The steepening shoreward front of a wave, where most waveriding occurs.

Face height
The measurement of surf and wave heights by the front of the wave from the top of the crest to the low part of the trough in front of the wave. Surfline uses this form of wave measurement.

Fade
A) When a surfer drops in and angles back into the power of the wave to get deeper and closer to the breaking part of the wave. B) A wave may fade or weaken as it passes from shallow water to deeper water closer to shore.

Fading
The act of dropping into a wave and turning away from the steepest part of the face. Usually done as a positioning maneuver in lieu of stalling to get back into the pocket.

Fakey
A brief slide backward down a wave face into the whitewater or curl.

Falls
The pitching lip of the wave. Top portion of a wave generated as it throws toward shore. Not a good spot and going "over the falls" is no fun.

Fall Line
The best and fastest place to drop in to a wave. Usually just to the edge of the folding lip or the highest point on the wave peak as it begins to break.

Fan
The spray generated from a strong, slicing turn, creating a trail of water, which may be temporarily suspended in the air. Similar to the spray or fan created by a water skier's turn.

Fascist
Originally, a member of the Fascisti, formed by Benito Mussolini, a political movement espousing extremely anti-democratic principles. In the Surfing world, individuals with no regard or respect for their fellow surfers are Fascist.

Feathering 
A wave state just prior to the wave breaking, when the crest begins to show a little whitewater as the wave face steepens. Most often seen in offshore wind conditions.

Femes 
A group of women.

Fetch
The area across the ocean over which a wind with a consistent direction generates waves and sea state. The fetch length is one of the three key elements in the fundamental wave generation formula-along with wind velocity and wind duration-used to determine wave heights and wave periods in a storm or wave generating area.

Fiberglass
The woven glass cloth that is saturated with resin, which is used in surfboard lamination to produce the hard outer surface of a surfboard.

Fin
A) Rudderlike device(s) used beneath a surfboard to assist control, direction and drive. Many different fin shapes are possible, but most are designed to resemble a dolphin's dorsal fin. Today fins are mostly used in groups of three-two ahead, one behind-a configuration known as a Thruster (see Thruster). They're also used, less frequently, in pairs or singles. B) Rubber swim fins worn on the feet of body boarders and body surfers to help catch waves in deep water.