In surfing, what is the name for a wave that breaks over a sandy seabed?

In surfing, a wave that breaks over a sandy seabed is called a beach break.

Beach breaks form when incoming waves shoal and break over sandbars. Because sand can move after storms, tides, and strong currents, the best take-off zone at a beach may change from day to day. This makes beach breaks different from more fixed reef or point breaks.

The term describes the bottom beneath the breaking wave, not the type of beach itself. A beach break can produce several peaks, waves breaking in both directions, or an A-frame wave with left- and right-breaking shoulders. Surfers often study local currents and sandbars before entering.