General
shoulder
What does shoulder mean?
The unbroken part of a breaking wave, sloping away from the whitewater, where a surfer can trim and gain speed.
"He raced along the shoulder to stay ahead of the section."
Origin
Descriptive surf term for the 'shoulder' of the wave beside the break.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'shoulder' of a wave?
It's the unbroken, sloping part of the wave ahead of the breaking curl, where a surfer can trim and generate speed to stay ahead of the whitewater.
Why is the shoulder important to surfers?
Riding the shoulder lets you race the wave and keep out in front of the breaking section, which is the essence of a good ride.
What does 'a lot of shoulder' mean?
It means the wave has plenty of open, unbroken face to ride, giving the surfer room to work down the line.
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