Learning how to ski is not an easy task, especially since the language and jargon that is used is quite unusual. From understanding what “din” means to learning what powder is, skiing culture has almost cultivated its own language. That’s why we at Corbetts are going to try out best to create our own A to Z guide of ski slang to try and help out any rookie skiers/snowboarders or seasoned vets who still don’t know what everyone is talking about. 

A

ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene known as ABS is a thermoplastic polymer used in the sidewalls of skis and snowboards for durability, impact resistance, and to help prevent damage from moisture.

All-mountain: Type of ski/snowboard that is designed to fit any type of terrain and can be taken almost anywhere one a mountain.

Afterbang: The stylish, chill stance you hold after stomping a trick.

Alpine skiing: Skiing downhill, typically on groomed runs.

APIK Fest: World-class urban winter event in Mississauga, featuring skiing, snowboarding, snow skating, competitions, and live entertainment.

Apres-ski: The act of getting together with others after a long day on the hills. Most Apres-ski events include many aspects of partying (drinking, socializing, dancing)

Air: Typically used to describe the height or the amount of airtime you get while going off a jump.

B

Backcountry: Type of skiing or snowboarding that involves going off the trails and finding your own path down a mountain. There are no lifts in the backcountry, and you will be entering outside the ski area boundary where there is no avalanche control and skiing is at a much higher risk. The reward is that you may encounter untouched powder, however, it is strongly recommended to hire a guide who is knowledgeable of the area and knows what gear is needed.

Bail: Another term to describe a fall or deciding to skip a jump/feature

Balaclava: An accessory that is worn on your face to cover it from the frigid elements. On a cold day of skiing/snowboarding it is imperative that you bring one with you to reduce the chance of frostbite.

Base: This term can be used in multiple ways on the slopes. One way refers to the bottom side of a pair of skis or a board that can encounter some damage due to rocks, trees, or other objects. The second meaning refers to the bottom of a ski resort and lastly it can also refer to the overall depth of the snow.

Base layer: Pieces of clothing that are worn closest to the skin to insulate heat and wick moisture out. Wearing cotton as a base layer is one of biggest “no no’s” of skiing since cotton holds moisture and will ultimately make you colder. The best materials for your base layers are going to be Merino wool, Polyester and/or Nylon. There are also different “weights” of base layers depending on how cold of a day it is.

Bib: Type of snow pant that rises above your waistline and is designed to mimic overalls. Great for keeping snow out and keeping snowpants up while riding.

Bindings: Type of device that locks your feet into your ski/snowboard.

Black run/Black Diamond: Difficult runs found a hill/mountain that are extremely steep and challenging. Due to the steepness of the hills they can also be quite icy, so if you’re a beginner be careful which runs your friends are trying to bring you down (many are known to enjoy watching a beginner attempt such runs).

Blue run/Blue Square: Second easiest type of run that is moderately difficult which is not too steep. A great step up for beginners to accomplish.

Bluebird: A clear, sunny day after a snowstorm — aka the dream.

Bombing: Sticking your poles beneath your armpits and crouching down to try and gain as much speed as possible. Beginners may tend to do this when they are learning since it is easier than turning but can be quite dangerous since breaking is more difficult at higher speeds.

Bomb Hole: The deep crater left in the snow where someone landed a big jump or cliff drop. Also the name of a popular snowboard podcast.

Boost: To catch big air.

Boot sole length: The distance of your ski/snowboard boot from the entirety of heel to toe. Will always be listed on the outside of the boot usually found near the inside or outside of the heel. This measurement will always be in mm and is important when participating in demoing skis.

Bunny Hill: Term used in North America to describe the easiest place for beginners to learn how to ski.

Butter/buttering: Act of smearing your skis/board on the snow while the other end of the end is in the air. Similar to a wheelie on a bike, you are essentially putting all your weight on one side of the ski/board to lift the other side and allow you to create a pivot point to spin easier.

C

Camber: How much the ski arcs upwards in the middle when it is laid out flat on the ground. The amount of camber affects weight distribution, impacting the skis stability and turns.

Carving: The act of digging into the snow to create a smooth turn.

Cat track: A type of route used by snow cats (groomers) to get around a mountain. They are commonly found to be quite flat to allow easy travel from one point to another point.

Catch an edge: A type of fall the involves involuntarily being shot forward due to an edge on your board or ski to catch a chunk of the snow. Catching an edge can be quite dangerous since the falls are usually unexpected.

Chalet: Some peoples favourite place on a ski hill. Typically, a wood structure that have large arrangements of seatings for skiers/snowboarders to take a quick or long break throughout the day. Will commonly serve food alongside drinks and can be a location for the Apres-ski.

Champagne Powder: Fluffiest and lightest powder in the world. Commonly found in Colorado and the term has been trademarked by Steamboat Springs Resort. Regular snow has a medium level of water content (around 15%), whereas champagne powder has a water content low water content level (around 7%) making it lighter and fluffier

Chatter: The amount of vibration that a ski/snowboard encounters while travelling at high speeds. The conditions of a hill will affect the amount of chatter the most, but the stiffer the skis the less chatter you will create.

Chute: Steep narrow slope often with high sides and off-piste.

Corbetts Ski & Snowboard: The ultimate destination for top ski/snowboard gear, expert advice, and unbeatable deals!

Corduroy: The grooves left by grooming machines; primo for early morning carves.

Core: The inner material of a ski or snowboard that provides its strength and flex. Materials can include wood (popular for its flex), foam, carbon fiber, or metal.

Cork: An off-axis spin where your head dips below your feet — stylish and technical.

Corn: Type of snow that is found when the temperatures are warmer. This type of snow is formed when there is repeated melting and refreezing of the snow to form small little snow grains that resemble a popcorn kernel.

Couloir: Like a chute, but incredibly steep with high rock faces bordering it.

Cross-country skiing: Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, is a winter sport where skiers glide across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles, often on groomed trails, without relying on ski lifts or downhill.

Crust: Layer that forms on the top of the runs in the mornings when the top layer of snow freezes (the crust) so your breakthrough it to reach the fresh snow underneath

D

Death cookies: Slang term used for ice pieces, the size of cookies, that are scattered across a run making it difficult to smoothly traverse from side to side.

Demo: An event in which ski/snowboard brands will allow individuals to test out there products for free. Great way to test out your gear before you buy it!

Directional Snowboard: A directional snowboard is designed to be ridden primarily in one direction, with a specific nose and tail. The nose is typically longer and more flexible than the tail, which helps with stability and control, especially when riding at higher speeds or in powder. It's ideal for riders who prefer a more focused and stable ride, often for freeride or all-mountain terrain.

DIN setting: How easily a pair of skis will self-eject to prevent an individual from suffering further injuries from a fall. The DIN setting is calculated based on your height, weight, shoe size, and ski ability. The higher the setting the harder it is for the skis to fall off. Setting the DIN to high on your skis can cause serious knee injuries, and the old saying is you’d rather break a ski over your knee so best to leave this up to professionals to set it. Additionally, a good setting to know if you want to try out new skis at a demo.

Dub: A double flip or double spin (like a “dub 10” = double cork 1080).

E

Edge: The sharpened metal strip that runs parallel to your ski/board. Used to gain control by digging into the snow and allowing individuals to turn.

Extruded base: A base material made from a solid sheet of plastic. It’s easier to maintain but doesn’t perform as well in terms of speed as sintered bases.

F

Face shot: When you’re skiing/riding through powder and snow blasts up into your face — a badge of honor in deep powder conditions.

Fall line: The fastest route down a mountain.

First tracks: Cutting through the first tracks is being the first people up early in the morning to catch that opening lift up the mountain. The first people down the mountain get to enjoy the luxury of carving there way through the finest groomed tracks on that given day. If performed correctly it is almost guaranteed to put a huge smile across your face and makes it worth getting up extra early

Flat light: A type of lighting that occurs when there is minimal sunshine, creating this illusion on the mountain where there are no shadows or gradients. This makes it tougher to identify little bumps and “death cookies”.

Freerider: Someone who enjoys following off the beaten path and natural terrain rather then groomed trails. Typically enjoy bragging about their best day ever.

Freestyle: Form of skiing that focuses on performing tricks, rails, and other terrain park features. Also, a type of ski/snowboard

French Fries: Technique used by instructors to remind beginners what there skis should look like going down the hill. Objective of mimicking your skis to French fries is to keep them parallel while going down a hill. Not to be mistaken for the Pizza (see below).

Forward lean: The angle of the boot in the binding that dictates how much forward pressure is placed on the skier’s legs. More forward lean = more aggressive skiing.

Full Send: Going all out and doing whatever trick, run or feature with no fear at all.

G

Gaper: A clueless beginner, often rocking rental gear and a big gap between helmet and goggles (aka the gaper gap).

Glades: Term used to describe a run through the trees.

Gore-Tex: A high-performance, waterproof, windproof, and breathable fabric membrane used in outdoor gear like jackets, pants, gloves, and footwear. It's popular in skiing, mountaineering, hiking, and military gear because it keeps water out while allowing sweat vapor to escape — keeping you dry from both the outside and inside.

Grab: Act of holding the ski or snowboard while in the air to add flair to a jump/trick

Green Run/Green Circle: The easiest type of slope — perfect for beginners.

Grind: Type of trick that involves having to slide your skis across a variety of different surfaces (rails, trees, tubes).

Gnar: Shortened version of the word Gnarly, to describe a difficult and cool looking trick or fall.

Grooming: Form of trail maintenance involves snow cats (heavy duty machines that groom trails) to spread new snow around the mountain to smooth bumps, icy patches and other obstacles.

H

Halfpipe: Feature on a mountain that is U-shaped and used for freestyle skiers/snowboarders to perform a variety of tricks on. Snowboard legend Shaun White’s infamous event at the Olympics and how he grew his fame.

Hardgoods: The equipment you ride — basically anything that isn’t clothing or accessories. From skis, snowboards, bindings, ski/snowboard boots, poles, helmets, goggles, & safety gear/tech.

Hard pack: Very firm snow that can be icy. Often what happens to snow after a long period of newly fresh snow.

Heel Edge: Edge on a snowboard that is located behind the foot.

Hot lap: Fast run down a hill without any breaks or stopping

Hit: Anything that you can jump off of on a hill. This involves side hits which are small jumps that are formed off the side of a run.

Huck: Launching yourself off a jump.

I

In-bounds: When you are skiing within the marked area on a mountain. When skiing inbounds you are skiing on terrain that is maintained and more safe.

J

Japow: Nickname for Japan’s famously deep and fluffy powder snow.

Jerry: Term used to describe individuals who posses no awareness or skill. Can be found wearing boots on the wrong feet, helmet backwards, goggles to low on their face. It is common that all skiers/snowboarders will encounter a Jerry phase when learning the basics of mountain responsibility codes.

Jib/Jibbing: Riding or sliding across non-snow surfaces like rails, boxes, trees, and anything that isn’t snow.

Jump line: A series of jumps in a terrain park, usually increasing in size.

K

Kicker: A type of jump that is usually in a wedge shape.

Knuckle: The rounded, upper part of a jump — where the flat of the in-run meets the steep

Knuckle Huck: A relatively new and wild freestyle skiing or snowboarding event that’s become a fan favorite at competitions like the X Games. Riders launch off the knuckle of a jump, and are judged on creativity, style, flow, and unique tricks.

L

Laced: Nailed the trick or line perfectly. “He laced that switch 5 so clean.”

Liftie: Slang term used for a ski lift operator. It is not rare that lifties to be ambitious travellers from around the world or local legends who know the mountain like the back of their hand.

Lip: The edge/top part of a jump.

M

Magic Carpet: A conveyor belt that brings you up a small hill. They will usually be located right beside the bunny hill.

Moguls: Bumps that are either man made or made over the course of a day by skiers/snowboarders carving in the same spot. Also the event that Alexander Bilodeau famously won the first Canadian Olympic Gold Medal on Canadian soil.

Mondo: Mondo (or mondopoint) sizing is the international standard for sizing ski boots and some other types of footwear. It’s based on the length of your foot in centimeters, making it one of the most precise sizing systems available.

N

Nose: The front of a ski/snowboard.

O

On-piste: A designated trail that is groomed.

Off-piste: A non-designated trail that is not groomed.

P

Park: The terrain park, filled with rails, boxes, jumps. Will be marked with a orange oval inside a black square.

Park rat: Someone who spends literally every second of every day in the terrain park. Commonly found wearing excessively oversized/baggy gear.

Pizza: Technique taught to beginners to help them manage speed through a run. Common to find someone yelling this to a beginner insisting that they stop before run into an object or the glass of the Chalet.

Pole Plant: Act of planting your pole in the ground to initiate a turn.

Pow: Type of snow that is fluffy and light. Wider boards/skis are best fit for this type of snow.

Pretzel: A spin off a rail in the opposite direction of your initial spin on.

Q

Quad: Four-person chair lift or a type of trick that involves doing a flip four times.

Quiver: A collection of skis or boards, each designed for different conditions (e.g., powder, park, groomers).

Quiver killer: A ski or snowboard that can do everything well, eliminating the need for multiple setups.

R

Rail: Feature in the terrain park that involves having to perform a grind.

Rocker: Refers to a shape where the tips and tails of skis or snowboards curve upward. This design helps with floatation in powder, easier turning, and a more playful ride.

Rodeo: A type of off-axis flip or corked spin that combines elements of a backflip and a spin.

S

Scorpion: It’s when you fall forward with such force that your legs whip up and over your head, and your skis (or snowboard) nearly touch or hit the back of your helmet or back — like a scorpion's tail curling over.

Season pass: A type of pass that permits you to ski as much as you please at one or multiple resorts.

Shell: Type of jacket that has little to no insulation and is instead used to be waterproof.

Shifty: Twisting your skis mid-air one way, then back again before landing — adds steeze to grabs and spins.

Shotski: Type of ski that has glasses built into it. The glasses are then drank simultaneously by all participating members

Sintered base: A high-performance base material made by compressing powdered plastic. It’s faster and more durable than extruded bases.

Sketchy: Performing a trick/run that is risky or above your skill level.

Ski brake: Pair of spring-loaded brakes on your skis that help keep your skis together and also stop them from sliding down a hill if they fall off.

Ski length: The length of a ski that is typically measured in cm. It is recommended your consult to a sizing chart before purchasing. The chart will recommend a size based on height, ability, and type of ski.

Skins: Ski skins are fabric strips, usually made of mohair or synthetic materials, that attach to the bottom of skis. They provide grip for uphill climbing by preventing the skis from sliding backward. Ski skins are removed when it's time to ski downhill.

Ski in, Ski out: A type of chalet that allows you to directly ski to and from your property.

Softgoods: The wearable gear — basically everything that isn’t your skis, board, boots, or bindings. Like outerwear, base layers, midlayers, accessories, & apparel.

Steez/steezy: One’s ability to perform tricks with ease or ability to dress stylishly.

Stomp: To land a trick cleanly and confidently.

Snow skate: A new and innovative board that combines elements of skateboarding into winter sports.

Switch: Skiing backward or snowboarding riding the opposite of your normal stance.

T

Tail: The back end of the ski or snowboard.

Tokyo Drift: Sliding out or throwing a controlled skid-style turn (often used in rail approaches or landings).

Torsional rigidity: How much the ski or snowboard resists twisting. Higher torsional rigidity means better edge control at higher speeds.

Touring: A type of backcountry skiing where skiers use specialized equipment, like skis with climbing skins, to ascend mountains. Unlike traditional alpine skiing, which relies on ski lifts, ski touring involves both uphill and downhill skiing in remote, off-piste areas.\

Tracked out: When powder has been skied through a bunch and is no longer fresh.

Traverse: Moving sideways across a slope rather than straight down — often to access terrain.

Twin Tip: Type of skis that has symmetrical tips to allow skiing backwards (fakie) to be done easily. Commonly found on skiers that perform tricks and spend the majority of their time in the terrain park.

Tree well: The area at the bottom of a tree that can create a hollow that is easy to fall into after heavy snow. Very difficult to climb out of and can be common in back country conditions.

W

Whiteout: When there is so much snow that it is extremely difficult to see.

Wipeout: A big fall.

Y

Yard sale: When a skier wipes out and their gear (poles, skis, goggles, etc.) goes flying everywhere.