| Common Snowboarding Terms |
Air to Fakie: Any trick where the wall is approached riding forwards, no
rotation is made, and the snowboarder lands riding backwards.
Alley oop: A term used to describe any maneuver in the halfpipe where one
rotates 180 or more degrees in an uphill direction; that is, rotating backside
on the frontside wall.....or rotating frontside on the backside wall.
Alpine Snowboarding: Similar to "Alpine skiing" this term is simply used
to describe riding recreationally.....most often at a ski resort.
Andrecht: A rear handed backside handplant with a front handed grab.
Backside: The backside of the snowboard is the side where the heels rest;
and the backside of the snowboarder is the side to which his/her back faces.
Backside Air: Any air performed on the backside wall of the halfpipe.
Backside Rotation: Rotating clockwise for a regular-footer......and
rotating counter-clockwise for a goofy-footer (e.g.. backside 360) note: When
riding switch-stance the exact reverse applies and a regular-footer will rotate
counter-clockwise and a goofy-footer will rotate clockwise.
Backside Turn: A turn where the heel edge faces to the outside of the
turn while the snowboard is riding on the toe edge. In other words, a right
turn for a regular-footer and a left turn for a goofy-footer.
Backside wall: When standing at the top of the halfpipe and looking down
towards the bottom, the backside wall is the left wall for regular-footers and
the right wall for goofy-footers. If you ride straight down the center of the
halfpipe your backside wall is behind you.
Bevel:The degree of angle to which the edges of a snowboard can be tuned.
Snowboards used for racing and carving should have a greater bevel than say a
snowboard used in the halfpipe.
BFM: See Elguerial
Blindside:A term given to any rotation where the snowboarder has oriented
themselves "blind" to their takeoff or landing and must stretch to look over
their shoulder. Such a technique usually increases the difficulty. (e.g. A
backside alley oop air is often harder than a frontside alley oop air because
it is blindside).
Boned:A term used to explain the emphasis of style in a trick. In other
words, if someone "boned out a method" they would grab hard and create an
emphasis of the maneuver such that his/her legs or arms may appear extended or
stretched to a maximum degree. To "Bone" means to straighten one or both legs.
Bonk:The act of hitting an object with the snowboard.(eg. A tail bonk
could be hitting the halfpipe lip with the tail of the snowboard).
Caballerial (Cab):A trick in the halfpipe which begins fakie, spins 360
degrees, and lands riding forward. Named after skateboarding guru, Steve
Caballero. Also see Half-Cab and Gay Twist
Canadian Bacon:The rear hand reaches behind the rear leg to grab the toe
edge between the bindings while the rear leg is boned.
Cant:A term used to describe the angle at which either foot is positioned
medially or laterally from a vertical axis. In other words, how much angle
beneath your feet from side to side bends your knees together or apart.
Chicken Salad Air:The rear hand reaches between the legs and grabs the
heel edge between the bindings while the front leg is boned. Also, the wrist is
rotated inward to complete the grab.
Coping:A reference to the edge of the lip which runs the length of a
halfpipe wall.
Crail Air:The rear hand grabs the toe edge in front of the front foot
while the rear leg is boned.
Crippler:An inverted aerial where the snowboarder performs a 180 degree
flip. In other words, the athlete approaches the wall riding forward, becomes
airborne, rotates 90 degrees, flips over in the air, rotates another 90
degrees, and lands riding forward.
Crossbone Method Air:A Method Air where the back leg is boned.
Crooked Cop Air:Free riding version of the mosquito air. see Mosquito Air
Disaster:A lip trick where one gets "hung up" on the coping, most often
with the board perpendicular to the coping.
Double Grab:Basically, doing two separate tricks while in the air. One
goes off of a jump, grabs the board one way, then grabs it in another way, then
lands.
Duckfoot:A term used to describe stance angles with toes pointing
outward......like a duck.
Effective Edge:The length of metal edge on the snowboard which touches
the ground; it is the effective part which is used to make a turn. Therefore,
it does not include the edge of the tip and tail.
Eggflip:An Eggplant where the athlete chooses to flip over in order to
re-enter the pipe instead or rotating 180 degrees. Thus, this trick is
performed forward to fakie......or switchstance (fakie to forward).
Eggplant:A one handed 180 degree invert in which the front hand is
planted on the lip of the wall and the rotation is backside.
Elgeurial(BFM):An invert where the halfpipe wall is approached fakie, the
rear hand is planted, a 360 degree backside rotation is made, and the rider
lands going forward.
Eurocarve:A term used to describe a certain mode of riding in which the
rider makes large and hard cutting turns; usually getting way up on the edge
and leaning the body parallel to the ground. Certain equipement may also be
associated with the eurocarver....such as hard shell boots, plate bindings, and
certain clothing.
Fakie:A term used to describe riding backwards. see also Switchstance
Fall Line:The path of least resistance down any given slope.
Fat:A term used to describe how cool something is... Like a "Fat Air"
might be a really styled out trick as well as being "large", that is, very
high.
Flat Bottom:The area in a halfpipe between the two opposing transitional
walls.
Flatground:Term used to describe tricks performed on a flat slope without
obstacles. (e.g. nose slide, blunt slide, tail wheelie, etc...)
Freeriding:Snowboarding on all types of terrain for fun...no contests, no
halfpipe, no gates, no rules, etc...
Freestyle Snowboarding:The kind of snowboarding which is mostly
associated with riding the halfpipe, but which may also be used to describe any
type of snowboarding which includes tricks and maneuvers.
Fresh Fish Air:The backside version of the Stale Fish. see Stale Fish
Front Hand:The hand closest to the nose of the snowboard. In other words,
the left hand for regular footers and the right hand for goofy footers.
Front Foot:The foot mounted closest to the nose. A regular-footer's left
foot and a goofy-footer's right foot.
Frontside:The frontside of the snowboard is the side where the toes rest;
and the frontside of the snowboarder is the side to which his/her chest faces.
Frontside Air:Sometimes called the "Frontside Indy" the trick is best
described for its' grab. The Indy grab is with the rear hand between the
bindings on the toe edge; in this particular maneuver the front leg is boned.
Also..... it can be any air performed on the frontside wall of the halfpipe.
Frontside Rotation:Rotating counter-clockwise for a
regular-footer......and rotating clockwise for a goofy-footer (eg.frontside
360) note: When riding switch-stance the exact reverse applies and a
regular-footer will rotate clockwise and a goofy-footer will rotate
counter-clockwise.
Frontside Turn:A turn where the toe edge faces to the outside of the turn
while the snowboard is riding on the heel edge. In other words, a left turn for
a regular-footer and a right turn for a goofy-footer.
Frontside Wall:When standing at the top of the halfpipe and looking down
towards the bottom, the frontside wall is the right hand wall for
regular-footers and the left hand wall for goofy-footers. If you were to ride
straight down the center of the halfpipe you would be facing your frontside
wall.
Gay Twist:A trick which spins 360 degrees and includes a grab. Also see
Caballerial and Half-Cab.
Goofy Footed:Riding on a snowboard with the right foot in the forward
position. In other words the right foot is closest to the nose, furthest from
the tail, and in between the left foot and the nose.
Grab:To grab either edge of the snowboard with one or both hands.
Grind:To slide with the board parallel to the coping. Also see 50/50.
Half-Cab:Cannot be performed in the half pipe. It is the freeriding
version of the Caballerial in which one rotates 180 degrees from fakie to
forward off of a straight jump. Also see Caballerial and Gay Twist.
Halfpipe:A snow structure built for freestyle snowboarding. It consists
of opposing radial transition walls of the same height and size. Snowboarders
utilize the halfpipe to catch air and perform tricks by traveling back and
forth from wall to wall while moving down the fall line. The following are the
recommended dimensions:
|
Measurement |
Minimum |
Recommended |
Maximum |
|
Inclination |
14 degrees |
20 degrees |
22 degrees |
|
Length |
80 meters |
100 meters |
150 meters |
|
Width between walls |
10 meters |
15 meters |
18 meters |
|
Height of walls |
2 meters |
2 meters |
4 meters |
|
Transition radius |
1.5 meters |
2 meters |
3 meters |
|
Vertical |
10 centimeters |
20 centimeters |
1 meter |
|
Rollout deck width |
1 meter |
1 meter |
3 meters |
|
Drop in height |
1.5 meters |
2 meters |
2.5 meters |
Handplant (Backside):A 180 degree handplant in which both hands or the
rear hand may be planted on the lip of the wall and the rotation is backside.
Handplant (Frontside):A 180 degree handplant in which the front hand is
planted on the lip of the wall and the rotation is frontside.
Handplant (Layback):A 180 degree handplant in which the rear hand is
planted on the lip of the wall and the rotation is frontside.
Heel Edge:A snowboard has two different edges. The heel edge is the one
at which the heels rest.
Ho Ho:A general term given to any two handed handplant.
Hucker:One who throws himself/herself wildly through the air and does not
land on his/her feet.
Iguana Air:The rear hand grabs the toe edge near the tail.
Indy Air:A true "Indy Air" is performed backside with the rear hand
grabbing between the bindings on the toe edge while the rear leg is boned. The
term "Indy" may also be used to simply describe the location of the grab.
Invert:A trick where the head is beneath the board and the snowboarder
balances on one or two hands.
Inverted Aerial:A maneuver where the snowboarder becomes airborne and
upside down at any given moment.
Inverted 180:see Crippler
Inverted 540:see McTwist
Inverted 720 (720 McTwist):An inverted aerial where the snowboarder
performs a 720 degree rotational flip. In other words, the snowboarder
approaches the wall riding forward, becomes airborne, rotates 720 degrees in a
backside direction while performing a front flip, and lands riding fakie.
J-Tear:An invert where the athlete rotates roughly 540 degrees in a
frontside direction while planting one or both hands on the lip of the wall.
Invented by Mike Jacoby.
Japan Air:The front hand grabs the toe edge in front of the front
foot(mute), both knees are bent, the rear leg boned, and the board is pulled to
the level of the head.
Jib:Describes a type of riding which most closely resembles street
skating. "Jibbers" commonly slide rails, bonk trees, and perform flatground
tricks.
Kicker:A name for a jump ramp. Kickers usually have the property of
throwing you up into the air rather than giving you distance.
Late:A term used to describe incorporating something into a trick just
before its' completion and landing. (eg.. A Method to Late 180 would mean doing
a method air and at the last possible second rotating 180 degrees and landing
fakie).
Leash:A retention device used to attach the snowboard to the front foot
so that it doesn't run away.
Lien Air:The front hand grabs the heel edge and the body leans out over
the nose. Invented by skateboarder Neil Blender.
Lien Method Air:A cross between a Method and a Lien.
Lip:The top edge portion of the halfpipe wall.
Lip Trick:Any trick performed on or near the lip of the wall of the
halfpipe.
Mashed Potatoe:An alley oop air on the backside wall of the halfpipe
where the front hand grabs the toe edge in front of the front foot (mute) and
the back hand grabs the heel edge in front of the front foot behind the back.
Invented by George Pappas.
McEgg:An invert where the athlete plants the front hand on the wall,
rotates 540 degrees in a backside direction, and lands riding forward.
McTwist:An inverted aerial where the athlete performs a 540 degree
rotational flip. In other words, the athlete approaches the halfpipe wall
riding forward, becomes airborne, rotates 540 degrees in a backside direction
while performing a front flip, and lands riding forward. Invented by
skateboarder Mike McGill.
Melonchollie Air:The front hand reaches behind the front leg and grabs
the heel edge in-between the bindings while the front leg is boned.
Method Air:The front hand grabs the heel edge, both knees are bent, and
the board is pulled to level of the head.
Miller Flip:An invert where the halfpipe wall is approached riding
forward, the front hand is planted, a 360 degree frontside rotation is made,
and the rider lands riding fakie.
Misty Flip:The freeriding version of the McTwist. It is a partially
inverted 540 degree front flip that is performed off of a straight jump and
which may be performed from forward to fakie or from fakie to forward.
Mosquito Air:The front hand reaches behind the front leg and grabs the
heel edge between the bindings. The front knee is then bent to touch the board
.....tuck knee style.
Mute Air:The front hand grabs the toe edge either between the toes or in
front of the front foot.
Nollie:Much like an Ollie only you spring off of your nose instead of
your tail. See Ollie.
Nollie Frontflip:Springing off of the nose while going off of a jump and
leaning forward, allows you to do a frontflip.
Nose:The front tip of the snowboard.
Nose Bonk:To hit an object with the nose of the snowboard.
Nose Grab:The front hand grabs the nose of the snowboard.
Nose Poke:Any maneuver where you bone your front leg and "poke" the nose
of the snowboard in a direction away from your body... ....usually while
grabbing. (eg.. Indy nose poke).
Nose Slide:To slide along the ground or an object solely on the nose of
the snowboard.
Nose Tap:See Nose Bonk
Nuclear Air:The rear hand reaches across the front of the body and grabs
the heel edge in front of the front foot.
Ollie:A method to obtain air without a jump by first lifting the front
foot then lifting the rear foot as you spring off of the tail.
Palmer Air:A kind of method where the grab is near the nose, the board is
pulled across the front of the body, and the nose is pointed downward. Named
after Shaun Palmer.
Phillips 66:An invert where the athlete approaches the halfpipe wall
riding fakie, plants the rear hand on the lip of the wall while doing a "front
flip" and lands in the transition riding forward. Named after skateboarder Jeff
Phillips.
Pop Tart:Airing from fakie to forward in the halfpipe without rotation.
Quarterpipe:A halfpipe with only one wall.
Rail:There are two rails on a snowboard; each comprised of a sidewall and
an edge.
Rail Slide:To slide the rails of the snowboard onto almost anything,
other than a flat slope. Some good rail sliding surfaces include: fallen tree
branches/logs, the coping of a halfpipe, a picnic table.
Rear Hand:The hand closest to the tail of the snowboard. In other words,
the right hand for regular footers and the left hand for goofy footers.
Rear Foot:The foot mounted closest to the tail. A regular-footers right
foot and a goofy-footers left foot.
Regular Footed:Riding on a snowboard with the left foot in the forward
position. In other words the left foot is closest to the nose, furthest from
the tail, and in between the right foot and the nose.
Revert:To switch from riding fakie to forward, or from forward to fakie,
usually while the snowboard is still touching the ground.
Rewind:A term used to describe any maneuver where a rotation is
initiated, stopped, and its' momentum reversed.
Roast Beef Air:The rear hand reaches between the legs and grabs the heel
edge between the bindings while the rear leg is boned.
Rock and Roll:A lip trick where the athlete rides up a wall, balances on
the lip with the board perpendicular to the coping, and renters the pipe
without any rotation.....all in one smooth motion.
Rocket Air:The front hand grabs the toe edge in front of the front foot
(mute) and the back leg is boned while the board points perpendicular to the
ground.
Rolling down the windows:A phrase used to describe when someone is caught
off balance and they rotate their arms wildly in the air to try and recover.
Sad Plant:A term used to describe any handplant where the front leg is
boned for style.
Seatbelt:The front hand reaches across the body and grabs the tail while
the front leg is boned.
Shifty:A grabless trick where the upper torso and lower body are twisted
in opposite directions and then returned to normal. Usually the front leg is
boned.
Shovel:The lifted or upward curved sections of a snowboard at the tip and
tail.
Sick:(Slang) An expression used to describe something really cool....
clothing, a trick, a run, etc...
Sketching:The act of riding along precariously and near falling.
Slob Air:A frontside air where the front hand grabs mute, the back leg is
boned, and the board is kept parallel with the ground.
Smith Grind:A lip trick where one slides with the coping perpendicular to
the snowboard with the front leg boned and the nose is oriented below the
coping and the tail above.
Spaghetti Air:The front hand reaches between the legs and behind the
front leg to grab the toe edge in front of the front foot while the back leg is
boned.
Stale Egg:An eggplant with a stalefish grab. see Eggplant and Stalefish
Stalefish Air:A frontside trick where the rear hand grabs the heel edge
behind the rear leg and in between the bindings while the rear leg is boned.
Stalemasky Air:The front hand reaches between the legs and grabs the heel
edge between the bindings while the front leg is boned.
Stalled:When a maneuver is performed such that the point of emphasis in
the maneuver is held or "stalled" for an extended period of time. Usually the
best time to take a picture.
Stance:The position of ones feet on the snowboard. Includes stance types,
such as regular or goofy, and also stance specifications, such as widths and
angles.
Stiffy Air:Any maneuver in which both legs are boned and a grab is
incorporated. (e.g.. Mute Stiffy).
Stinky:Riding with the legs spread open, (knees apart).
Swiss Cheese Air:The rear hand reaches between the legs and grabs the
heel edge in front of the front foot while the back leg is boned.
Switchstance (Switch):The term for performing a trick while riding
backwards. It is important to note that it's a specific term given to a
maneuver which is performed exactly like riding forwards. The only difference
is the rider is going backwards.....as if he were a goofy-footer instead of a
regular-footer, or vice-versa, hence the term "switched stance". Thus, any
trick may be performed switchstance. Also, see Fakie
Tail:The rear tip of the snowboard.
Tail Bonk:To hit an object with the tail of the snowboard.
Tail Grab:The rear hand grabs the tail of the snowboard.
Tail Poke:Any maneuver where you bone your rear leg and "poke" the tail
of the snowboard in a direction away from your body.......usually while
grabbing.
Tail Slide:To slide along the ground or an object solely on the tail of
the snowboard.
Tail Tap:See Tail Bonk
Tail Wheelie:To ride solely on the tail of the snowboard with the nose in
the air.
Taipan Air:The front hand reaches behind the front foot and grabs the toe
edge between the bindings. The front knee is then bent to touch the
board.....tuck knee style.
Toe Edge:A snowboard has two different edges. The toe edge is the one at
which the toes rest.
Transition (Tranny):The radial curved section of a halfpipe wall between
the flat bottom and the vertical. A snowboarder pumps and rides the transition
to gain speed, catch air, and to land.
Traverse:To ride perpendicular to the fall line. A halfpipe rider
traverses from wall to wall in the halfpipe.
Tuck knee:A technique where one knee is bent and the ankle bent sideways
in order to touch the knee to the snowboard between the bindings. (eg. Tuck
Knee Indy Air).
Tweaked:A term used to explain the emphasis of style in a trick. In other
words, if someone "tweaked out a method" they would grab hard and create an
emphasis of the maneuver such that their ankles or other joints may appear bent
or twisted to a maximum degree.
Twin Tip:A type of snowboard designed for freestyle snowboarding. It has
an identical tip and a tail so that the board may be ridden similarly in both
directions.
Vertical (Vert):The vertical top portion of a wall in a
halfpipe.......which allows the snowboarder to fly straight up into the air;
and not out of the pipe....or into the pipe.
Wall:The wall of a halfpipe is comprised of a transition and a vertical
section.
50/50:To slide with the board parallel to the coping. Also see Grind.
180:The snowboarder rotates 180 degrees in the air and lands riding
fakie. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wall riding forward, rotates
180 degrees, and lands riding forward.
360:The snowboarder rotates 360 degrees in the air and lands riding
forward. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wall riding forward, rotates
360 degrees, and lands riding fakie. This trick may also be performed by riding
fakie and landing riding forwards; in which case it is called a Caballerial.
see Caballerial
540:The snowboarder rotates 540 degrees in the air and lands riding
fakie. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wall riding forward, rotates
540 degrees, and lands riding forward.
720:The snowboarder rotates 720 degrees in the air and lands riding
forward. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wall riding forward, rotates
720 degrees, and lands riding fakie. Of course, it may also be performed by
riding fakie and landing riding forward.
900:The snowboarder rotates 900 degrees in the air and lands riding
fakie. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wall riding forward, rotates
900 degrees, and lands riding forward.
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