Wave
Chop
Small, disorganized surface waves from wind or boat traffic that degrade the smooth wave face and make riding harder.
Chop is the small, irregular surface texture caused by wind or the wakes of other boats. It interferes with the clean face a wakesurf wave needs, making the ride bumpy and the wave less predictable. Heavy boat traffic and onshore wind both create chop, which is why early morning glass (calm water) is prized by wakesurfers.
Minimizing chop, by riding at calm times of day, in sheltered water, or away from traffic, is one of the simplest ways to improve wave quality without changing boat setup.