General
barrel roll
What does barrel roll mean?
Being rolled and spun by the churning water of a breaking wave after a wipeout; the washing-machine feeling of a hold-down.
"That wave gave me a full barrel roll before it let me up."
Origin
Surf slang for the tumbling 'roll' inside whitewater.
Frequently asked questions
What is a barrel roll in surfing?
It is the tumbling, spinning sensation of being rolled around by the churning water of a breaking wave after a wipeout.
Is a barrel roll the same as riding a barrel?
No. Riding a barrel means riding inside the tube of a wave, whereas a barrel roll is getting tumbled by the whitewater after falling.
What is a hold-down?
A hold-down is being pinned underwater by a wave, and the barrel-roll tumbling is part of that washing-machine feeling.
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