Ski Terms Glossary: 70+ Words Skiers and Snowboarders Use

By Justin McKelvey · Updated November 5, 2026

A–C

Après-ski: the social time after the lifts close: food, drinks, music, or a hot tub. More in what is après-ski.

Avalanche beacon (transceiver): a device worn in avalanche terrain that sends and receives a signal so partners can find a buried person.

Backcountry: terrain outside resort boundaries that isn't patrolled or avalanche-controlled.

Base: the bottom of the mountain, or the depth of settled snow on the ground. Also the bottom surface of a ski or snowboard.

Binding: the device that attaches your boot to a ski or snowboard.

Black diamond: an advanced run in North America. See ski trail ratings.

Bluebird day: a clear, sunny day, especially right after a snowstorm.

Bunny hill: a gentle beginner slope, often served by a magic carpet or slow lift.

Camber: a ski or board profile that arches up in the middle, giving grip and pop.

Carving: turning on the edges so the ski or board cuts a clean arc rather than skidding.

Catwalk: a narrow, flat trail that connects runs, often cut across the mountain.

Chairlift: an aerial lift with open chairs that carries skiers uphill.

Chatter: vibration in skis or a board at speed, often on hard snow.

Chute: a narrow, steep passage, usually between rocks.

Cornice: an overhanging lip of wind-blown snow on a ridge. Cornices can collapse.

Corduroy: freshly groomed snow with ridged lines that look like corduroy fabric.

Crud: choppy, uneven snow that's been skied up or affected by wind or weather.

D–G

DIN setting: the number on a ski binding that controls how much force it takes to release your boot. Set by a shop based on height, weight, age, and ability.

Double black diamond: expert terrain on North American trail maps.

Dump: a big snowfall.

Edge: the metal strip along the sides of skis and boards that grips the snow.

Face shot: powder deep enough to spray into your face as you turn.

Fall line: the most direct path straight down a slope.

First chair: the first lift ride of the day, prized on powder days.

First tracks: the first turns down untracked snow.

Flat light: cloudy or foggy light that makes it hard to see bumps and changes in the snow.

Freeride: skiing or riding natural, varied terrain off groomed runs.

Freestyle: tricks, jumps, rails, and park riding.

Gaper: slang for an obvious newcomer, often with a gap between goggles and helmet ("gaper gap").

Glade: a run through trees.

Gondola: an enclosed lift cabin that carries passengers uphill.

Goofy: riding a snowboard with your right foot forward.

Groomer: a machine that smooths snow, or a groomed run itself.

H–M

Hardpack: firm, compacted snow.

Heelside: the snowboard edge under your heels.

Hockey stop: a fast stop made by turning both skis sideways to the fall line.

Ice coast: nickname for the East Coast, where firm, icy conditions are common.

Inbounds: terrain within a resort's boundaries that's patrolled.

Kicker: a jump, usually in a terrain park.

Lift line: the queue for a lift, or the run beneath a lift.

Liftie: a lift operator.

Magic carpet: a conveyor-belt lift on beginner slopes.

Moguls (bumps): mounds of snow formed by skiers turning in the same spots. See how to ski moguls.

N–P

Nordic skiing: cross-country skiing, where the heel is free.

Off-piste: ungroomed terrain away from marked runs; in Europe it is often outside patrolled areas.

On-piste: on marked, groomed runs.

Packed powder: powder that's been compressed by skiers or grooming.

Park rat: someone who spends most of their time in the terrain park.

Piste: a marked, groomed ski run (common in Europe).

Pizza: the wedge position for slowing down, ski tips together and tails apart.

Pole plant: touching your pole to the snow to time a turn.

Pow / powder: fresh, soft, untracked snow.

Powder day: a day with fresh snow, usually after a big overnight storm. See how to chase powder.

Pow-pow: slang for very good powder.

R–S

Regular: riding a snowboard with your left foot forward.

Rocker: a profile with tips and tails that rise, making skis and boards float and turn easily.

Rope tow: a moving rope you hold to be pulled uphill.

Schuss: to ski straight down without turning.

Send it: slang for committing fully to a jump or line.

Shred: to ski or ride aggressively and well.

Sidecountry: backcountry terrain reached from a resort lift, outside the boundary and not patrolled.

Ski patrol: the team that handles safety, first aid, and avalanche control.

Skins: strips attached to ski bases that grip snow for climbing uphill.

Slush: wet, heavy snow, common on warm spring days.

Snowcat: a tracked vehicle used for grooming or carrying skiers to terrain.

Snowmaking: machine-made snow produced by blowing water into cold air.

Splitboard: a snowboard that splits into two skis for climbing.

Sticks: slang for skis.

Switch: riding or skiing backward from your normal direction.

T–Z

Tele (telemark): a style of skiing with a free heel and a lunging turn.

Terrain park: an area with jumps, rails, and boxes for freestyle.

Toeside: the snowboard edge under your toes.

Touring: climbing uphill on skis or a splitboard to ski down.

Traverse: skiing across the slope rather than down it.

Tree well: a deep, loose pocket of snow around a tree trunk that can trap a fallen skier. Ski trees with a partner.

Tuning: sharpening edges and waxing the base of skis or a board.

Twin tip: a ski or board with upturned tips at both ends, for riding switch.

Vertical (vert): the elevation difference between a resort's base and summit.

Wax: a coating applied to the base so skis and boards glide.

Whiteout: snow or fog so thick you can't see the terrain.

Yard sale: a crash that scatters your skis, poles, and gear across the slope.

Ready to put the vocabulary to use? Start with how to ski or how to snowboard.