What exactly is a "close out" (wave phenomenon)?

Question

What exactly is a "close out" (wave phenomenon)?

Answer 1

Its when the whole length of the wave breaks at the same time, not good to surf on as surfers want to go along the face of the wave. this happens because the whole wave reaches shallow ground at the same time.

Answer 2

It's a wave that you can't ride from one side to the other cuz the white caps come from two directions and close you out.

Answer 3

Waves usually have a peak and a shoulder. When you are surfing, the idea is to take off close to the peak and head for the shoulder. The wave typically peals either to the right or the left allowing you to ride the wave in front of the breaking lip. In close out conditions, sometimes called walled, a large section of the wave breaks all at once. This can also happen on sections of the wave. For example: you take off near the peak and head left toward the shoulder when a section breaks ahead of you preventing you from reaching the shoulder. You can either turn up the face of the wave and pull out, turn directly toward shore and ride the white water, or stay on the face of the wave and hope you can clear the section.