Rip
Short for rip current, a channel of water flowing fast back out to sea. Scary if you fight it, easy if you know to swim sideways out of it.
How to use it
"If you're caught in a rip, don't fight it, swim across it."
Related surf words
- Offshore
Wind blowing from the land out to the sea. It grooms waves clean and makes them stand up. Every surfer's favourite forecast word.
- Onshore
Wind blowing from the sea onto the land. It flattens and messes up waves. The forecast word every surfer sighs at.
- Drop In
To take off on a wave that someone already riding has priority on. Big etiquette no. Apologise, don't argue.
- Duck Dive
Pushing your board (and yourself) underwater to slide beneath a breaking wave as you paddle out. Only works on smaller, thinner boards.
- Cutback
A turn that carves you back toward the breaking part of the wave, so you don't outrun the power. Style points optional.
Now that you speak surf