Snow Sports Language

Since the name of this blog and web site stems from an old insult, it’s time to mention a few words relating to snow sports.

Grays on Trays, of course, refers to adults who ride snowboards. Published reports of it suggest a minimum age of anywhere from 20 to 50.

A less flattering term of a snowboard rider is knuckle dragger, perhaps as in “knuckle-dragging Neanderthal,” or troglodyte.

A far less commonly found term in winter sports (there are less than two dozen hits on a Google search) is disco sticks. I take this to refer to the long straight skis of the 1970s. Oddly enough (or not), I first heard this in about the same time someone was playing a song from the 70s-era band (though not disco group), Styx.

Another snow term? Several instructors I know teach both skiing and snowboarding. One of the more ardent advocates of snowboarding calls such individuals crossdressers.

It’s an odd term, really. Ski and snowboard instructors wear the same gear from head to … well, not toe, but to mid-shin.