Snowboard Jargon

A

Absorption
Flexion or extension of the joints (e.g. ankles, knees and hips) to aid pressure management.

Activity
An exercise or task used in teaching snowboarding. Step one in the AAA Teaching Cycle.

Adapt
Changing an activity or task to progress, challenge and teach students. Step three in the AAA Teaching Cycle.

Aft
Movement towards the tail of the snowboard.

Alignment
The basic upright position of the body aligned in relation to the rest of the body, the equipment and terrain.

All-Mountain Riding
Meaning to ride the entire mountain, on and off-trail, and in the park.

Alpine
A racing style with hard boots, high binding angles, narrow snowboards and generally high speeds.

Amplitude
The amount of air a rider achieves out of a transition feature (e.g. pipe).

Analyse
Reflecting on positives and negatives of a rider’s performance, the situation and or the effectiveness and outcomes of a task or activity. Step two in the AAA Teaching Cycle.

Angulation
Forming of angles between bones through flexing and extending joints.

Anticipation
Preparation of the body for an upcoming turn.

ATTL
Acronym for Approach, Takeoff, Trick, Landing.

Associative
Recognition of specific cues for how to adjust one’s performance. The second stage of the skill acquisition model.

Audio
Taking information in by listening – used previously within the VAK model, now referred to as Talk in Talk-Show-Feel.

Autonomous
Can perform the skills effectively without thinking about it. The third stage of the skill acquisition model.

B

Backcountry
Away from resorts, out of bounds or out of the ski area boundary.

Backside Entry into Rails/Boxes
The rail is toward the heel edge or behind the rider.

Backside in the Halfpipe
The wall behind the rider if they point the nose down the middle of the pipe.

Backside Spins
The back rotates towards the downhill first.

Balance
Adjustments to keep in equilibrium with the forces acting upon it.

Ball and Socket Joint
The joints in the body that flex and rotate, e.g. the hip joint.

Banked Slalom
A race event through a gully or banked course, where snowboarders ride one at a time.

Base Plate
The base of the binding that the foot sits on.

Berms
A banked feature with a curve to it, often found in Banked Slalom and SBX events.

Big Mountain
Used to describe the competitive discipline of freeriding or just riding huge backcountry lines.

Biomechanics
The principles of the mechanical movements of the human body.

Board Performance
How the board performs. This can be explained using the concepts: edge, pressure and steer.

Booting-out or Binding-out
Boots/bindings hitting the snow when riding on edge or in variable snow conditions, due to overhang.

Box
A feature found in terrain parks that riders slide along, similar to rails.

Bumps (Moguls)
Specific areas of resort terrain with formed mounds of snow to ride around or over.

Butter
Used to describe the vast array of ground tricks performed by snowboarders.

C

C-Turn
Performing an isolated C-shaped turn starting on one edge and finishing on the other.

Camber
The convex rise in a snowboard. The snowboard rises up from the contact points near the tip and tail and reaches an apex in the middle.

Cap Construction
An older style snowboard construction type where the top sheet folds over to connect to the metal edges.

Carving
To turn leaving clean arcs and a thin line in the snow. This comes from higher edge angles, using the snowboard’s side-cut.

Cause
A position or movement made that has a resulting effect on the snowboard.

Centre Disc
The round disc that screws to the snowboard, holding the binding in place at the specified angles.

Centre of Mass (COM)
The three-dimensional balance point of a body.

Centrifugal Force
The force felt as a result of acceleration and turning across the fall line. Similar to riding a bike, this is the force that pulls towards outside the turn. Counteracted by leaning (inclining) inside the turn.

Chatter
The result of the snowboard’s edge releasing from the snow’s surface and vibrating, usually near the end of a turn. Often caused by inadequate vertical movements to manage pressure. Also caused by high edge angle.

Chute
A narrow snow covered path found in steep terrain navigating between cliffs.

Cliff Drop
To launch from a cliff, dropping onto the snow below.

Cognitive
The stages of mental development or learning to identify the outcome of a new skill. The first stage of the skill acquisition Model, whilst also referred to as the C in the CAP model.

COM
Short for Centre of Mass.

Completion
The end or finish of a turn.

Control
The main part or body of a turn.

Corduroy
Freshly groomed trails with a ridged surface usually found early morning and great for carving.

Corn Snow
Spring-like snow conditions after freeze-thaw.

Cornice
An overhanging ledge made from a buildup of snow, often found on top of cliffs or on exposed ridgelines.

Counter
When the body is in a rotated position in opposition to itself. A countered position could be caused by just the upper body rotating and the lower body not, and therefore you end in a countered position.

Counter-Rotation
When the upper body physically rotates in the opposite direction to the lower body and the snowboard at the same time.

Crud
Variable snow conditions formed by wind, snow, temperature and tracks. Typical in New Zealand off-trail snow conditions.

D

Demo (Demonstration)
Short for demonstration, to give information visually.

Detune
To blunten or round-off the sharp edge near the nose or tail of the snowboard, helping prevent edge catches. Also referred to when decreasing the level of performance when riding.

Directional
A snowboard designed to ride better in one direction, due to its shape and/or flex pattern.

Dorsiflexion
Flexing of the ankle joint, i.e. toes towards the shinbone or knee.

Dryland Training
Training off the snow.

Dropping In
Start a run in the pipe, park or riding into a freeride run.

Duck Stance
Where the binding setup consists of the front foot being a positive angle and the back foot being a negative angle.

E

Edge
The steel that wraps the perimeter on the base of a snowboard.

Edge Angle
The measurement of the angle of the board in relation to the slope.

Effect
The result on the snowboard from a movement made by the rider.

Effective Edge
The longest part of the edge that can be applied to the snow at any one time.

Euro Carve
To carve whilst leaning the whole body into the turn, near to the snow’s surface.

Eversion
Rolling of the leg inward making the sole of the foot face outward. Standing on the inside of the foot.

Extend
To straighten the joints or to stand up. The opposite of flex.

Extended-Edge-Change
Any turn where the body is at its highest or most extended when changing edge.

Extruded Base
A type of low-cost base construction that is very easy to repair, but equally easy to damage.

F

Fakie
To ride the snowboard backward (whilst staying in a forwards position).

Fall Line
The path in which a ball will roll with gravity down the slope.

Fibula
One of the two main bones in the lower-leg.

Femur
The largest bone in the body, found in the upper-leg.

Flex
To bend or close the joints (opposite to extend). Can also be used to describe the flex of the snowboard.

Flexed-Edge-Change
Any turn where the body is at its lowest or most flexed when changing edge.

Floating Leaf
An exercise where the snowboard is directed left and right alternately, across the hill on the same edge.

Focal Point
The point a rider’s eyes look toward when performing a task/activity. E.g. use a focal point by looking at the end of the box.

Fore
Movement towards the nose of the snowboard.

Forward Lean
The measurement of angle on the binding’s highback.

Freeride
A style of riding based around exploring the mountain off-trail, but involving a variety of terrain features and snow conditions. (Can also be used to describe the competitive discipline of big mountain events.)

Freestyle
Riding based around jumping, spinning, buttering, etc. on-trail or off-trail, or in the park/pipe.

Frontside Entry to Rails/Boxes
Feature is on the front (or toe edge) when approaching.

Frontside in the Halfpipe
The wall in front of the rider if they point the nose down the middle of the pipe.

Frontside Spins
The front rotates towards downhill first.

G

Gap
A part of a freestyle feature that must be jumped over.

Garland (Steered Traverse)
Another name for a steered traverse used to practise the initiation and completion phases of a turn but without making an edge change.

Gates
Tall poles with flags used to mark out courses in any race discipline.

Goofy Foot
The stance in which the right foot is the preferred front foot.

H

Halfpipe
A machine-made feature, in the form of half a pipe, in which riders travel from one wall to the other getting airtime from the transition.

Hamstring
The muscle group on the back of the upper-leg, that pairs with the quadricep.

Hard Boots
Hard-shell boots, similar to ski boots, designed for alpine boards and hard-plate bindings.

Hard Pack
Firm, icy snow conditions.

Heel Edge
The edge under the heels of the rider.

Heelside Turn
A turn that is completed on the heel edge.

Highback
Plastic or carbon supportive part of the binding that is hinged near the heel and raises up towards the calf.

Hop Turns
To jump up and rotate the snowboard and body as one unit, changing edges while in the air.

I

Ice
Hard, fast snow conditions.

Inclination
To lean and shift the COM toward the toe or heel edge.

Initiation
The beginning of a turn.

Inserts
The threaded metal holes in a snowboard, used for attaching the bindings.

Intensity
The amount of effort we physically apply.

Inversion
Rolling the foot inward. Rolling of the leg outward making the sole of the foot face inward. Standing on the outside of the foot.

Invert
To go upside down (head below snowboard level).

J

Jibbing
Performing tricks on man-made features such as rails.

J-Turn
Performing a J-shaped turn from a straight run on either the toe or heel edge with either the front foot or both feet strapped in.

K

Kicker
Jump, booter or hit that creates airtime.

Kinesthetic
Learning through feelings and sensations – used previously within the VAK model, now referred to as Feel in Talk-Show-Feel.

L

Lateral Movement
To move across the width of the snowboard, i.e. from heel edge to toe edge.

Level
Usually refers to the ability level of a student. E.g. They are intermediate level riders. Most snow schools have a level classification system for student ability.

Longitudinal Movement
To move along the length of the snowboard, i.e. from nose to tail.

M

Mountain Responsibility Code
The code outlining the safety and responsibility conduct required on all mountains.

N

Nollie
Moving fore on the snowboard to build pressure in the nose which is then quickly released to provide pop, lifting the rider into the air (opposite to the ollie).

O

Off-Piste / Off-Trail
The ungroomed slopes.

Ollie
Moving aft on the snowboard to build pressure in the tail which is then quickly released to provide pop, lifting the rider into the air.

P

Pelvis
The large bone in the hips, connecting the femur to the spine.

Pivot
The way the snowboard responds to rotational movements with no edging.

Plantar Flexion
Ankle extension; to move the toes away from the shin, knee or the leg.

Pop
Spring obtained from flexing the snowboard.

Powder
Cold, dry and fluffy snow, Mother Nature’s gift.

Power
The amount of effort put into a movement.

Pressure
An aspect of board performance managed and created using vertical, longitudinal movements and/or lateral movements.

Progression
A series of exercises, tasks or activities that increase in difficulty, to gradually improve the student’s ability.

P-Tex
The most commonly used base material, made from thermoplastic.

Q

Quadriceps
The muscle group on the top of the upper-leg, above the knee, that pairs with the hamstring.

Quarter Pipe
A large machine-shaped wall with a transition, in the form of a quarter of a pipe.

Question-Based Learning
A style of learning and teaching which revolves around a process of questioning from the instructor to encourage self awareness and thought in the student.

R

Rail
Feature found in terrain parks which riders slide along, similar to a box.

Range
The amount of movement used in any direction.

Rebound
The energy that can be stored and released when pressuring and bending the snowboard.

Reciprocal
Acting in return, mutual, giving and receiving. E.g. pairing up students during a task so they can help and learn from each other.

Regular Foot
Left foot forward in the rider’s stance.

Reverse Camber (Rocker)
The concave shape of a snowboard that rises up from the middle.

Rider Analysis
The process of observing the student and assessing their needs.

Rotational Movement
Movement of the body around a vertical axis to make the board pivot and help it steer.

S

S-Turn
Performing a complete S shaped turn or turns – from toes to heels back to toes or vice versa.

SBX (Boarder Cross)
Standing for snowboarder-cross, this is a race discipline involving four to six riders at one time through a course of tight turns, berms, woops, bumps and jumps.

SCOPE
Acronym for Safety, Capabilities, Options, Preparation, Execution. Common term used when checking something out. Eg. Lets go scope the park.

Separation
When the upper and lower body have a different rotational alignment.

Side-cut
The convex shape of the snowboard edges, used to help carve.

Sideslipping
Edge awareness exercise, where the snowboard is perpendicular to, or across, the fall line and slides down the slope.

Sidewall Construction
A snowboard construction type where a strip of material, the sidewall, connects the top sheet with the metal edges.

Sintered Base
A type of base construction that is very strong and durable.

Skating
Pushing around using the rear foot, on flat areas with the front foot strapped into the snowboard.

Skidded
Opposite to carved when the edge of the board slides or scrapes across the surface of the snow, typically when the edge is flatter. E.g. skidded traverse or skidded turn.

Sketchy
When something looks a bit suspect.

Slush
A soft and wet snow condition created by warm weather, usually in spring.

Slopestyle
A competitive discipline of snowboarding in terrain parks, involving jumps and rails.

Stance
The general term that indicates the way a rider stands on the snowboard. This includes body position, orientation (regular/goofy) and binding width/angles.

Steeps
Snow covered terrain with a particularly high pitch.

Steered Traverse
Commonly called a “garland” used to practise the initiation and completion phases of a turn but without having to make an edge change.

Step-Ins / Step-Ons
A boot and binding system where the boots click in, to attach to the bindings.

Stoked
Being excited, pumped, exhilarated, thrilled or amped.

Straight Run
To glide on the snowboard down the fall line (normally a one footed exercise).

Stubby
A small, flexible race gate commonly used in SBX.

Superpipe
An Olympic halfpipe, with walls 22 feet in height (7 metres).

Switch
Riding in the opposite direction to normal. E.g. a goofy riding with their left foot leading, or a regular riding with their right foot leading.

T

Tabletop
A machine-made jump feature in terrain parks, which riders use to get air where the takeoff and landing are the same height.

Terrain Park
A controlled environment consisting of man-made freestyle features.

Tibia
One of the two main bones in the lower-leg.

Tilt
A word used to describe how the snowboard responds to lateral movements of the body. Also called edging or edge angle.

Timing
The duration or sequence of a movement or movements.

Toe Edge
The edge under the toes of the rider.

Toeside Turn
A turn that is completed on the toe edge.

Torsional Flex (Twist)
The way a snowboard will twist along its length from nose to tail. This will result in a difference in edge angle along the length of the snowboard.

Trail (Piste)
A groomed, marked run on a mountain.

Transition
The curve found on jumps and halfpipes taking a rider from the flat to the lip or vertical.

Traverse
To move across a slope.

Twin Tip
A symmetrical snowboard designed to ride the same in both directions (normal and switch), due to its shape and/or flex pattern.

Twist (Torsional Flex)
The torsional twist of the board, generated through lateral movements (generally in the leading half of the body rather than the whole body as with tilt).

U

Unweight
To release pressure on part or all of the snowboard.

V

Vert
The vertical or wall part of a halfpipe, quarter pipe or superpipe.

Vertical Movement
Movement of the body up and down, raising and lowering the COM.

Visual
Learning through watching demonstrations / other riders and seeing pictures – used previously within the VAK model, now referred to as Show in Talk-Show-Feel.

W

White Room
To rapidly spray snow then ride through it, disappearing momentarily from view.

Woops
Small rollers in quick succession, featured in SBX courses.