Glossary 102 Like any sport ("bogey," "offsides," "icing," from golf, football, and hockey, respectively), snowboarding has some unique terms. Here Grays on Trays offers an explanation of some of those terms. All-mountain A board that is designed to perform reasonably well in all conditions. Back country Territory that is not part of the usual ski area, riders in the back country should be advanced and well-trained for the dangers of avalanches. Big air [Freestyle] Jumping into the air and performing various tricks. Black diamonds The most difficult-to-ride trails in a ski area are designated (in the U.S.) by a black diamond. What makes them black? They tend to be stepper, more narrow (or both) than other trails, and may feature bumps. Blue squares Trails of medium difficulty at a ski area are designated (in the U.S.) by a blue square. See also green circles and black diamonds. Boardercross A race on a snowboard, sort of like a Motocross but on the snow. Bumps Large mounds of snow within a trail. Also known as moguls. Carving 1. When you make turns relying on the shape of the board without skidding, you're carving. 2. A subdiscipline of snowboarding that emphasizes riding with the board at an extremely high angle to the ground, resulting in the rider being very close to the ground. 3. A board specifically designed for such riding, usually set apart by being more straight than other boards. Clicker A type of binding; specifically a step-in binding sold by K2. Cruising Skiing or snowboarding from the top of the mountain to the bottom without performing any tricks along the way, usually on beginner or intermediate slopes that have been groomed. Corduroy Snow that has been groomed; it has grooves that resemble the fabric. It is favored by people who prefer cruising. Duck A way of standing on the board, with the front foot facing the tip of the board and the back foot facing the tail; the opposite of pigeon-toed. Some people find it easier to ride switch when they have a duck stance, though others find that it puts too much pressure on the knees. More useful in freestyle snowboarding than in all-mountain riding. Freestyle 1. Snowboard riding that emphasizes tricks, such as making turns in the halfpipe or getting big air. 2. A board designed for such riding, usually lighter and with increased flexibility. Green circles The easiest trails at a ski area are designated (in the U.S.) by a green circle. See also blue squares and black diamonds. Groomers; Grooming Grooming is the act of using heavy equipment (groomers) to break up hard snow and make it easier to ride on, and more predictable. A groomer can also refer to a trail that has been groomed. Halfpipe A place in the snow that looks like, well, half a pipe. Used for performing tricks such as spinning. Kicker A small ramp, made of snow, that a rider can jump from. Moguls Large mounds of snow within a trail. Also known as bumps. Pipe Dragon A piece of heavy equipment for sculpting halfpipes. Powder Soft, fluffy snow, often thought of as the ultimate medium for snowboarding. Rolling down the windows If someone has jumped and is losing his balance, he may wildly rotate his arms (as if rolling up a car window) in an attempt (usually futile) to regain his balance. Split board A snowboard that can be split in half (from tip to tail) and used as telemark skis for making ascents in the back country. Step-in 1. A type of binding which secures the boot to board by, well, stepping your boot into metal objects on the board. 2. Actually placing your boot into such a binding. Strap in To make sure that both of your feet are set in a binding. A strap is one form of binding. Also known as buckling in. Superpipe A very large halfpipe. Terrain Park A place within a ski area where snowboarders and skiers can do freestyle tricks. In addition to the halfpipe, a terrain park may contain (hand) rails, picnic tables, kickers, and other man-made and snow objects. Yard sale If a person falls down and his equipment scatters, he has had a yard sale. Usually applies only to skiers, who may lose their poles and skis. Of course, a snowboard rider won't have poles or skis. Return to Glossary 101. DISCUSSION Stop by the GraysOnTrays discussion board. Return to the home page.