Wall Meaning in Surfing

The wall is the long and steep unbroken section of a moving wave. Surfers aim to stay on the wall to maintain their speed and momentum. This vertical surface provides the space for all types of high performance turns. A tall wall looks like a moving mountain of water to the surfer. The rider moves across the wall horizontally while the wave peels behind them. A surfer carves a large arc on the steep wall of a swell. Keeping the board on the wall prevents the surfer from sinking in flats. One athlete stares down the long wall of a wave at a point. The steepness of the wall depends on the shape of the seafloor below. Surfers use the wall as a runway to build speed for aerial tricks.