The Revolving Door

We churn and burn. Surf words have a short lifespan. Below is a list of new terms we heard on the Gold Coast (that might even be dead by the time you read ’em). And below that, is a list of terms we’d happily never read or hear again. This is but a snippet. Please, enlighten us with more below (on either side of the fence).

Inbox:

Knuckle. The new term for a wedge or power source of the wave. “It’s just knuckling up, down on the end here,” said CJ Hobgood at North Kirra. Later in the day, Kelly Slater used it again. “There were these thick little knuckles coming wide down the point.”

Creased. An adaptation of the surfboard damage to your body’s damaged physical state. Used by Taj Burrow: “I’m not gonna make it for dinner. I’m creased. I surfed Burleigh for six hours straight.”

Chippy. The name given to a small or wafer-like surfboard, as in chippy. “That board felt chippy,” said Kolohe Andino. “It was too hard to drive and kept spinning out.”

Outbox:

Sleds. Stab’ll be first to admit our over-use of this, but you’ll no longer hear us say “this new sled is very good.”

Humans. Huge on social media. “Lunch with these humans,” “Good time with this human today,” “Good-looking humans.” This sentiment has had its time in the sun, but may we please request its deactivation?

Chip-shot. “I got a little chip shot.” Used to describe a gentle roll-in, this is golf’s influence on surfing at its best (or worst). Next, please.

You guys are clever? What else you got? What terms should we be leading to the dirt?