Surfing Waves

English is not my native language, so it is hard to understand even if it is obvious.

I am taking surf lessons in hawaii this summer and I have been looking around for some terms and idioms used in surf talk. I am pretty happy with what I found on this site cause most of the terms I was not familiar with I found their meanings here, except for some which aren't stated there. I mean, obviously the list here does not cover everything in use in surf talk. anyway I want to thank you for this!

I tried to search these phrases/idioms:

Paddle in
Paddle out
"Rip a(that) paddle" (or something like that, heard someone say it)
"I had position" maybe "to have position" (in surfing context)

What do all the above mean?
Thank you!
if there is a specific section for these question please let me know:)








Can anyone please explain their meaning?

English isn't my first language either but I know two of them.

paddle in = get back to the shore
paddle out = get out in the water

Never heard of the rest.


May I ask my question here as well? There's this question I never know how to answer. (Mostly asked by local Aussie blokes with their drawling accent as they paddle by. ) It's "Got a few/couple?". And every time I'm like "mmm.. I guess.. "

Fair crack of the whip, you guys! It's time for an uncle Jaffa translation service for Jack Mexican spirits in regard to Australia and some general help for firstsurf.
Since you asked first First you get the first answer , the paddle in and paddle out has been answered!

If you stalking orstrine (speaking Australian ) "rip a paddle" means. That was a great paddle, or it could also mean, "there is a rip, so paddle". Arip being a current in the surf running out to sea the return route of the water that came in with the waves.

"I had position" wouldn't be said in Australia, It would be more like I was inside on that one, didn't you look you #^}^+{+*[£€¥n
Both these means I considered myself closer to the curl in taking off so you interfered with my wave.
Read the rules of surfing on this one.

Now Jactequila,
Your question " got a few / couple it is quite common in in a question like this for Australians to drop the words " Did you............. " confusing the phrase have a nice day can be a question in the past tense or pleasantry in the present tense. So don't be tense relax.

Secondly for First, apart for paddle in paddle out much of the language you need to learning in surfing in Hawaii will be different.

One thing wherever there are slightly different rules around the lineup in different surf zones , at least in a surf school you are in a learning environment!
Don't fuss your digit, just have fun.

LOL! No, Jaffa. I mean even if they asked "did you get a few/couple?" or "have you got a few/couple?" I wouldn't still understand.

Is it about waves? (As in "a few/couple of waves".) Why not "got any?" or "got heaps?" (now that's more like Aussie )

What is it about anyway?

Waves or anything else you might be doing.
Qualifications of Jaffa, native speaker, born in the first half of the last century!
Consider yourself lucky they don't speak the way they used to.
No wukkas, suck a tinny and getitinya, have a squizz at any of the Captain Goodvibes cartoons or hookinta Bazza Mckenzie flicks( movies).
Don't let seppo speak get to you this is dinkum .

There are people who still talk like that, even young Australians might be gobsmacked and dumbfounded about this!

Worthy of a WTF?

Bahaha classic! I hear it every day at Cronulla Jaffa. Goin down the bottlo to grab some tinnies..
Might take a smoko later. (don't worry, I don't smoke)

Jak, "got a few/couple?" is like saying, "Hey dude, have you got any bodacious tubes or long walls this sesh" (in seppo speak)

Also common is "gettin some good ones?" A friendly way to suss out how good the surf is on marginal days.

There is a pretty handy glossary of terms here --> https://surfing-waves.com/surf_talk.htm