While Surfing, what is a RIP wave or tide

its not a wave
its either rip tide or rip current
and its when you get pulled out real quickly
this will tell you how they are made/what causes them and how to avoid them
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_current

A rip current is the same thing whether u r surfing, or if u r floating around in the breakers on an inner tube. ''A rip current, rip tide or rip is a strong surface flow of water returning seaward from near the shore (not to be confused with an undertow). Although rip currents would exist even without the tides, tides can make an existing rip much more dangerous—especially low tide.[citation needed] Typical flow is at 0.5 meters per second (1-2 feet per second), & can be as fast as 2.5 meters per second (8 feet per second). Rip currents can move to different locations on a beach break, up to tens of meters (a few hundred feet) a day. They can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the world is oceans, seas, & large lakes such as the Great Lakes in Canada & the United States.''
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_current

This is a fairly good article on rip currents. Contrary to what some folks believe, they r no readily visible, especially to people who r naive as to the ways of the ocean. In my life I've pulled dozens of tourists out of rips. It is usually the panic & resultant exhaustion that kills folks. Staying calm is the first rule of surviving a rip. Swimming across it (parallel to the beach) not against is the second.

Once again, it is why l say, ''Surfing is an ocean sport, that should only be practiced by those people who r already competent ocean swimmers.''

It is called a ''rip current'' it is water that is choppy and brown looking because the sand is being churned up. If you are in a rip current the wave will break weird and you will not be able to catch any waves. Be safe and stay out of rip currents unless you are an experienced surfer trying to get out of the impact zone quick.

The Surfboard Man
http://thesurfboardman.com/