurs when nose riding on a longboard and the surfer “Hangs Ten Toes over the nose (front) of the surfboard.
Impact Zone: The area where waves detonate or physically break.
Interval: Time between waves or sets.
Kook: The kook trademark is paranoia and grandiosity. Kooks will often build up elaborate imaginary support structures, exaggerated abilities and the like. As it relates to surfing, the Kook is typically a poor surfer and talks a “Big Game.” Kooks act as though they know everything there is to know about surfing and yet they are horrible surfers. The Kook typically knows all the surf slang but knows little about surf etiquette and how to actually surf. The term is often used inappropriately to describe beginner surfers.
Leash: A cord that attaches to the board and the surfer’s ankle to keep the surfer from swimming a half mile to retrieve a lost board. It can also act as a safety device in that it will keep the board from being swept into someone’s head. It is always a good idea to hold on to ones board weather the board has a leash attached or not. A surfboard can act like a 20’ radius pendulum when it is loose.
Leash strings: A string used to tie a leash on to a surf board.
Left: Refers to the direction a surfer is riding a wave. It is based on the surfer’s left hand direction and not the direction of an observer from the beach.
Line up: Refers to the way surfers are congregated at a surf break. Surfers may be lined up and in position to catch waves at the peak, on the inside or on the outside in an attempt to catch larger set waves.
Localism: A horrific type of mindset. Localism refers to those who are under the false impression that they and they alone are entitled to surf at a certain location. Recent legal decisions have resulted in individuals practicing localism going to jail and/or paying heavy fines.
Long Board: A long surfboard. Typically 9’ +/-. Great for small waves or big mushy waves. Longboarding is an art in itself and many surfers prefer to Longboard no matter what the conditions.
Mosquito Netting: A device used on surf trips to tropical destinations that have mosquitoes, scorpions or other biting or stinging insects.
Mushes out: When a wave hits deeper water and stalls or loses its speed, steepness or ability to break.
Nectar: Term used to describe tasty/great waves or a fantastic surf session (“it was nectar”).
Nose: Front end of the surfboard
Nose Rider: A longboard that is a little longer a fuller than the typical longboard (10’ to 10’ – 6”). The Nose Rider is about 23” at the nose and is great for enabling the surfer to walk up and down the board in an “old school” fashion.
Nose Riding: A specialized form of long boarding in which the surfer rides on the very front of the board. Many consider this event the closest a surfer comes to feeling like flying. Certain longboards are specifically designed for nose riding and they may include channels, wider and thicker dimensions and a recessed area near the nose for lift.
Outside: Use to describe a large wave or set of waves approaching the line up or impact zone.
Passport: Used to get through customs and checkpoints in order to gain access to global surf nectar.
Peak: The top of the Wave or the point where the water making up the wave is at the highest elevation. Typically this is the best take off point when attempting to surf a wave. Often times at a reef break, the peak may support a “Right” or a “Left” ride on the wave.
Pocket: Refers to the surfer’s position on the wave. The pocket is the area in front of the white water which has not broken yet. It provides the most power for the surfer to maintain forward progress, a steep grade, and speed. Surfers may leave the pocket to do tricks (i.e. floater or cut back) but typically return to the pocket to maintain forward progress.
Plug: A device inserted into a surfboard during the fabrication or shaping process. It possesses a small bar to which a leash is tied.
Racks: Equipment used to carry surfboards on top of a vehicle.
Rash Guard: A piece of garb used to protect the body from rashes caused by wax or a wetsuit. Rash guards are also used to protect the body from ultraviolet rays especially in tropical locations.
Reef shoes: Low cut rubber shoes worn to protect a surfer’s feet from sharp reef, barnacles on rocks, volcanic rock, sea urchins, poisonous fish or snakes, etc. in certain locations.
Re-Entry: Re-entering or re-gaining the proper position on a wave after getting air, doing a floater or when a wave reforms, walls up and breathes new life into itself because of a change in bottom conditions.
Reform: When a wave appears to have dissipated but again rises, typically because it moves over a shallow area.
Rhino Chaser: Another word for “Gun” or big wave board. Alluding to chasing Rhinos or big waves.
Right: Refers to the direction a surfer is riding a wave. It is based on the surfer’s right hand direction and not the direction of an observer from the beach.
Rip Current: A potentially dangerous underwater ditch or trough which, because of gravity, pulls water into the lower elevation area. The water is then sucked out, swiftly and perpendicular to the beach, towards deeper water. Rip currents can be dangerous to inexperienced swimmers or surfers. A rip current coupled with a strong North or South Current can result in only a single escape route which is with the current (North or South) and away from the rip current. Skilled Surfers, however use rip currents to get out into the line up or impact zone quickly. Upon arriving at a beach break, for instance, an experienced surfer will look for a “rip” or channel to use to quickly get out to the break.
Rips: Describes a surfer who surfs really well or “rips” up the waves.
River mouth: A surf break which forms at the mouth of a river. These types of breaks are subject (in quality) to shifting sands at the bottom.
Set: A series of larger waves that appear in intervals and often occur after some period of waiting “between sets.”
Set Wave: Typically the largest or best wave of the set.
Shaper: A surfboard maker. Often times this individual has Artistic abilities or
qualities.
Shaping: Refers to the art of making surfboards.
Short Board: A smaller board used for high performance surfing which consists of carving, cut backs, snappy turns, air, speed, tube rides, etc.
Shoulder: Similar to “Pocket.”
Sistah: Phonetic Pidgin for "sister." Colloquial term for chick friend, surfer girl, female acquaintance. Spellings vary, but the meaning's the same: girl. For boys, see "bradduh"
Snaked: A term relating to the following situation: When a surfer paddles from (sometimes a great distance) a location which is out of position to catch a wave to the close proximity of a surfer who is in perfect position to catch the wave. Subsequently the rude surfer takes off on the wave or steals the wave from the surfer who is or was in perfect position to catch the wave. Snaking is poor surf etiquette.
Snorkel and mask: Used as an activity when on a surf trip and there is a flat period.
Sock: A piece of fabric or canvas that slips over a board to provide protection from dings. The sock typically has a draw string to cinch it closed.
Soft Racks: Temporary devices affixed to the top of a vehicle, via rain gutters, to create an environment which accommodates surfboard attachment.
Stalls: When a wave hits a deep water area and loses its shape.
Stick: Another word for surfboard.
Straps: Equipment used for attaching boards to a vehicle or vehicle roof racks.
Sun Block: Used to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays. Waterproof sunblock at high UV protection is often used by surfers during all surf sessions.
Surfboard: Having one of these helps enhance the surfing experience.
Surf Break: And area which exhibits qualities that make for a fun surfing experience. Well shaped waves, clean water, beautiful surroundings, not too crowded, no predators, no ice, and good people/friends are some of the inherent qualities.
Surf Etiquette: Written and unwritten rules of surfing. Individuals that surf expect other surfers to be mindful of surf etiquette. Examples are: knowing who has the right of way, not paddling several yards over to “snake” or steal someone else’s wave.
Surf Reports: Published documents outlining the conditions and locations of surf breaks. Often it is the case that these documents provide detailed directions, travel information, local information, water conditions, etc.
Surf Sesh: An expression describing a surfing experience/session.
Surf’s up: The wave’s size is up. A swell is upon the coast. Time to paddle out.
Swell: Typically a description of the coastal conditions which means it is favorable for surfing and possibly there is a storm causing waves.
Tropical wax: Wax used in tropical water conditions and is generally harder and less prone to melting.
Try Look: Modified pidgin colloquialism for "May I direct your attention to..."
Tubed: The art of being barreled or surfing inside the curl of the wave.
Tube Ride: A type of ride on a board involving getting tubed or barreled at some point in the ride.
Turtle Roll: Similar to a duck dive only normally performed with a long board since it is quite difficult to duck dive a long board. The maneuver is usually completed by a surfer who rolls to her or his back just before impacting the wave. The surfer uses the board’s buoyancy to pull her or he through the wave and at the last split second uses the water’s force to pull her or him back on to the top of the wave. The Turtle Roll can greatly reduce the wave’s ability to drag the surfer closer to shore when paddling back the line up or impact zone.
Uggs: Boots worn by the surfing community directly after surfing because of the quick warmth provided to the feet after a surf session.
Wall up: This condition occurs when a wave hits a shallow area and the wave jacks up.
Warm Water Wax: Wax used in warmer water and is generally harder and less prone to melting.
Washing Machine: Description associated with messy, poor surfing conditions.
Wave Count: Refers to surfer’s ability to score many rides.
Wax Scraper: An implement used to scrape old nasty wax off a surfboard before the application of new fresh wax.
Wax Comb: Usually on the opposite side of a “Wax Scraper”, this tool is used to create a tacky grid like environment within the wax on the top of the surfboard. The wax combing technique will result in an excellent grip for the surfer’s feet and hands.
Wetsuit: Gear used to provide warmth when surfing in cold water.
What’s the happs? Eh, Brah? Who, What? What happened? How you go, bradduh?: Various salutation greetings from one surfer to another.
Yellowing: Condition referred to when a surfboard is left out in the sun for extended periods of time. It is believed that the ultraviolet rays cause the board to deteriorate and become yellow.
Got something to add? Then let your dahaole bruddahs and sistahs know. If you think something needs to be corrected or better defined, let us know - after all, we're dahaoles too.
Send an e.mail that lists your term, region of relevance, and meaning and we'll give it a kook run.