Technique
Spray
The fan of water thrown off the board during a hard turn or slash, both a stylistic flourish and a sign of an aggressive, committed maneuver.
Spray (or throwing spray) is the sheet of water kicked up when a rider drives a hard turn off the top of the wave. A big, clean fan of spray signals an aggressive, well-committed slash or off-the-lip turn and is prized stylistically. It results from the board's rail and fins biting and releasing water as the rider redirects.
Generating spray requires speed (from pumping) and commitment to the rail, so it's a visible marker of a rider attacking the wave rather than just cruising it.