What actually is a 'section'?

JJJJS

Legend (inyourownmind)
Feb 2, 2017
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Taking an example of an A frame wave, is the 'section' the peak along with the left and right (i.e. the whole wave)?

Or are there two sections - the left section and the right section?
 
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elcalvo

Michael Peterson status
Mar 16, 2004
3,314
436
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NE
As a wave is peeling, a section would be a portion of the wave that breaks ahead of the peeling curl. The traditional "perfect wave" is a wave that continues to peel consistently and does not begin to break ahead of the peeling curl
:waving:
 
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Sharkbiscuit

Duke status
Aug 6, 2003
26,252
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Jacksonville Beach
Context dependent. In your photo, at a perfect reef, that might be a snapshot of 30-50+ (?) yards of wave referred to as the "tube section". Maybe somewhere else at a reef or point the wave slows up, bends in, or reforms and that's a "cutback section" or "fat section".

Often, especially in average beachbreaks, section means a portion of the wave that closes out, or at least breaks or forms an addressable lip, in front of you.

"end section" = when the wave closes out, last opportunity to hit the lip/top turn.

"oncoming section" = one that sort of wedges at you.

"closeout section" = should be self explanatory

I don't think I've ever really heard an A-frame peak in and of itself have a section. Maybe the "takeoff section"?
 
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enframed

Tom Curren status
Apr 11, 2006
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I just think of a section as a part of the wave, always in front of the surfer, that is doing something different than what the part of the wave being ridden is doing: closeout section, flat section, dumping section, racy section, &c. The word section is always preceded by the description of said section. I don't refer to the take-off as a section, it's a take-off.
 
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Sharkbiscuit

Duke status
Aug 6, 2003
26,252
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The word section is always preceded by the description of said section.
Or the context should be clear.

Shortboarders passing workable day at average beachbreak:

"Howzit?"
*shrug* "Some sections."

People at a pointbreak that might be iffy on the day's swell direction:

"Did you get that at Mollusk/Saturdays?"
"Yeah, grabbed it last week."
"Rad. I was checking it out while they were making my caramel VALiatto."
"Yeah. They said I could have some free wax, but they didn't have any Chai x Avocado bars left."
"You should have tried to parlay that into one of the candles."
"You're so right."
"How is the surf?"
"It's a bit sectiony but you can get some that run all the way through."
"Cool."
"Namaste."