Know how to “walk the walk” but have trouble “talking the talk?” Would comments like “The old bubble crawled” or “I held a yard sale on that concrete” be readily understandable?

If this makes no sense to you, the following lexicon should prove helpful…

 

AASI

American Association of Snowboard Instructors. Often listed as PSIA-AASI, the adder meaning Professional Ski Instructors of America.

 

A-Basin

common short form of Arapahoe Basin

 

Alpine (skiing)

generally describes lift-served, downhill skiing. Alpine gear, for example.

 

Alpine

common shortform of Alpine Meadows, CA ski area.

 

ASC

American Skiing Company…and Aspen Skiing Company (see Skico). Confusing, eh? Not anymore; ASC (American Skiing Co) is out of business. At one time this mega-operator owned Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Attitash, Mount Snow, Killington, Pico, Steamboat, and The Canyons. Now it doesn’t own any.

 

Back Side

Refers to the rougher terrain at a ski area: The bowls, woods, or otherwise uncharted territory — yet still in-bounds. Generally used to describe skiers who take more risks by venturing into the unmanicured terrain. Term originally derived from Vail, with a front side of cut trails and a back side of glades and open bowls. Today, most Western and even a few Eastern ski areas have what is considered a “back side,” although it may not be geographically located on the “back” of the mountain.

 

BAFL

Big Air, Flat Landing. Ouch.

 

Banging

skiing a mogul field with unquestionable skill…knees pumping like pistons, skis banging on the snow.

 

Basket

device a few inches from the bottom of a ski pole, designed to help “plant” the pole and ultimately prevent the pole from knifing straight down into the snow. Small diameter baskets work best on eastern ice; wider diameter baskets are more helpful in western powder.

 

The Basin

Although there are many resorts with Basin in the name, only A-Basin is referred to simply as “the Basin.”

 

Battleship

Trapezoid-shaped rail (up, flat, down) in the terrain park.

 

BC

the way hip, in-the-know skiers refer to backcountry skiing.

 

The Beach

parking lot or area at base lodge at the end of the season. After a few runs mashing through mush, most just head to the beach for booze, babes in bikinis, boomboxes, BBQ grills, etc. Some ski areas actively promote this phenomenon. Those that do are usually much ado about nothing. True beaches are spontaneous happenings. The beach that sets the standard is at A-Basin.

 

Bear Trap

Historic binding that used a spring-assisted cable that stretched around the heel of the boot, then clamped down with a lever in front of the toe retainer.

 

The Beast

nickname for Berkshire East

 

The Beast of the East

yet another nickname for Killington

 

The Beav

Beaver Mountain, UT

 

Biffed

wiped out; usually applied to a wipe out in which the skier or boarder pops back up and continues.

 

The Bird

popular nickname for Snowbird

 

Birds of Prey

World Cup race trail at Beaver Creek, CO

 

Blacks

expert trails, also expert skiers.

 

Blowing out the mice

when ski areas test their snowmaking system in the fall.

 

Blowwood

snarky nickname for Ski Bluewood, closest ski area to Walla Walla, WA

 

Blues

intermediate trails, also intermediate skiers. Strong Blues are good intermediate skiers who venture onto expert trails.

 

B-Net

this is the orange netting you see lining racecourses. It’s often a combination of A-Net panels and B-Net, and the lower blue netting for crowd control is called C-Net, but it’s all mostly referred to as B-Net. B-Net is a trademark of Barry Cordage LTD of Montreal, Canada. Barry Cordage also makes aerial nets for trapeze artists, etc.

 

Bode

It’s pronounced “bo-dee,” and he happens to be the first American in 20+ years to win the FIS Overall World Cup. He’s Bode Miller, from Franconia, New Hampshire, 2004-2005 Overall Champion. Again in 2007-08, top gun, top dog, for a time was the best overall skier in the world. If he didn’t make a mistake, he won the race. But his hang it all out, do it my way style often resulted in chaos.

 

Boiler Plate

Super hard icy surface.

 

Bombhole

Hole in snow after landing “big air”

 

Boner City

Seeing something on the slopes that makes you very happy.

 

Boot Clamps

this is what hillbillies call bindings.

 

Breck

common short form of Breckenridge

 

Breeder

Breeder hill, Breeder area, etc. this is one way to define smaller ski areas with limited services, target audience is locals, kids, learn-to-ski. Often a mix of surface tows and possibly a couple fixed grip chairlifts. These are places like Howelsen Hill, Tahoe-Donner, Buck Hill, Nashoba. See also “Feeder” and “Destination”

 

Brooker

former Canadian great Todd Brooker, who won a couple downhill events in the early 1980s prior to his spectacular career-ending crash at Kitzbuehel, in which he cartwheeled down the hill like a rag doll. Although Brooker is a capable television analyst, when skiers say “Brooker” they are usually referring to an end-over-end tumble.

 

Bubble

Originally a chairlift with a plexiglas type cover that would be lowered to minimized windchill. Today it applies to any gondola or otherwise enclosed lift.

 

Bubble Club

Skiers who have made whoopee on an enclosed ski lift.

 

Bucket

Open air type of gondola, ski areas often call a cabriolet, that you stand in like canned sardines. The only benefits are that it moves a lot of people up the hill, and — if you are alone and you really gotta go — the bottom is usually metal grating.

 

The Buhel

Kitzbuhel, Austria; see Hahnenkamm, below

 

The Bush

nickname for Sugarbush.

 

Camber

This is the “upward” curvature in the center area of your skis. Gives the ski the ability to flex, rebound in turns, and provide the skier with more control. Some powder skis use reverse camber; the ski is curved downward to aid flotation.

 

Carhartt

manufacturer of one-piece work wear popular with mountain ops; also used by discriminating skiers in the Virginias, Carolinas, and some remote rural locales.

 

Cement

as in, “Sierra Cement,” referring to wet, heavy snow.

 

Champagne Powder

Used to describe the dry, crystalline powder snow at Steamboat.

 

Chatter

Ski vibrations or uncontrolled movement on bumpy or rough surfaces at speed.

 

Chay

pronunciation of Jay Peak, in Cherman.

 

Chicken Necks

or “Frozen Chicken Necks” round globs of ice formed by tilling that adhere to the surface and will toss a skier.

 

Chondola

Unusual type of lift that has chairs and gondolas on the same rope. Usually has separate lines for both types of conveyance. Only a couple of lifts have been assembled this way.

 

Chunder

choppy, wet snow.

 

Clamps

See “boot clamps,” above. Enough already.

 

Clickers

This is a type of snowboard binding that can be clicked into like a ski binding. It saves the boarder from having to sit down and fiddle with straps. Fell out of fashion as more and more boarders jumped into terrain parks; some “click in” bindings had a nasty habit of popping out when the rider would jump on a hit.

 

Clipped

Two meanings. First, to get hit by someone skiing recklessly. Second, to have your ticket cut and lift privileges revoked. Example: After the idiot clipped five people, his ticket was clipped.

 

Concrete

Depends where you are. Hard concrete refers to icy conditions. Wet concrete refers to wet, slushy crud. Cascade Concrete refers to wet, slushy crud. “Concrete” — used by itself — is either ice or slush, depends on your point of view.

 

Corn

Semi-frozen spring snow, or spring snow before it degenerates into wet cement. A desirable spring snow; large granules with just enough adhesion to provide fun skiing conditions.

 

Cross Country Trail

Older or poorly designed trail flat enough — or even uphill at times — requiring poling and walking.

 

Crud

Soft, mucky, mushy muck that nobody likes to ski in. Usually spring snow in the east, average snow in the Cascades.

 

Damp, Dampen

Ability of a ski to absorb chatter.

 

Deer Run

Trail name commonly given to long wandering novice or easy intermediate trails that go from summit to base.

 

Destination Resort

Typically one with high cost tickets, and requires overnight stay somewhere. These are places like Heavenly, Vail, Lutsen, Stowe. See also “breeder” and “feeder.”

 

DH, Downhill

Downhill race course, gates are set only at intervals to keep the skier on a specific course. Downhill is the least technical — but most difficult — of the alpine ski race disciplines. Turns are usually greater than 30 meters.

 

Dimensions

measurements across the ski at the two widest and one narrowest part, also known as the tip-waist-tail. The measurements are then expressed as millimeters, such as 114-74-101.

 

DIN

Deutsche InternationalConfusion Number. German numbering system applied to bindings, boots, etc. in an effort to standardize things, based on the metric system. Hopelessly confuses those of us in the USA. Usually we use the term “DIN rating” or “DIN number” to refer to our weight release setting on our bindings.

 

DNF

Did Not Finish, in competition.

 

Do it up one time

Catch phrase attributed to “Radio Ron,” a mogul skier who has a cult following in the northeast ski scene.

 

Double Fall Line

Any slope that not only has a grade from top to bottom, but also has a pronounced grade from left to right, such that gravity is not only forcing you down the hill, but also to one side of the trail. Think of a banked race track, but headed down hill.

 

Dump

A really big snowfall.

 

Dumped

When you’re skiing with someone and things go wrong and the situation becomes unpleasant and you see a way out and rather than stop and tell your fellow skiers you just take it and they go on and suffer but at least you found an easy way out.

 

Earn your turns

Not using lifts; hiking or skinning up a mountain and then skiing down.

 

Face Shots

No, not that. It refers to skiing in deep powder, and you take hits of snow in your face.

 

Fall Line

straight down the mountain. Whatever route a ball would roll down a hill. Some ski slopes have double fall lines, which means the trail slopes two ways.

 

Fartbag

Another name for one-piece ski suits.

 

First tracks

Being first down a trail after a snowfall.

 

Feeder

Feeder resort, feeder mountain, etc. These are mid-sized resorts usually populated by locals and weekend vacation homes. You wouldn’t necessarily fly to ski at one of these places, but you might. Typified by places like Alpine Meadows, Powder Mountain, Loveland, Caberfae, Gore Mountain. See also “breeder” and “destination.”

 

F.I.S.

Federation Internationale de Ski (or something to that effect) the sanctioning body of World Cup skiing.

 

Flat

Two meanings: First, a ski sold “flat” is a ski sold without bindings. Second, when a binding is mounted “flat” it means that it is fastened directly to the ski, with no intermediate “plate.” Flat-mounted bindings are currently preferred by park & pipe skiers, mogul skiers, powder skiers, and many all-mountain enthusiasts.

 

Flats

Trail section with lack of sufficient grade that it requires poling or walking to cross.

 

Footy, Footy for the Boys

Expression describing someone who religiously uses their GoPro to create video of meaningless runs, or goes to great extremes to capture video that ends badly. Coined by Jerry of the Day.

 

Fore Runner

Skier or skiers sent down a race course to test it out for observers. In FIS competition, these skiers are usually the best local pros. They generally fall and flail their way down the course, which serves to point out (a) how genuinely difficult the course is to ski at race speed, and (b) how much better World Cup skiers are than even the best experts any given ski resort can produce.

 

Formica

Icy conditions that remain after the powder has been skied off.

 

Found ski area

“Lost” or closed ski area that has re-opened.

 

Free Skiing

a term racers use to describe non-competivie skiing, or skiing just for the fun of it, what the rest of us just call skiing.

 

Freshies

Same thing as “first tracks” above, but with some expanded usage. Generally refers to anything having to do with new fallen snow; can be noun or verb. Noun: “We were first on the freshies” Verb: “We made freshies in the upper glade this morning.”

 

Front Side

Refers to the groomed or otherwise regularly maintained trails at a ski resort. Generally used to describe skiers who take fewer risks. Term originally derived from Vail, with a front side of cut trails and a back side of glades and open bowls. A “front sider” stays in the civilized terrain.

 

Frozen Smoke

Very dry powder snow.

 

Fruit Boots

Snowblades.

 

Full Send

Going for it with complete commitment, perhaps too much so; usually ends badly.

 

Gap Jump

Lunatic practice of jumping over a gap of some sort, either a road, stream, canyon, etc.

 

Gapers

Very slow skiers who appear to be gaping at the traffic passing them by.

 

Geze

Former binding manufacturer, bought by Rossignol. No Geze bindings are indemnified any longer. Pronounce “gay-zee.”

 

Geschmozzle

Nordic race in which all participants start at the same time. It is sometimes tried in alpine skiing, usually for audience enjoyment.

 

Glade

ski slope that has a few trees on it. technically, a glade is an opening in a forest. Differs from tree skiing, which is skiing in a forest or a thinned-out forest…know the difference. A glade is mostly open, tree skiing is not.

 

GMD

Gold Miner’s Daughter. GMD is a lodge at base of Alta, at the end of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

 

Gnar

Challenging slope or conditions, or almost anything you’ve skied on or are going to ski if you are excited by it. You’re going to “shred the gnar” …and it doesn’t really matter what the “gnar” is.

 

Gondy

Gondola.

 

Gorilla, Gorilla Turn

Using the upper body to force a turn.

 

Govy, Guvvie

Government Camp, Oregon. That’s the “town” that services a number of ski resorts on Mt. Hood with lodging, restaurants, ski shops, and the usual. During summer months it becomes an odd melange of ski camp kids and rehabbing racers who practice each morning on the Palmer Snowfield at Timberline Lodge.

 

Granular

What machine-made snow becomes as it gets warm. A word ski areas use to call the thick crud that looks like miniature ball bearings that nobody wants to ski on. A euphemism for garbage snow. “Machined granular” is crud the groomers have slopped around. “Frozen granular” is a nice way of saying ice.

 

Groomers

Has a few different meanings, all related to grooming the snow. The guys who drive the grooming machines are called groomers, and the machines they drive are sometimes called groomers. It can also be used to refer to a vague combination of the two: “The groomers really cleaned up this trail last night.” Last but not least, the trails at a given ski area that the groomers groom regularly with their groomers are called…groomers. Example: “Johnny likes the bumps, but I tend to stay on the groomers.”

 

GS

Giant Slalom. A slalom course with gates set further apart, generally encouraging more speed with a longer ski.

 

Hahnenkamm

Notorious World Cup downhill race course at Kitzbuhel, Austria. Site of numerous career-ending crashes. The course itself is called the Streif.

 

The Hammer (Randy Grasso)

King of bump skiing in New England, usually found on Outer Limits trail at Killington.

 

Hanger

A liftie’s worst nightmare. After a newbie or OOR has trouble boarding a chairlift, they usually get smacked to the side and fall with little harm done. Some, however, hang on for dear life and head up the mountain dangling from the chair.

 

Hater

Skier who tries to play down another skier’s success.

 

The Hermanator (Hermann Maier)

Also known as “Das Monster” for being indestructible, besides the fact that he dominated ski racing for almost ten years. Maier went high and horizontal at 70 mph during his downhill run at the 1998 Olympic games in Nagano. After a crash that would’ve killed most mere mortals, Maier returned over the next couple days to take the gold in slalom and giant slalom. A few years later he was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident and, yes, returned to win the World Cup. Hence “the Hermanator.”

 

Hero Snow

Optimum conditions; the stuff that makes everybody look like a great skier. A lot of ski areas claim to have this when in fact they have nothing of the sort.

 

Herringbone

walking uphill in skis by forming a v-shape. sometimes called a duckwalk.

 

Hike

When a ski racer misses a gate, they may hike back up to the gate to prevent a disqualification, assuming their skis have stayed on.

 

Hit

manmade feature in a terrain park.

 

Hooking

When ski or board “grabs” the snow and turns sharply on its own

 

Hotshot

Skier who skis the toughest trails, usually with a flourish, has a standoffish attitude and generally can’t be bothered by the rest of us mere mortals.

 

Huck

A big, crazy jump or drop, as off a cliff.

 

Ice Face

Nickname for New York’s Whiteface, site of the 1980 Olympic downhill.

 

Indemnified

refers to bindings; indemnified bindings are those that the manufacturer still supports, and as such your local ski shop will still adjust for you (usually).

 

J-bar

Surface lift in which a J- or L-shaped bar suspended from an overhead wire pulls a single skier up the slope via his or her behind. J-bar lifts run clockwise, L-bars run counter-clockwise…get it? BUT don’t ever refer to an L-bar as an L-bar — always call it a J-bar, no matter what way it runs.

 

The Jane

nickname for Mary Jane, popular bumped up mountain at Winter Park.

 

Jerry

Noob or Tex who tries real hard but is clueless to the fact that they are indeed,
clueless.

 

The Jet

1. original trail at Jay Peak, VT. 2. nickname Steve Porino gave himself on the World Cup Tour. As a pro skier, he never lived up to it. But he’s extremely knowledgable and an excellent TV commentator.

 

Jetting

projecting you feet forward while coming out of a turn, to increase speed. Style perfected by Stein Ericksen.

 

JONG

Jack Off New Guy.

 

K-Mart

Killington.

 

Kicker

A sharply angled jump that effectively “kicks” a skier up in the air, such as a freestyle jump.

 

Kirkweed

Kirkwood Ski Resort, California.

 

Klammer (Franz Klammer)

Austrian skier whose no-holds-barred gold-medal run in the 1976 Innsbruck Olympic Downhill inspired a new style and generation of high speed racing. Easily the most breathtaking run ever seen by a worldwide audience at that time. Skiers have since gone faster and to greater extremes, but his 1976 dash to gold will forever be the benchmark. Also known as the Austrian Express and the Austrian Astronaut.

 

Lasse Kjus

Norwegian olympian, one of the great downhill skiers of the 1990s.

 

Lauberhorn

Long, difficult FIS World Cup course in Wengen, Switzerland, located in the shadow of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau.

 

Lifties

Stoners, ski bums, overtired college students, etc. who operate ski lifts. Not all Lift Operators are Lifties…let’s be clear on that.

 

The Loaf

common short form of Sugarloaf, ME

 

Lord, Lord’s Prayer

Jesus of course, however ski trails with this name are usually memorializing Charlie Lord, a CCC worker who built numerous trails in New England during the 1930s and 1940s.

 

Lost ski area

Ski area that has gone out of business, whether it has become a condo complex or the rusting infrastructure still rattles in the wind. See NELSAP, below.

 

Madonna

Former name of Smuggler’s Notch Ski Area, still the name of the main mountain.

 

Magic Carpet

conveyor belt-type ski lift; ideal for the pre-school set because you simply stand on it while the lift cranks slowly up the hill.

 

Manky

smells bad. also funky

 

Mashed Potatoes

sloppy, ungroomed snow, tough to ski in. Also referred to as scrambled eggs, chicken heads and bowling balls, etc.

 

Meatheads

film crew from Burlington, VT that produces movies based on the east coast ski scene.

 

Merrill, Perry Merrill

Refers to a Vermont road department worker who was laid off during the Great Depression, who went to work building ski trails. Constructed the original Nose Dive with Charley Lord.

 

Midfat

a ski favored in areas prone to powder, but generally suitable for skiing on piste. It began with skis with a waist (underfoot measurement) of 70 mm or higher, but now even that’s too narrow. As most manufacturer’s reps are known to say, “almost everything’s a midfat these days.”

 

Miller, Warren

Ski movie pioneer whose annual films are often shown in ski towns as a way to ramp up to the season, often with a festival atmosphere attached. Miller’s films combined deep powder skiing, acrobatics, and usually some gaffes to create an entertaining capsule of the sport. Miller provided his own narration, which was arguably more complelling than the footage. Famous, frequently-used Miller lines include “You want your skis? Go get ’em” and “If you don’t try skiing this season, you’ll be at least another year older when you do.” The Warren Miller brand is currently owned by Time, Inc.

 

Mt. Sneaux

snarky nickname for Mount Snow

 

MRG

common short form of Mad River Glen

 

Muppets

skiers who wear one-piece “romper” ski suits

 

NELSAP

as a noun, it’s an acronym for New England Lost Ski Area Project. Catch-all website NELSAP.org is home to info on out-of-business ski areas in New England and elsewhere. as a verb, a ski area is “Nelsapped” when it goes out of business.

 

Newbies

are the girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband who has never skied before, but gamely insists on going along and trying.

 

NNN

New Nordic Norm. One of the important boot/binding standards in cross country skiing.

 

Noob

Derogatory term for Newbie. “newbie” is said with affection; “noob” with derision.

 

Noodle

A soft ski designed for beginners, not rigid enough to hold an edge at high speeds.

 

Nordic (skiing)

generally describes cross-country or ski jumping. Nordic gear, for example.

 

Nordie

someone really into cross country skiing.

 

Nose Dive

Arguably the most storied ski trail in the USA. One of the original CCC trails at Stowe, used to require a short hike, then a psycho run down one of the narrowest, iciest, most frightening trails ever built. Today’s Nose Dive has been significantly tamed.

 

Nutted, Nutted-out

Painful term used mostly in terrain parks. Let’s say you’re sliding on a rail, and your right ski inadvertently goes off the right side of the rail while the left ski goes off the left side of the rail.

 

Off-Piste

ungroomed but legal part of a ski area. Usually refers to bowls or glades that are not maintained but approved for adventurous expert skiers.

 

OOB

Out of Bounds. Area posted as not legal for skiing, but usually has some attraction for adventurous expert skiers.

 

OORs

Orientals on Rentals (hey, I just report this stuff)

 

Orange Room, Trip to the Orange Room, Visit to the Orange Room

Crashing into the orange catch netting used at ski races.

 

Pally

common short form of Palivacinni section of A-Basin

 

PCMR

common short form of Park City Mountain Resort

 

P-Dog

Peruvian Lodge at Alta

 

Pinheads

Telemark skiers.

 

Piste

pronounced peest. Groomed snow.

 

Plate

A pad or platform placed on top of skis; the bindings are then mounted to the plate. See Race Plate andRental PlateFlat (above) for more information.

 

Platter-pull, also Poma

Surface lift in which a disc suspended from an overhead wire is placed between the legs and pulls a single skier up a slope. Poma is actually a manufacturer of lifts, everything from surface tows to chairlifts to gondolas…but when referred to by skiers, “poma” generally refers to a platter-pull surface lift popularized by the same firm.

 

Poaching

skiing where you aren’t supposed to ski, whether ducking a rope or entering a private resort.

 

Pocono Pavement

ice, or as the resort would say, “packed powder.”

 

Pooping

sitting down on the back of your skis while going downhill. usually only kids are flexible enough to do this.

 

Posse

people you ski with.

 

Pow

powder snow.

 

Pow Mow

Powder Mountain, Utah

 

Powder Hound

Skier who goes to great effort to find and ski in untracked powder.

 

Powder Pig

someone who likes to wallow in super deep powder, where the rest of us would usually flounder.

 

Powder Skis

Generally any ski wider than 90 mm under foot, although that number is getting higher all the time. Right now it’s around the 110 mm mark.

 

PSIA

Professional Ski Instructors of America. Often listed as PSIA-AASI, the adder meaning American Association of Snowboard Instructors

 

P-tex

plastic stick used to repair the polyethylene base of a ski. Some refer to the polyethylene base material as p-tex.

 

Puking

Continuous snowfall while skiing.

 

Quiet, Quiet Middle, Quiet Center

One of the most difficult things for an intermediate skier to get…the goal is to have your legs carve turns by pivoting from side to side, as if on a swivel, while the upper body stays straight and doesn’t appear to move at all. Making turns without turning the shoulders.

 

Quiver

When you have more than one pair of skis, in other words, you own a pair of mid-fats, a pair of racing skis for icy days, a pair of freestyle skis, a pair of rock skis, etc…this is your “quiver.”

 

Race Plate

Also called Lifter plate, a riser or other material between ski and bindings; by raising the bindings it gives the racer more leverage to turn the ski. Some plates are designed to increase the rigidity of the ski, and/or provide the skier with more control over the length of the ski.

 

Radio Ron

Fringe ski celebrity, a bump skier from Mentor, OH known for his “do it up one time” catch-phrase, vintage ski suits and radio headphones. Also famous for “dit-dit-dit-dit” chatter as he navigates steep moguls.

 

Randonee

Free-heeling/Alpine touring type of ski that allows skier to release the heel, hike up the mountain, then lock the heel back in and ski down. Randonee enthusiasts are generally in excellent shape and a bit nutty.

 

Ripper

Someone who can “rip,” i.e., ski extremely fast and well.

 

Rec skis

this is what a racer calls the skis they use when they aren’t racing, in other words, softer skis for “recreational” skiing.

 

Rental Plate

A type of binding mount that can be adjusted easily and quickly without tools. Often has a guide for boot length, or letter codes that the rental tech uses to quickly resize the bindings for the next customer.

 

Rock Season

In the eastern USA, this is the end of the ski season (March/April and sometimes May) when melting snow requires skiing over some hazards. In the west it generally describes the very early season, when cover isn’t quite sufficient to keep skis from hitting rocks. See also “Twig Season”

 

Rock Skis

Usually older, semi-worn out or even damaged skis now relegated for use in early or late season, when thin cover would damage a skier’s preferred pair.

 

Rocker

Ski design that employs reverse camber to make turning and stopping easier with wide skis. Some rocker skis employ reverse camber at tip and tails, with traditional construction mid-ski. Began as “reverse camber” powder skis. Used for years by western backcountry & big mountain skiers; gained mainstream popularity circa 2009-2010.

 

Rollers

a series of bumps, not necessarily big, that are spaced such that they give recreational skiers a roller coaster sensation. These same rollers can throw racers off balance, or ruin their approach to a gate.

 

Rompers or Romper Suits

goofy, one-piece ski suits — often with dayglo colors — popularized in the 1970s and 1980s. These costumes are so bizarre, they began regaining popularity circa 2006, and since then are actively sought in vintage clothing shops, e-bay, etc. Also known as fartbags.

 

Run Rubbish

skiers and snowboarders who sit around in the middle of a slope.

 

Savage

skiers and snowboarders who go for it “full send” and somehow survive

 

Schralping

Aggressively charging a line, run, glade, etc.

 

Schuss

To ski straight down the fall line.

 

Schuss-boom

To ski straight down the fall line in a tuck.

 

Scissoring

when your ski tips cross each other.

 

Scrambled Eggs

sloppy, ungroomed snow, same as “mashed potatoes.”

 

Scraping Buckles

Done by racers who ski “on the edge” and get very close to fences, netting, etc., as if their boot buckles are about to scrape along the fence.

 

Sel, Sel’s

Almost any ski trail with this name refers to Sel Hannah, one of the most important ski area designers in New England during the 1950s and 1960s.

 

Send Sticks

skis. Use these when you commit; see “Full Send” above.

 

Shovel

the front, upturned part of the ski.

 

Sidecut

a number based on the parabolic shape, or sidecut of the ski. The number describes the turning radius of the ski if skied on edge; a ski with a 14 meter turning radius has a significant sidecut, while a ski with a 25 meter turning radius does not. The lower the number, the more “turny” the ski.

 

Sideways

Describes a ski area with the main lodge on the side of the hill, as opposed to the bottom (regular) or top (upside-down). Pennsylvania leads the country in side-ways ski areas, highlighted by Sno Mountain (formerly Montage) and Blue Mountain.

 

Sidewall, Sidewall Construction

Skis with defined vertical “sides” between the topsheet and the base. These are usually race skis or a ski that requires a more aggressive, faster ride. Sidewall construction as differentiated from “cap” construction, in which the top sheet curves over and connects right to the base.

 

Signature Trail

Whether it’s history, reputation, the view, or degree of difficulty…it’s the run you have to do, even if it isn’t necessarily the best the resort has to offer. The Nose Dive at Stowe. Al’s Run at Taos. Ruthie’s Run at Aspen. You get the picture.

 

Sitzmark

hole left in the snow after a fall. In the early years of the sport, ski areas required you to fill in your sitzmark, much like a golf divot.

 

Ski Bum

Works in a ski lodge, nearby restaurant, rental shop, etc. and lives on the cheap, earning money only so they can afford to ski. They live to ski; their lifestyle and empty wallet reflects it. Usually find ways to wrangle free skiing.

 

Ski Rundown

snarky nickname for Ski Sundown, CT.

 

Skico

This is what Aspen locals call Aspen Skiing Company. Skico monopolizes the skiing in the area; as a result, the character that once defined Aspen is now defined by Skico.

 

Skid, Skidded turn

a non-carved turn, or a turn that sets the edge across the snow to scrub speed. Also called a “set” turn.

 

Skied off or Skied out (recreational)

When all the snow has been “skied off” and only ice or other non-fun surface remains.

 

Skied off or Skied out (racing)

When a racer misses a gate or falls, and elects to ski off the course rather than continue.

 

Slow Dog Noodle

old school method of skiing moguls; skier is very much in the backseat and is almost painfully slow.

 

Snow Bunnies

Really, really attractive young female skiers. They tend to be followed by a crowd of young male skiers. The snow bunnies tend to like these young male skiers. They smile and flirt with young, physically fit, male skiers who don’t drive minivans and aren’t accompanied by their wife and/or children. Not that I’m jealous or anything like that.

 

Snorkel

to ski through head-deep powder

 

Snot Rocket

Blowing one’s nose without the aid of a tissue or handkerchief: lean forward, cover one nostril, forcibly blow snot out the other…hopefully onto the ground.

 

Snotcicle

Dripping snot that freezes in the form of an icicle. (again, we don’t make this up, we just inform)

 

SNS

Salomon Nordic Standard — at least I think that’s what it stands for. It’s one of the boot/binding standards used in cross country skiing, tends to be preferred for skate style skiing.

 

Snurfing, Snurfboard

Forerunner of the snowboard circa 1969-1975. Wide board with a rope attached to the shovel. The snurfer stood on a mesh plate on the board. More akin to today’s alpine style snowboard.

Someday Bigger

snarky nickname for Sunday River, Maine.

 

Starfish

cartwheeling down the hill. Often referred to as a “screaming starfish.”

 

Stash, Stashes

Often described as “secret stash” or “hidden stash.” These are special places such as chutes/runs/powder spots unknown to the average visitor. People usually stumble on these by accident, or learn about them from locals.

 

Stein

Virtually anything called “Stein” (Stein’s, Stein’s Run, Stein’s Lodge, Ski Like Stein) refers to Stein Ericksen, ski-racer turned instructor/ambassador who wrote an important book called Come Ski With Me. Handsome and dashing, easily the most stylish skier in history.

 

Sticks

cool synonym for skis. little kids also call poles “sticks.”

 

Strats

Rossignol Stratocasters, an extremely popular ski from the 1960s through the mid 1980s. When you see an old-timer skiing on Strats, take off your hat and salute. They probably have infinitely more skills than today’s carving skier.

 

Subdivision

usually a backcountry term for a group of overnight tents. Also can refer to a group of campers or vans overnighting in a resort parking lot.

 

Summit County

Grand Central Station of Colorado ski areas; Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Keystone are actually in Summit County and pretty much within 45 minutes of each other. Due to their proximity, Summit County is often thought of as “Aspen for the Common Man.” Loveland, Winter Park, Vail and a couple others are all reasonably close, so some skiers’ concept of “Summit County” includes more than just the main four.

 

Super G

A race course best described as having gates further apart than a Giant Slalom, but not quite as far as a Downhill course. Generally the speeds are just a notch below that of DH.

 

Super Jules

Julia Mancuso; Olympic gold medalist and World Cup skier.

 

Superstar

marquee trail at Killington, as front and center as it gets. Should you tumble here, everyone on the Superstar chair, the Snowshed chairs, anyone on line at the K1 gondy, the uphill bound on the Access Road, most of the base lodge areas, and about 30,000 condo dwellers will ooh and ahh as you throw a yard sale.

 

Tail

the back end of your skis.

 

T-bar

Surface lift shaped like an upside down T suspended from an overhead wire which pulls 2 skiers up the slope via their behind.

 

Tex

a put-down used by Colorado & New Mexico locals to describe vacationing Texans with less than optimum skills.

 

Tip/Waist/Tail

measurements in millimeters to describe the parabolic shape of a ski.

 

Tote

once upon a time, devices used to carry skis, boots, skis and poles, and sometimes all three. Although still the easiest way to schlep skis and poles, Totes are hopelessly unhip these days.

 

Tow or Town Tow

small, localized ski hills — usually 50 to 300 foot vertical — with a semi-permanent rope tow. A New England term, dating from the time nearly every town had a local tow.

 

Traverse

To ski across a steep fall line instead of straight down it. Akin to a “switchback” on a hiking trail.

 

Traversington

Snarky nickname for Killington, based on numerous turnpike trails like Great Eastern and Great Northern that wander here and there and bisect fall line trails.

 

Tree Well

In western powder, area at the base of an evergreen tree that has little or very loose snow because of branches above; tree wells are known to trap and kill skiers when the surrounding “wall” collapses.

 

Trustafarian

rich kid who lives like a ski bum, probably drives an old beat up Saab, lives on Ramen noodles, looks disheveled. Usually something gives away the truth: maybe they only drink exotic beer, wear $600 sunglasses or have new skis every year.

 

Tuck

skier bent over skis, poles held close in to the body, a classic racer stance. Most recreational skiers try this at one time or another, but generally point their poles straight up and look like morons.

 

Tucks or Tuckermans

common short form of Tuckerman Ravine, a glacial cirque on the east side of Mt. Washington NH. Even though this spot has no lifts, it has been a focal point of eastern skiing since the 1930s.

 

Twig Season

Early season in the east, when windblown twigs and leaves lie on man-made snow. When winter storms hit, snow covers the terrain between trails and the organics tend to stay put.

 

Upside-down

refers to a ski area with the parking lot and lodges at the “top” of the mountain. Common to many of the southeastern ski areas, the two largest of which — Snowshoe and Wintergreen — are both upside down. Also found on a few smaller hills in the northeast and midwest.

 

Wa-Wa

popular nickname for Wachusett, closest mid-sized ski area to Boston metro area.

 

Waist

measured width of a ski in mm at the center, or right under foot (for male skiers).

 

Wanderer

somebody who likes ski areas that spread out over a lot of territory, with various hills, slopes, lifts, to maximize variety. Wanderers are happiest if a ski resort has three or more base areas, some miles apart from each other. Jackson Hole is tops for western wanderers; Killington rules the east.

 

Wedeln

Pronounced “vay-dull.” Before carving became all the rage, this was the ultimate form in parallel skiing. It’s a series of short, severe but fluid swinging turns, each culminating in a brief hard edge set, straight down the fall line. Legs together…zip, zip, zip, zip. Still the coolest looking move on skis. You may carve with the best of them, but when you see a 60-something skier wedeling, you realize that you have a lot to learn.

 

Wedge

to snowplow.

 

Wedgie

term popular in the southeast, used to describe skiers who snowplow down the hill.

 

Wengen

Village in Switzerland below the Eiger/Monch/Junfrau massif. Site of a long downhill trail (see Lauberhorn), recognizable for passing under a train trestle. Pronounced Veng-un, with a hard G sound, accent on first syllable.

 

Whale or Whales

Snowmakers build large mounds of snow mid-winter, later to be used as a stockpile of snow. Groomers tap into these piles once temps get too warm for snowmaking. Sometimes these whales are built right on the slope, where they serve as huge whoop-de-doos until the groomers push them out late in the season.

 

White Ribbon of Death

Snowmakers create a single top-to-bottom trail in October or November so that the resort can open early and create buzz. The resort fills with skiers anxiously awaiting the season, but they are all limited to one, very often dangerously crowded, slope. Although many ski areas do this, a few are famous for it. In Colorado, Loveland and A-Basin are known for this; Cataloochee, Sunday River and sometimes Killington in the east.

 

Wicket

These are the old metal wire/ticket deals still used by a majority of ski areas. Not too many people call them wickets anymore.

 

Woodcore

when a ski has internal construction made of wood. Years ago this was thought to be a cheaper ski, however, certain skiers today insist that woodcore is the only way to ski. Premium skis tend to be woodcore.

 

YAN

Lift manufacturer with a notorious reputation for accidents. Some say — in jest — YAN stands for “Yet Another Nightmare” or “You’re Airborne Now”

 

Yard Sale

having your skis, poles, hat, car keys, etc. scattered about a ski slope after a wipeout.

 

 

Lift Tickets at Discount: This is a “clearinghouse” of sorts that many ski areas use to raise cash by selling discount tickets in advance, called Liftopia. If you haven’t used this service, it is important to knowfor certain that you are going on a specific date. The deeply discounted tickets must be purchased in advance; generally up to two days out. The sticking point is that some ski resorts only make a limited number of tickets available to Liftopia for any given day, so they might be sold out if you wait too long…so, as soon as you are absolutely, positively sure that you will be skiing on a certain day, click this link to get deeply discounted tickets. I’ve used this service many times, but again, ONLY when I am absolutely certain I will be skiing on a specific date. You need to have access to a printer to print out your receipt, and you have to take identification with you to the mountain. I’ve knocked a third off the price of some tickets. Not every area participates, but it’s well worth checking if you’ve got a date nailed down.

Top photo CC BY-SA 3.0