Ski and Snowboard Lingo!
Ski and Snowboard Slang
If you are a newbie to ski and snowboard then you might want to memorise some of these ski slang and phrases. Here are a few to get you started :
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Apres Ski – just as good as the skiing when the lifts close – beers, aperols and dancing on tables
Bomber – someone flying down the slope as fast as they can often in an out of control fashion
Brain Bucket – another name for a helmet
Carving – clean turns using the edges of your skis or snowboard you can do large turns or short ones – carving clinics are great for perfecting your technique.
Death Cookie – small frozen lumps of snow formed by the snow groomers or snow cannons
Dump – A huge snowfall
Edge – The sharpened metal strip on the sides of skis and snowboards, used for gaining control by biting into the snow for smoother carving and cutting.
First Tracks – Cutting through fresh snow before anyone else does, make sure you take a picture of your perfect trail.
Freerider – someone who who prefers to ski off-piste, loves powder snow days and the back country
Freestyle – A style of skiing or snowboarding primarily focused on tricks.
Jib/Jibbing – Riding your snowboard or ski over something that is not snow – box, rail etc and you often find these in a snowpark area
Kicker – a man made jump so you can perfect those tricks
Magic Carpet – this is a moving carpet lift normally found on the beginner slopes to get you to the top of a slope.
Moguls – large bumps formed in the snow
Park Rat – someone who spends most of their time in a snowpark and usually wears oversize gangster style clothes!
Planker – slang word for a skier
Powder – fresh pure snow that has just fallen and when you ride or ski on it there is a feeling of floating or surfing – make sure you can get out though as it can be exhausting if you fall!
Ripper – A very good skier who “rips” down the mountain with great style
Schussing – Skiing straight downhill without turning. Tuck your poles in and bend those knees!
Shredder – A really good snowboarder who knows what they are doing
Switch – riding with the opposite foot forward for snowboarding or skiing backwards
Twin Tip – tails and tips of skis are turned at the ends making them ideal for skiing backwards and doing tricks – great for freestyle
Whiteout – when there is no visibility due to fog or too much snow – on these days tree lined slopes are best or the apres bars
Wipeout – basically a fall and some of these can be pretty spectacular