Rip Current
A rip current is a strong channel of water moving from the shore back out to sea. Surfers use it like a free express elevator to get out to the waves without burning out their arms.
How to use it
"Jump in that rip current near the pier if you want a fast ride out to the lineup."
Related surf words
- Barrel
A wave that curls over you as it breaks, forming a spinning tube of water you can ride inside. Also called a tube.
- Pop Up
The move where you go from lying on your board to standing, all in one motion. The single most practiced thing in surfing.
- Leash
The cord that attaches your ankle to your board so it doesn't swim to Portugal without you.
- Wax
The sticky stuff you rub on your board so your feet actually grip it. Different water temperatures use different wax.
- Lineup
The spot in the water where surfers wait for waves, just beyond where they break. Think of it as the surf world's waiting room, but wetter.
Now that you speak surf