Egg Beater
The act of moving ones legs in a circular motion under the surface of the water to turn from faceing the wave into the takeoff position.

Egg
Refers to an older or retro style of surfboard characterized by a rounded shape of a nose and tail. Usually has a single fin.

El Naio
Occurrence when warm equatorial waters move in and displace the colder waters of the Humboldt Current, cutting off the upwelling process.

El Nino
A warming of the ocean surface in the Eastern Pacific that begins off the western coast of South America. The warmer water can greatly enhance tropical cyclone development in the Central Eastern Pacific, as well as wintertime storms throughout the North Pacific due to the contrast between the warm water and cold air. The North Pacific jet stream and storm tracks shift further south which generates more wind, swell, and stormy conditions in California, while the areas further north experience milder weather.

El Rollo
Old school used by Bruce Brown in the Endless Summer to describe a rolling move. Currently most applicable to body boarders. Props to Bruce Brown.

Endo
When the board nose pearls and stands on end as it continues to fall forward. Derived and shortened from "end-over-end."

Energy
A unit of measurement for the power in a wave. Usually in meters squared or centimeters squared.

Entry
A term used to describe the area of the surfboard where water first comes into contact with the rocker.

Entry line
The line a surfer will draw when dropping into a wave.

Epi
What a burnout surfer says instead of epic.

Epic
Beyond the usual or ordinary. Generally used in the positive sense.


Epoxy
A type of plastic resin used by some manufacturers in place of polyester resin. Usually an epoxy-user also uses a polystyrene blank, which can be badly affected by polyester resins.

Equatorial Trough
The quasi-continuous area of low pressure between the subtropical high pressure centers in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

Excellent
1980s word used for anything that was cool or good. Stated in a long drawn-out monotone - exc-eeeee-lent.

Expanded Seam Technology (EST)
Developed by a skin graft specialist in the late '90s, EST is a way to have a "stitchless" suit by weaving the panels together in hexagonal patterns; touted a few years back as the next giant thing, now mainly used in super cold water suits.