Surfing Dictionary I-L

L
La Nina
A cooling of the ocean surface off the western coast of South America. The opposite of El Nino. Surfing A-Z

Laminate
The first coat of resin applied to a shaped surfboard blank. Laminating resin is used to soak the fiberglass cloth and seal it to the blank; the resin hardens securely, but leaves a sticky residue on its surface, requiring the application of the hotcoat.

Leash Plug
A small plug with a crosswise metal or plastic bar used to attach a leash to a surfboard, usually inserted in the deck near the tail of the board.

Latitude
The distance north or south of the Equator, as measured in degrees along a line or meridian. Each degree of latitude equals 60 nautical miles at that specific location. The combination of latitude and longitude measurements is used to accurately specify an exact location on the surface of the earth. See longitude.

Layback
A maneuver where the surfer leans back off his/her board, usually either in the barrel, or during a cutback. Surfing A-Z

Leash
The urethane cord used to attach the surfer to a surfboard or bodyboard. Also called leg rope. Surfing A-Z

Left
A wave breaking towards the left from the vantage of a surfer riding the wave. From a beach viewpoint, a wave breaking toward the right as the onlooker is facing the ocean.

Length
A term describing the surfboard's dimension from nose to tail along the stringer.

Line-up
The area where surfers sit waiting for waves. Generally just outside of the break line or impact zone. The line-up may vary depending on the size of the waves and will move with the tides and currents. Surfers in the line-up can also use a marker on the beach, or points of land, to create bearings so they can maintain their position in the line-up.

Lined up
Waves or swells with long crests, either in deep water or as they break. If they waves are too lined up they will close out. Perfect waves at point breaks are very lined up but still break from one direction toward the other so surfers can still surf through the entire wave. Sometimes called "mostly walled" in surf reports.

Lined up peaks
When a combination of swells merge to create long peaks with long lined up rights and lefts. Different from "peaky lines" which are usually dominant in one direction or the other. Peaks offer much shorter rides.

Lines
The swells approaching the shore before they break. Also refers to the track a surfer takes on a wave.

Lip
The part of a wave that pitches out from the top as the wave begins to break. This is where most of the moving power of a wave is located. This is also the part of the wave to avoid if you're paddling out.

Locals
Long time regulars at a particular surf spot or area. Locals may or may not live at or near the spot, but their regular surfing means they are accepted as particularly knowledgeable or experienced by the local surfing community. Locals can be very protective of their surf spot and outsiders need to be very aware to the fact that they are visitors.

Locked in
A '60's term for when a surfer is tubed on a wave, or rides in the barrel. A surfer does this by pulling into the hollow part of the wave under the lip.

Long period swells
A term used by Surfline surf forecasters to identify swells with swell periods over 16 seconds between successive waves. These swells are able to wrap into many protected areas because the swell energy extends much deeper below the ocean surface and interacts much more with the ocean floor. They are also able to grow much more during the transition from deep water to shallow water, contrary to short period swells under 15 seconds, which wrap and grow very little during the transition from deep to shallow water. See also groundswell.

Long wave
Waves with periods greater than 30 seconds. Extremely rare, and the ultimate forerunner.

Longboard
A surfboard distinctly longer and broader at the nose and tail than a conventional "short" board; usually over nine feet in length and 22" or more in width, often with a rounded nose, based on surfboard designs pre-1968. Longboards were replaced by shorter boards in the late 60's but became more popular again in the late 80's and 90's. Longboards are great for learning because they are more stable, float better, and catch waves more easily. Surfing A-Z

Longitude
The distance east or west of the prime meridian, which is located at 0 degrees longitude at Greenwich, England, as measured in degrees along a line or meridian. Each longitude meridian runs in a north-south direction and connects at both the north and south poles. The combination of latitude and longitude measurements is used to accurately specify an exact location on the surface of the earth. Also see latitude.

Lull
A period of time when there is a break in the consistency of the waves.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I
Impact Zone

Spot in the lineup right where the waves are generally breaking. Surfers want to avoid being caught in this area when sitting or paddling out

Inconsistent
A surf condition in which waves don't arrive frequently or predictably, and there are long, uncertain waits between sets.

Inside
The takeoff position on a wave closest to the curl than any other surfer. Also "caught inside": being located inshore of the breaking waves or inside the impact zone or break line.

The takeoff position on a wave closest to the curl than any other surfer. Also "caught inside": being located inshore of the breaking waves or inside the impact zone or break line.

Interval
See swell period.

Isobars
Lines of equal atmospheric pressure on a weather chart. The closer the lines are together, the faster the wind blows within the isobars.

J
Jacking
A wave condition in which a swell rises very quickly as it passes from deeper water to shallow water. A radical shoaling process caused by an extreme variation in water depth as the swell hits the shallow reef or ocean floor. Often creates very hollow and intense waves that appear to grow suddenly in height; thus "jacking up".