General
green wave
What does green wave mean?
The unbroken, green (unaerated) part of a wave, the 'real' wave face beginners graduate to riding after the whitewater.
"After a week he finally caught his first green wave."
Origin
Surf term distinguishing the unbroken green face from white foam.
Frequently asked questions
What is a green wave?
It's the unbroken, green part of a wave's face, as opposed to the white foam, and it's the 'real' wave beginners aim to graduate onto.
Why is it called green?
Because the unbroken face is aerated less and appears green, unlike the churned white foam of broken whitewater.
Why is catching a green wave a milestone?
Beginners start in the whitewater, so riding an unbroken green face is a sign of real progress in learning to surf.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
