Basic surf lingo questions

Questions and answers for those needing help or advice when learning to surf, improving technique or just comparing notes.

Basic surf lingo questions

Postby NorCalSurfer » Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:03 pm

ok guys i have surfed for about 5 years now, i am 21 and i love surfing.
i just have some questions about surfing lingo i never hung out with surfers so i do not know too much about all the lingo.
first what is overhead? i assume its the size of the wave but if its triple overhead how is that justified? is it compared to your size?

also what is face? is it just the smooth part of the wave before it breaks into whitewash?

thanks guys and sorry if this is not the right place to post this.

-greg
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Postby SurferFreak15 » Tue Feb 07, 2006 2:32 am

overhead means over your head. Triple overhead is 3ft over your head.

And the face of the wave is the part that you ride on before it breaks.
http://www.surfline.com/surfology/surfology_a2z_index.cfm Heres a website for all the lingo you need.
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Postby surf patrol » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:02 am

I think triple overhead is 3 times as big as you are not 3ft above your head.
Anyone else?

Don't forget to check out Surfing Waves surfing terms section.
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Postby drowningbitbybit » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:37 am

Overhead is surfable, triple overhead isnt :wink:

(For me at least, in the UK) :roll:
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Postby SurferFreak15 » Tue Feb 07, 2006 2:12 pm

surf patrol wrote:I think triple overhead is 3 times as big as you are not 3ft above your head.
Anyone else?

Don't forget to check out Surfing Waves surfing terms section.


If anyone is confused here is the true def.

Overhead
Wave heights that are great than the height of the surfer on the wave. Often used as a measurement scale of waves such as 2 feet overhead, three feet overhead, double overhead, triple overhead. Etc.
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Postby drowningbitbybit » Tue Feb 07, 2006 2:39 pm

So what surf patrol just said then? :roll:
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Postby SurferFreak15 » Tue Feb 07, 2006 5:22 pm

drowningbitbybit wrote:So what surf patrol just said then? :roll:
yeah thats excatly what he sais. I just gave the true definiation.
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Postby NorCalSurfer » Tue Feb 07, 2006 6:07 pm

ok so then 2foot waves over your head is called "2ft over head" twice the size of you is "double overhead" etc etc.. is that right?
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Postby Xr3i_alloys » Tue Feb 07, 2006 6:44 pm

You can't educate pork :roll:
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Postby Driftingalong » Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:08 pm

NorCalSurfer wrote:ok so then 2foot waves over your head is called "2ft over head" twice the size of you is "double overhead" etc etc.. is that right?


You got it!
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