General
choppy
What does choppy mean?
Waves with rough, uneven surfaces caused by cross winds, making for a bumpy ride.
"It was too choppy to get a clean line on any wave."
Origin
General water term adopted by surfers for wind-roughened seas.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'choppy' mean in surfing?
It describes rough, bumpy wave surfaces churned up by wind, which make for a jarring, uneven ride instead of a clean line.
What's the difference between choppy and blown out?
Choppy is a general term for a bumpy, wind-roughened surface; blown out is the more extreme state where the wind has fully wrecked the waves.
Is 'choppy' only a surf word?
No — 'choppy' is a general term for rough water, but surfers use it constantly to describe poor, wind-affected conditions.
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