Ski Terminology Explained:

If you are new to skiing then the terminology may seem a little strange to begin with but it is nothing that cannot be helped with a simple run through of the main terms or lingo used in and around the slopes of the world’s best ski resorts.

Below we run through some of the best known terminology out there – and if you have any of your own to add then please do not hesitate to contact us so we can add your terms to this ever growing list…

• AFD - This stands for Anti-friction Device and is a small pad located behind the toe-side piece of your ski bindings
• Angulation - arcing the body at the hip, knee and ankle joints to achieve a higher degree of ski edge
• ATS - American Teaching System. Developed by the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), as a teaching/ learning system
• Avalanche - Caused when huge masses of snow slide down a slope. This can be seriously dangerous
• Balancing - Maintaining a given posture while standing still or moving
• Basket - A round and usually flat disc located near tip of the ski pole
• Base - The bottom of the mountain where the lodge is situated, or the average depth of snow on a mountain
• Bumps - Another term for Moguls (see below)
• Cants - Devices to change the orientation of the legs relative to the skis. Put a ski more (or less) on edge
• Carving - Making turns on the ski or snowboard with the edges cutting into the hill
• Extreme Carving - As it says taking carving to the extreme. Sliding down a piste linking and lying all the turns.
• Counter-rotation - Simultaneous rotation of the upper body and legs in opposite directions
• Crud - This is a type of snow with uneven surface and lumps of soft powder-like snow and slippery patches
• Cruising - Making a long run at less than breakneck speed
• DIN settings - Deutsche Industrie Normen. An internationally agreed scale to ensure that ski bindings worldwide release under the same force
• Edge - Metal strip found at the bottom corners of ski's
• Edge angle - Angle of the ski relative to the snow's surface
• Fall line - The straightest and steepest line down any slope
• Flex adjustment - To change the amount of resistance to the forward movement of your ankle
• Flexion - Opposite of extension. Movement resulting in the bending of a leg joint
• Frost Bite - Occurring when parts of the body are exposed to extreme cold for a period of time
• Gaper - A skier who pauses to take in the scenery
• Garland - A series of "fake" turns
• Gondola - Also called cabine lift, this is the largest and most comfortable lift
• Grass Ski - Skiing on grass. A year round discipline done on grassy slopes using special equipment
• Heli-skiing - Off-trail skiing reached by helicopter
• Herringbone - Technique of moving upwards. Named after the marks left by the skis when this technique is used
• Hypothermia - - A life - threatening condition where the body temperature of the person drops dramatically below normal
• Matching skis - When skis are brought parallel or facing in the same direction
• Milk run - The first run of the day
• Moguls - Mounds of snow, both natural and skier made, dotting ungroomed runs
• Parallel skiing - Skiing the the skis parallel. Skis can be either together or apart
• Powder - Light, ungroomed snow
• Prerelease - A term used when your skis come off earlier than expected
• Pressure control - To adjust the pressure between the skis and the snow
• Roller Skiing - A year round ski discipline. This is done by skiers to continue training in the off season
• Shaped skis - Skis characterised by 'hourglass' shapes. Skis designed to turn
• Sidecut radius - The measurement of how deeply or shallowly the ski's cut is from the nose of the ski to the Waist
• Side-slipping - A slipping motion straight down the flow line with your skis pointed across the hill
• Ski jumping - A term which means flying as far and as smooth as possible with your skis on for maximum lift
• Sliding - Skis moving along its length
• Slush - Usually this is snow that is starting to melt gradually becoming wetter
• Steering - Changing the direction of the skis
• Stem christie - A turn which is completed by skidding on both uphill edges
• Traversing - Continuously moving in a direction across the flow line