Professional Surfer Quiz: Think You Can Hang Twenty On These Trivia Questions?
Written by Rachel Bortles
Last updated · 6 min play time
Cowabunga, dude! It's time for twenty wet and wild surfing questions. Think you can hang with the professionals? It's time to find out!
Cowabunga, dude! It's time to get wet and wild for a thrilling Professional Surfer Quiz. How much do you know about the pioneers of surf culture and all the iconic slang that came along with it? We're about to find out with these twenty fun and informative trivia questions.
In this quiz, we'll cover everything from terms and tricks to people and places. Let's see once and for all if you can hang twenty on this challenging and exciting Professional Surfer Quiz!
Prove Your Surfing Skills And Improve Your Knowledge Of The Sport
Surfing is an ancient sport that's been adapted to meet the needs of modern thrill-seekers. While the best surfing waves are usually found in the ocean, that hasn't stopped innovative enthusiasts from getting creative.
Are you ready to surf with the professionals, or are you a beach bum who daydreams about catching a wave? Either way, this quiz is bound to teach you something new. Alright, it's time to grab your twin fin, get stoked, and hop into the water. Surf's up!
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Quiz written by
Rachel BortlesHi there! I'm a writer, yoga teacher, bartender, and mother. I'm passionate about spending time outside, space exploration, anything Harry Potter, and pizza.
Professional Surfer Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 475 Plays · No comments
Question 1
What group of people are widely credited with developing the concept of surfing?
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ASpanish
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BGreeks
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CPolynesians
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DChinese
Polynesians
The Polynesians developed the concept of standing up on what is now called a surfboard. Surfing was an essential aspect of ancient Polynesian culture, predating European contact.
Question 2
What famous female surfer said “It's hard for me to describe the joy I felt after I stood up and rode wave in for the first time after the attack. I was incredibly thankful and happy inside. The tiny bit of doubt that would sometimes tell me you'll never surf again was gone in one wave.”
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ABethany Hamilton
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BAlana Blanchard
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CEllie-Jean Coffey
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DCourtney Conlogue
Bethany Hamilton
American professional surfer Bethany Hamilton famously survived a 2003 shark attack. Although she lost her left arm, this inspirational surfer never lost her passion for surfing.
Question 3
A wave that breaks equally both left and right and forms a peak is called what?
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ATipi
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BA-Frame
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CMountaintop
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DAerial
A-Frame
While an aerial is a popular surfing move, an A-frame is a peak-shaped wave that breaks evenly left and right.
Question 4
Who is the professional surfer in this photo?
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AKelly Slater
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BDuke Kahanamoku
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CLayne Beachley
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DLaird Hamilton
Kelly Slater
Quite possibly the most recognizable surfer in the world, Robert Kelly Slater (AKA Kelly Slater) is best known for his 11 world surfing championships. He's also a successful author, actor, model, businessman, and innovator.
Question 5
Who is the professional surfer in this photo?
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AFrieda Zamba
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BWendy Botha
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CStephanie Gilmore
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DLisa Andersen
Stephanie Gilmore
Stephanie Louise Gilmore is an Australian professional surfer born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales. Amazingly, she's a seven-time world champion on the Women's ASP World Tour.
Question 6
A maneuver where the surfer puts both feet on the nose of the surfboard is called what?
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AHang Loose
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BHang Over
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CHang Five
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DHang Ten
Hang Ten
Possibly the most popular or well-known surfing trick, a hang ten involves riding a surfboard with both feet placed on the nose of the board. Alternately, a hang five is achieved with only one foot on the nose of the board.
Question 7
Who is the professional surfer in this photo?
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AMark Richards
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BAndy Irons
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CJohn John Florence
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DGabriel Medina
John John Florence
John "John John" Alexander Florence is a professional surfer from Honolulu, Hawaii. He's been referred to as "one of the most dominant Pipe surfers of his era" and won the title of 2017 World Surf League Men's Champion.
Question 8
When a wave breaks suddenly and all at once with no defined shape or shoulder, it's called a _____.
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ACloseout
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BLine-Up
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CForeclosure
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DChop
Closeout
A wave is said to be "closed out" when it suddenly breaks at every position along the face at the same time. This type of unpredictable wave is not appropriate for surfing.
Question 9
Who is the professional surfer in this photo?
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AMichael Ho
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BDavid Nuuhiwa
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CTom Curren
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DGabriel Medina
Gabriel Medina
Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira is a Brazilian professional surfer who finished within the top 12 of the ASP World Tour at the tender age of 17. He later went on to become the 2014 and 2018 WSL World Champion.
Question 10
Who is the professional surfer in this photo?
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ACoco Ho
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BSharron Weber
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CLynne Boyer
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DMalia Manuel
Coco Ho
Daughter of professional surfer Michael Ho, Coco Malia Camille Hapaikekoa Ho followed in her father's footsteps as a professional surfer. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Coco began surfing when she was only 7 years old.
Question 11
Who is the former professional surfer in this photo?
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ALaird Hamilton
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BTom Carroll
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CAndy Irons
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DDavid Nuuhiwa
Tom Carroll
Tom Carroll is a former professional surfer from Sydney, Australia. His winning streak began in 1978 with the Australian Junior Title, and he continued to win competitions before becoming the first surfing millionaire.
Question 12
On November 8, 2017, Rodrigo Koxa broke the world record for largest wave ever surfed at Nazaré, Portugal. How big was this monstrous wave?
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A40 ft
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B80 ft
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C100 ft
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D60 ft
80 ft
Following a 78 ft wave ride by Garrett McNamara at Nazaré, Portugal, Rodrigo Koxa caught an 80 ft wave in Praia do Norte off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal.
Question 13
What term is used to describe an event where a surfer's weight is too far forward and the nose of the board gets buried into a wave?
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ADiamond
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BScallop
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CPearl
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DPie
Pearl
Pearling occurs when a surfer accidentally drives the nose of their board underwater by putting too much weight on the front of the board.
Question 14
Who is the former professional surfer in this photo?
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AMargo Oberg
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BAndy Irons
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CLisa Andersen
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DLayne Beachley
Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley is a former professional surfer from Manly, New South Wales. She's best known for winning the World Championship seven times, and for being the chair of Surfing Australia.
Question 15
According to data collected in 2012 by the International Surfing Association, approximately how many surfers are there worldwide?
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A14 million
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B35 million
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C56 million
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D28 million
35 million
Several trusted sources, such as the International Surfing Association, the Surf Industry Manufacturer's Association, and Surfing Australia have reported the worldwide surfing population to be between 17 million and 35 million. In 2012, the International Surfing Association delivered data to the International Olympic Committee stating the population to be at 35 million.
Question 16
Who is the professional surfer in this photo?
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ACorky Carroll
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BMark Richards
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CLaird Hamilton
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DDavid Nuuhiwa
Corky Carroll
Charles Curtis Carroll, best known by his nickname "Corky," is a professional surfer residing in Huntington Beach, California. He is considered a leader in the surfing movement and the first true professional surfer.
Question 17
Which of the following female surfers is NOT a member of the influential "California Golden Girls"?
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AJericho Poppler
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BShannon Aikman
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CCandy Woodward
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DLaura Enever
Laura Enever
Formed in 1977, the California Golden Girls consisted of Jericho Poppler, Shannon Aikman, Candy Woodward, Lisa Tomb, Brenda Scott Rogers, and Betty Depolito. These influential women paved the way for future generations of female surfers by competing in a sport that was once widely known as a “Men’s Sport".
Question 18
Who became the first professional female surfer in 1975?
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AMargo Oberg
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BLisa Andersen
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CWendy Botha
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DFrieda Zamba
Margo Oberg
Born in Pennsylvania, Margo Oberg became the first female professional surfer in the world in 1975. Prior to this accomplishment, she won her first competition at the age of 11 and her first world title at 15.
Question 19
What's the name of the thin, round-nosed, square-tailed surfboard ridden in pre-20th century by the native peoples of the Pacific?
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AKelea
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BMaui
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CAlaia
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DMalea
Alaia
These unique alaia boards were traditionally between 200 to 350 cm long, but are now about 150 to 350 cm on average. Often crafted from the wood of the Koa Tree, they are different from modern surfboards in that they have no ventral fins.
Question 20
Who is considered by many to be the "Father of Modern Surfing"?
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AGeorge Freeth
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BLaird Hamilton
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CTom Blake
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DTom Curren
George Freeth
Born November 8, 1883, George Freeth was an American Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor often credited as the "Father of Modern Surfing".
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