32 surfing quiz questions with answers, from board parts and wave shape to the breaks and names every surfer knows. The full answer key sits at the end.
Every question gives you three options and hides the correct one behind a button, so you can play it honestly and keep score. These surfing quiz questions cover equipment, technique, slang and the famous waves, and the answer key under the scoring table lists all 32 surfing trivia questions and answers in order. Read out loud it makes a full round for a surf club evening, and the slang and equipment questions about surfing are easy enough for beginners to join in.
1. In which US state was modern surfing born?
- A) Hawaii
- B) California
- C) Florida
2. What is the term for the front side of a surfboard?
- A) Nose
- B) Deck
- C) Rail
3. Which surfer is nicknamed “The King”?
- A) Kelly Slater
- B) Laird Hamilton
- C) Duke Kahanamoku
4. Which beach in Australia is synonymous with surfing?
- A) Bondi Beach
- B) Manly Beach
- C) Surfers Paradise
5. What is a “wipeout” in surfing terms?
- A) A big wave
- B) A surfer falling off their board
- C) A surfboard breaking
6. What is a “hang ten” maneuver?
- A) Hanging all ten toes over the nose of the surfboard
- B) A ten-second ride on a wave
- C) A trick with ten rotations
7. In which decade were wetsuits first introduced for surfing?
- A) 1950s
- B) 1960s
- C) 1970s
8. Which technique do surfers use to push through an oncoming wave while paddling out?
- A) Duck dive
- B) Pop up
- C) Cutback
9. What is a “barrel” in surfing terminology?
- A) A type of surfboard
- B) The cylindrical-shaped opening created by a breaking wave
- C) A technique to turn on a wave
10. What is the common term for a beginner surfer?
- A) Kook
- B) Grom
- C) Dude
11. What movie features the iconic line, “Vaya con Dios, Brah”?
- A) Point Break
- B) North Shore
- C) The Endless Summer
12. Which of the following is the oldest type of surfboard?
- A) Longboard
- B) Alaia
- C) Fish
13. Which country is home to the world-famous surfing spot, Uluwatu?
- A) Brazil
- B) Indonesia
- C) South Africa
14.What do surfers rub on the deck of a board for grip?
- A) Wax
- B) Resin
- C) Fibreglass
15. What is the “drop-knee” stance used primarily for?
- A) Big wave surfing
- B) Longboarding
- C) Bodyboarding
16. What is the primary goal of competitive surfing?
- A) To ride the largest wave
- B) To perform the most tricks on a wave
- C) To ride the wave in the most critical part for as long as possible
17. In surfing terms, what is “closing out”?
- A) When the sun sets over the ocean
- B) When a wave breaks all at once, leaving no room for surfing
- C) The end of a surf session
18. Which of the following is NOT a type of surfboard fin?
- A) Twin fin
- B) Quad fin
- C) Hexa fin
19. What does “goofy foot” mean in surfing?
- A) A surfer who is clumsy
- B) A surfer who rides with their right foot forward
- C) A unique surfboard shape
20. What do surfers call the area where waves begin to break?
- A) The greenroom
- B) The lineup
- C) The impact zone
21. What is the surfing term for a young surfer?
- A) Grom
- B) Kook
- C) Barney
22. Who is widely considered the pioneer of big wave surfing?
- A) Eddie Aikau
- B) Greg Noll
- C) Laird Hamilton
23. What is the name of the big wave surf break off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California?
- A) Waimea Bay
- B) Mavericks
- C) Jaws
24. What is the correct term for the flap of rubber under the chin on a wetsuit hood?
- A) Gasket
- B) Grommet
- C) Bib
25. Which of these is NOT a common maneuver in surfing?
- A) Cutback
- B) Aerial
- C) Touchdown
26. In which territory is the Teahupoo reef break, one of the heaviest waves in the world?
- A) French Polynesia
- B) Fiji
- C) Mexico
27. What is the name of the surfboard leash that attaches to a surfer’s ankle?
- A) Sling
- B) Tether
- C) Leg rope
28. What is the name of the famous reef break on the North Shore of Oahu?
- A) Pipeline
- B) Mavericks
- C) Bells Beach
29. Which maneuver involves a surfer riding a wave while standing on their hands?
- A) Handstand
- B) Invert
- C) Head dip
30. What do surfers call the unbroken part of a wave ahead of the whitewater?
- A) The shoulder
- B) The trough
- C) The lip
31. Which big wave event at Waimea Bay is held in memory of a Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer?
- A) The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
- B) Titans of Mavericks
- C) Billabong Pro Teahupoo
32. Which of these surfboard shaping materials has a foam core and a fiberglass outer shell?
- A) Epoxy
- B) Polyester
- C) Fiberglass
Results
| # of Correct Answers | Percentage Range | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0- | 0-49% | Wave WatcherArmchair Athlete | You've got some learning to do, but don't worry, there's always the next game! |
| - | 50-64% | Board BeginnerRookie Runner | Not bad! Keep practicing, and you'll be a sports trivia champ in no time. |
| - | 65-79% | Surf SpecialistMidfield Maestro | Impressive! You're getting closer to the top, keep up the good work. |
| - | 80-94% | Wave RiderAll-Star Striker | Wow, you really know your sports trivia! You're a force to be reckoned with. |
| -32 | 95-100% | Surfing SuperstarLegendary Champion | Unbelievable! You're a true sports trivia master. Your knowledge knows no bounds! |
Surfing Quiz Answers: The Full Answer Key
Every question in this surfing quiz with its correct answer, in the order the questions appear above. Check your score against the table, or use the list as a set of surfing trivia questions and answers for a quiz night of your own.
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In which US state was modern surfing born? | A) Hawaii |
| 2 | What is the term for the front side of a surfboard? | A) Nose |
| 3 | Which surfer is nicknamed "The King"? | A) Kelly Slater |
| 4 | Which beach in Australia is synonymous with surfing? | A) Bondi Beach |
| 5 | What is a "wipeout" in surfing terms? | B) A surfer falling off their board |
| 6 | What is a "hang ten" maneuver? | A) Hanging all ten toes over the nose of the surfboard |
| 7 | In which decade were wetsuits first introduced for surfing? | A) 1950s |
| 8 | Which technique do surfers use to push through an oncoming wave while paddling out? | A) Duck dive |
| 9 | What is a "barrel" in surfing terminology? | B) The cylindrical-shaped opening created by a breaking wave |
| 10 | What is the common term for a beginner surfer? | A) Kook |
| 11 | What movie features the iconic line, "Vaya con Dios, Brah"? | A) Point Break |
| 12 | Which of the following is the oldest type of surfboard? | B) Alaia |
| 13 | Which country is home to the world-famous surfing spot, Uluwatu? | B) Indonesia |
| 14 | What do surfers rub on the deck of a board for grip? | A) Wax |
| 15 | What is the "drop-knee" stance used primarily for? | C) Bodyboarding |
| 16 | What is the primary goal of competitive surfing? | C) To ride the wave in the most critical part for as long as possible |
| 17 | In surfing terms, what is "closing out"? | B) When a wave breaks all at once, leaving no room for surfing |
| 18 | Which of the following is NOT a type of surfboard fin? | C) Hexa fin |
| 19 | What does "goofy foot" mean in surfing? | B) A surfer who rides with their right foot forward |
| 20 | What do surfers call the area where waves begin to break? | B) The lineup |
| 21 | What is the surfing term for a young surfer? | A) Grom |
| 22 | Who is widely considered the pioneer of big wave surfing? | B) Greg Noll |
| 23 | What is the name of the big wave surf break off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California? | B) Mavericks |
| 24 | What is the correct term for the flap of rubber under the chin on a wetsuit hood? | C) Bib |
| 25 | Which of these is NOT a common maneuver in surfing? | C) Touchdown |
| 26 | In which territory is the Teahupoo reef break, one of the heaviest waves in the world? | A) French Polynesia |
| 27 | What is the name of the surfboard leash that attaches to a surfer's ankle? | C) Leg rope |
| 28 | What is the name of the famous reef break on the North Shore of Oahu? | A) Pipeline |
| 29 | Which maneuver involves a surfer riding a wave while standing on their hands? | A) Handstand |
| 30 | What do surfers call the unbroken part of a wave ahead of the whitewater? | A) The shoulder |
| 31 | Which big wave event at Waimea Bay is held in memory of a Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer? | A) The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational |
| 32 | Which of these surfboard shaping materials has a foam core and a fiberglass outer shell? | A) Epoxy |
Hungry for More? Check out these Resources!
- Our posts about Surfing
- Our posts about Watersports
- Wikipedia
- International Surfing Association
- ISAsurf YouTube Channel
FAQ
How many questions are in this surfing quiz?
There are 32 questions with three options each. The correct answer is hidden behind the reveal button under every question.
Where can I read the surfing trivia questions and answers together?
The answer key under the scoring table lists all 32 questions with their correct answers in order, so you can check a whole round in one pass.
Are these surfing quiz questions difficult?
The board parts, the slang and the basic manoeuvres are easy for anyone who surfs. The famous breaks, board history and competition questions are harder.
Can I use this quiz for a surf club night?
Yes. Read out the question and the three options, let everyone note a letter, then work through the answer key and count up.
Is this surfing quiz suitable for beginners?
The first half is. It covers wipeouts, wax, barrels and goofy foot, all of which come up in a first season. The questions on famous breaks and board shapes go deeper.
What is a good score on this surfing quiz?
More than half correct is a good result. The scoring table turns your total into a rank, from Wave Watcher at the bottom to Surfing Superstar at the top.
What does goofy foot mean in surfing?
A surfer who rides with the right foot forward on the board. The more common stance, with the left foot forward, is called regular.
What is a barrel in surfing?
The hollow tube formed when the lip of a breaking wave throws forward over the face. Surfers also call the space inside it the green room.
Where did modern surfing come from?
Hawaii, where board riding was practiced long before it spread to California and Australia in the twentieth century.
It seems there might be a misunderstanding. Mark Foo’s passing was not due to a shark attack.
Thank you for pointing that out. We’ve gone ahead and made the necessary corrections to ensure the information is accurate. Your input is greatly appreciated!