Hawaiian scale
Encyclopedia
Hawaiian scale is the conventional wave height measurement used by surfers
in Hawaii
, also used in Australia
and parts of South Africa
.
The measurement is always in feet and scaled so the actual height on the face is roughly twice what's quoted. So a 3-foot wave would be head high (to a 6-foot person), or 2-foot around chest high. 6 to 8 foot would be 2 to approaching 3 times head high. Large waves are difficult to judge though, and the measurement becomes a little fuzzy towards 20 feet.
The origin of the scale is obscure. The candidates are:
In Australia, which is otherwise metric
, feet are still used by surfers and surf-specific media (e.g. ASL
and Tracks
magazines). Some of the non-surfing media make an attempt at metrication by direct conversion (eg.), so 3 feet becomes 1 metre. In a sense that satisfies neither surfers who don't use those units, nor non-surfers don't know it means twice that on the face.
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, also used in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and parts of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The measurement is always in feet and scaled so the actual height on the face is roughly twice what's quoted. So a 3-foot wave would be head high (to a 6-foot person), or 2-foot around chest high. 6 to 8 foot would be 2 to approaching 3 times head high. Large waves are difficult to judge though, and the measurement becomes a little fuzzy towards 20 feet.
The origin of the scale is obscure. The candidates are:
- Hawaiian life guards calling smaller sizes to keep tourists away.
- The measurement is "from the back" of the wave, or from wave buoy readings.
- Macho understatement by early surfers.
In Australia, which is otherwise metric
Si
Si, si, or SI may refer to :- Measurement, mathematics and science :* International System of Units , the modern international standard version of the metric system...
, feet are still used by surfers and surf-specific media (e.g. ASL
Australia's Surfing Life
Australia's Surfing Life is a monthly magazine about surfing published in Australia. It features articles about surf trips in Australia and overseas, surfing technique, board design and wetsuits....
and Tracks
Tracks (magazine)
Tracks is a monthly Australian surf magazine, promoting itself as "the surfer's bible". It is published by Next Media.It was established in October 1970 by Alby Falzon, starting as a kind of counter-culture tabloid, printed on cheap paper and produced on Queensland's Gold Coast. Since then it has...
magazines). Some of the non-surfing media make an attempt at metrication by direct conversion (eg.), so 3 feet becomes 1 metre. In a sense that satisfies neither surfers who don't use those units, nor non-surfers don't know it means twice that on the face.