Surfing is a popular water sport that involves riding ocean waves on a surfboard. Surfing culture has a unique history and vocabulary that lends itself well to riddles. Here are 87 riddles about surfing beaches to challenge your knowledge of surf lingo and beach trivia.
Surfing Beach Riddles
Riddles about Surf Spots
1. I’m a famous surfing beach in Hawaii with big waves and rocky shallows. What am I?
Answer: Pipeline
2. I’m a surf break in California with a dangerous rip current that only expert surfers can handle. What am I?
Answer: Mavericks
3. I’m a surfing mecca in Australia with great waves and lots of surf shops. What am I?
Answer: Bondi Beach
4. I’m a tropical surf spot in Indonesia with perfect barrels and crystal clear water. What am I?
Answer: G-Land
5. I’m a famous big wave break in Hawaii where surf competitions are held each winter. What am I?
Answer: Waimea Bay
6. I’m a surfing beach in Southern California with nice shape and long rides. What am I?
Answer: San Onofre
7. I’m a legendary surf spot in Hawaii with fast, hollow waves. What am I?
Answer: Banzai Pipeline
8. I’m a surfing beach in Australia where the pros compete each year. What am I?
Answer: Bells Beach
9. I’m a famous California surf spot known for big waves in the winter. What am I?
Answer: Half Moon Bay
10. I’m a surfing beach in Hawaii with fun waves and sea turtles. What am I?
Answer: Laniakea
Riddles about Surfing Conditions
11. I’m not too big and not too small, just perfect for surfing. What am I?
Answer: Fun-sized waves
12. I’m huge waves that only expert surfers dare to ride. What am I?
Answer: Big surf
13. I’m gentle sloping waves ideal for beginners. What am I?
Answer: Crumbly waves
14. I’m when the waves are too small to surf. What am I?
Answer: Flat
15. I’m perfect peelers with long rides. What am I?
Answer: Longboards
16. I’m stormy seas with big messy waves. What am I?
Answer: Sloppy surf
17. I’m smooth glassy conditions. What am I?
Answer: Glassy
18. I’m when there are no waves at all. What am I?
Answer: Lake
19. I’m big waves that break left and right. What am I?
Answer: Beach break
20. I’m surfable but with bumpy choppy texture. What am I?
Answer: Choppy
Riddles about Surfing Gear
21. I’m a surfboard designed for big waves. What am I?
Answer: Gun
22. I’m a thick, buoyant surfboard for beginners. What am I?
Answer: Foamie
23. I’m a surfboard with three fins for control and speed. What am I?
Answer: Thruster
24. I’m a surfboard with one large central fin. What am I?
Answer: Single fin
25. I’m a surfboard that’s longer and thinner for cruising. What am I?
Answer: Longboard
26. I’m a short performance surfboard for maneuvers. What am I?
Answer: Shortboard
27. I’m a rubber suit that keeps you warm in cold water. What am I?
Answer: Wetsuit
28. I’m foot straps that keep you attached to your board. What am I?
Answer: Leash
29. I’m a substance that makes your board sticky. What am I?
Answer: Wax
30. I’m a paddle used to lie down and surf. What am I?
Answer: Paddleboard
Riddles about Surfing Lingo
31. I’m the powerful part of the wave you want to ride. What am I?
Answer: Green room
32. I’m the inside section closest to the curl. What am I?
Answer: The pocket
33. I’m the ideal place to get tube rides or cover-ups. What am I?
Answer: Barrel
34. I’m the unbroken part of the wave ahead of the surfer. What am I?
Answer: Wall
35. I’m the foamy whitewash left behind after the wave breaks. What am I?
Answer: Soup
36. I’m the name for ruined or crumbled waves. What am I?
Answer: Closeout
37. I’m the crest of the wave as it is breaking. What am I?
Answer: Lip
38. I’m the ideal take off spot on the wave. What am I?
Answer: Peak
39. I’m the outside section of the wave below the crest. What am I?
Answer: Face
40. I’m a technique where you ride inside the barrel. What am I?
Answer: Tubing
Riddles about Surfing Rules
41. I’m the surfer with priority on a wave. What am I?
Answer: Inside surfer
42. I’m the surfer taking off behind or below another. What am I?
Answer: Outside surfer
43. I’m the rule that the longest surfer gets right of way. What am I?
Answer: Pecking order
44. I’m the surfer who should yield to others on a wave. Who am I?
Answer: Backside surfer
45. I’m the surfer closest to the curl who has priority. Who am I?
Answer: Deepest surfer
46. I’m the surfer who should kick out rather than ruin a wave. Who am I?
Answer: Snaking surfer
47. I’m the rule that the first surfer has priority. What am I?
Answer: First come, first served
48. I’m the surfer who takes off on steep or critical waves. Who am I?
Answer: Mindless surfer
49. I’m when you show respect for more skilled surfers. What am I?
Answer: Knowing your place
50. I’m the number one rule of surfing etiquette. What am I?
Answer: Don’t drop in
Riddles about the Surfing Lifestyle
51. I’m the feeling of surfing addiction. What am I?
Answer: Surf stoke
52. I’m where surfers gather after catching waves. Where am I?
Answer: Beach bonfire
53. I’m where traveling surfers often stay. What am I?
Answer: Surf hostel
54. I’m the surfer who seems to live at the beach. Who am I?
Answer: Beach bum
55. I’m a surfing nomad traveling the coasts. Who am I?
Answer: Soul surfer
56. I’m the Zen feeling surfers get in the ocean. What am I?
Answer: Surfer’s high
57. I’m a surf trip to find uncrowded waves. What am I?
Answer: Surfari
58. I’m the relaxed surfing way of life. What am I?
Answer: Endless summer
59. I’m a celebration with music and boards. What am I?
Answer: Surf festival
60. I’m a surfing competition or contest. What am I?
Answer: Surf comp
Riddles about Dangers and Injuries
61. I’m sharp coral reef hazards. What am I?
Answer: Cheese graters
62. I’m bruises from getting tossed by waves. What am I?
Answer: Rashguard rash
63. I’m a collision between surfers. What am I?
Answer: Party wave
64. I’m a surf injury to the ear. What am I?
Answer: Surfer’s ear
65. I’m an injury caused by hitting the seafloor. What am I?
Answer: Coral carpet burn
66. I’m debris floating in the ocean that surfers avoid. What am I?
Answer: Flotsam and jetsam
67. I’m dangerous predatory sharks. What am I?
Answer: Man in the grey suit
68. I’m stingrays that bury in the sand. What am I?
Answer: Pancakes
69. I’m a rock shelf hidden beneath waves. What am I?
Answer: Ledge
70. I’m painful wipeouts on shallow reef. What am I?
Answer: Rag doll
Riddles about Surfing Environment
71. I’m the powerful surging sea. What am I?
Answer: Neptune
72. I’m the mighty force making waves. What am I?
Answer: Ocean
73. I’m the rising and falling seas. What am I?
Answer: Swells
74. I’m winds blowing offshore for smooth waves. What am I?
Answer: Glasshoppers
75. I’m winds blowing onshore messing up waves. What am I?
Answer: Wind chop
76. I’m winds blowing at an angle across waves. What am I?
Answer: Sideshore winds
77. I’m winds blowing in the same direction as waves. What am I?
Answer: Side-onshore
78. I’m the rising tide. What am I?
Answer: Flood tide
79. I’m the receding tide. What am I?
Answer: Ebb tide
80. I’m the daily high and low tides. What am I?
Answer: Tidal range
Riddles about Marine Life
81. I’m curious creatures who sometimes steal surfers’ food. What am I?
Answer: Seagulls
82. I’m stingy blobs that ruin sessions. What am I?
Answer: Jellyfish
83. I’m pointy spiny hazards in shallow water. What am I?
Answer: Urchins
84. I’m giant peaceful wave riders. What am I?
Answer: Whales
85. I’m sleek speedy predators of the sea. What am I?
Answer: Dolphins
86. I’m shelled critters clustered on rocks. What am I?
Answer: Mussels
87. I’m colorful fish often seen snacking on reefs. What am I?
Answer: Parrotfish
Conclusion
There are endless riddles to be made about the sights, sounds, and experiences of surfing beaches! From waves and wind conditions to ocean dwellers and surf lingo, there is much to challenge surfers on their knowledge of all things surfing. Getting stumped on a surf riddle is part of the fun – it helps you learn the unique culture and vocabulary surrounding the sport. The next time you paddle out or hang at the beach with fellow surfers, try out some of these surf riddles and see how many your crew can get right!
