[General] What does drifty mean when used to describe surfers please tell?

[nathanakimbo]

Please I’m a writer and I create philosophy and I would like to know what is meant when people describe surfers as being ‘drifty’?
I do of course mean that spherical dome the sea and the ‘mutant chargers’ who surf there. Also could you please tell me me generally what is meant by ‘someone drifting’ rather than switching on and being successful.

 

[probus]

Have you tried using a dictionary? If so, please be specific about why you are unsatisfied with what you found there.

 

[emsr2d2]

[STRIKE]Please[/STRIKE] I’m a writer and I create philosophy. Do you mean that you're an amateur philosopher?

[STRIKE]and[/STRIKE] I would like to know what is meant when people describe surfers as being ‘drifty’. This is not a question because it starts with "I would like to know".

[STRIKE]I do of course mean that spherical dome the sea and the ‘mutant chargers’ who surf there.[/STRIKE] I have no idea what you're talking about here. The sea isn't a spherical dome and "mutant chargers" is meaningless, particularly when you are supposed to be actually explaining to readers what you mean by "surfers". Try this instead:
I am, of course, talking about people who surf on the sea, not people who surf the internet.

Also, could you please tell me me generally what is meant by ‘someone drifting’? [STRIKE]rather than switching on and being successful.[/STRIKE] You've asked us for an explanation but the second half makes it look as if you've already decided what it means, or at least you've decided what it's the opposite of.

Welcome to the forum. :hi:

Please note my comments and corrections above. As probus said, you need to go to good dictionaries first. Research the verb "drift" and the noun "drifter" yourself, then come back and let us know what you find (with links).

 

[Skrej]

I suspect a regular dictionary may not shed much light. I'm no surfer, but I'm fairly sure those words have specialized meaning in surfing jargon. I know that 'charging' is surfing slang for aggressively attacking an incoming wave, for example. I think 'drift' also refers to undesirable lateral movement when waiting on incoming waves. I couldn't find an exact definition, but it seems that 'switching on' may be surf jargon as well.

I saw one video about a 'mutant wave', so perhaps a mutant charger is a person who charges mutant waves (however those are defined).

I suspect the OP may be better off posting his/her question in a surfing forum, once we tidy up any grammatical issues.

 

[probus]

Good dictionaries define all words, including even obsolete and archaic terms, professional jargon, slang, and yes, even surfer babble. Oxford, for example, defines gnarly as that term is used by California surfers.

 

[jutfrank]

Good dictionaries define all words

Not in the slightest. In fact, it's not even possible, practically speaking. I suspect that if you took all words from all currently published dictionaries, you'd end up with a shockingly low proportion of all words currently in use.

I agree with Skrej on this. I'm highly confident that you're not going to find drifty—a very niche word used by a very niche group of users—in any of the standard dictionaries.

 

[5jj]

There are specialist dictionaries for many trades/skills/professions/disciplines. One of the reasons for this is that many very specialised terms are not defined in even the most comprehensive of general dictionaries.

Even the most recent of these specialist dictionaries do not include every word used on the day the dictionary is published. As jutfrank said, it's just not possible.

 

[probus]

Merriam-Webster defines drifty. I've just seen the entry but cannot post a link just now because I am in an area of poor internet service until July 4.

 

[Rover_KE]

Here's Collins's version.

 

[tedmc]

I think being drifty is about moving aimlessly with the flow of prevailing waves and not having a sense of direction, as distinct from someone who has a goal or sense of purpose.

 

[Skrej]

According to this list of surfing slang, drift is:

Drift – A term used when a surfer moves out of position while waiting for a wave. For example: “that surfer is drifting out of position.”

Or

A term used when a surfer does a carve or snap and the tail slides along the water while the fins are still in the water. For example: “drift the fins.”