Surfer Sayings

Each little epoch in time has its own lingo. The 1960’s Southern California surfing scene certainly had its own as well. I have delved back in time some half century ago and present you with a little lexicon of the day.

Okay Guys,

This is my own collection of 50 semi-surfer phrases from 1963-1968 that I think we (Geezers of the Waves) might all remember. Please let me know if you do remember these and feel free to pass along your own!

1. Bitchin’
2. Your ass is grass and your butt’s dicondra!
3. Gremlins.
4. Hodads.
5. Greasers.
6. “all in”
7. “curled-up”
8. Outside!
9. Shark!
10. The Pyramid (See Photo Above).
11. Tube steak.
12. Socias. (the socials, cheer leaders, dweebs, etc.)
13. Foam sandwich.
14. Gene, Gene made the machine…. (and the other 8 verses).
15. Murph the Surf.
16. Sports Nights.
17. Digging a rail.
18. Chonnas (Boxer shorts worn as swim trunks)
19. Beaver flap wet suits.
20. Jacobs, Velzey, Con, Bing, Morey Pope, etc.
21. Ding city.
22. Skegs and skanks.
23. Toe banging sea urchins.
24. Bottom turn.
25. Goofy foot.
26. Reef break, point break, beach break.
27. Pearled.
28. Sand sandwich.
29. Nose ride.
30. Gas Money. (As I recall, 25-50 cents apiece got us to Rincon and back at 25 cents a gallon.)
31. The quasimoto.
32. Stretch 5.
33. Endless Summer.
34. Knee paddling.
35. Shooting the pier.
36. Bite the big one!
37. Bite the weenie!
38. Carded.
39. B.A.’s
40. Chinese fire drill.
41. Jap out on gas money. (sorry, it was the 60s.)
42. Glassy.
43. Blown out.
44. Polio ponds at Malibu.
45. Comin’ down!
46. The 360.
47. Hey Jack, put the beer cases in the wagon! 
48. The 5, 10, reverse pullout. (courtesy of yours truly)

49. The rock dance.

50. North shore, south shore, onshore, offshore.

If you were surfing in Southern California at the time (and are still alive to prove it), please feel free to add your own here on this site. Thanks!

Please follow this blog by clicking  follow below. Your comments are always welcome.

Read author Allen E. Rizzi’s latest books available at Amazon.com