47 skiing terms explained, including yard sale, gaper, off-piste, corduroy and schuss, each with a one-line definition.
Skiing terminology arrives from three directions: the Alps gave the sport its technical words, North American resorts gave it the trail ratings, and the lift line gave it the skiing slang. The words related to skiing that matter first are the ones on the trail map, and the words associated with skiing that sound made up, from corduroy to yard sale, usually describe snow or falling. Look anything up in the skiing glossary further down.
Must-Know Skiing Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Alpine skiing
- Après-ski
- Black diamond
- Carving
- Downhill
- Edge
- Freestyle
- Gondola
- Mogul
- Nordic skiing
- Piste
- Powder
- Slalom
- Snowplow
- Telemark
- Traverse
- Chairlift
- Fall line
- Groomed trail
- Off-piste
- Schuss
- Ski poles
- T-bar lift
- Yard sale
- Base layer
- Binding
- Ski wax
- Ski boots
- Ski lift
- Snow cannon
Skiing Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Alpine skiing | Downhill skiing with the heel fixed to the ski. The form of skiing almost every resort is built around. |
| Apres-ski | French for after ski. The eating, drinking and socializing that fills the hours once the lifts close. |
| Base layer | The moisture-wicking layer worn against the skin, the part of the outfit that decides whether you stay warm. |
| Binding | The mechanism clamping the boot to the ski. It is set to release in a fall, which is why the setting matters more than the brand. |
| Black diamond | The North American rating for an expert trail, steep and often ungroomed. Double black diamond marks the hardest terrain on the mountain. |
| Blue square | The North American rating for an intermediate trail, between green circle and black diamond. |
| Bluebird | A clear, sunny day after a night of snowfall. The most sought-after conditions there are. |
| Bunny slope | The gentle beginner hill, usually served by a magic carpet and set apart from the main runs. Also called the bunny hill. |
| Carving | Turning on the edges so the skis cut a clean arc instead of skidding. It holds speed through the turn. |
| Chairlift | Open seats hanging from a moving cable that carry skiers uphill without taking their skis off. |
| Corduroy | The ribbed pattern a grooming machine leaves on a trail overnight. The best surface for carving, and it lasts about an hour. |
| Crud | Heavy, chopped-up snow left after powder has been skied over. It demands a firmer stance than anything else on the hill. |
| Downhill | The fastest alpine race discipline, run in a single straight-lined descent with widely set gates. |
| Edge | The metal strip along each side of the ski that bites the snow. Everything about turning and stopping runs through it. |
| Fall line | The straightest line gravity would take down the slope. Skiers use it as the reference for every turn. |
| First tracks | The first run down an untouched trail, on fresh snow before anyone else has been on it. |
| Freestyle | The disciplines built around tricks: moguls, aerials, halfpipe and slopestyle. |
| Gaper | Slang for a clueless skier, usually the one blocking a run or wearing their gear wrong. |
| Gondola | An enclosed cabin lift. Skis come off, and the ride is out of the wind. |
| Green circle | The North American rating for the easiest trails, the ones beginners are sent to first. |
| Groomed trail | A run flattened and combed by a snowcat overnight, predictable and fast underfoot. |
| Kicker | A built jump in a terrain park, shaped to launch skiers into a trick. |
| Magic carpet | The conveyor belt lift on beginner slopes. You stand on it with your skis on and it carries you up. |
| Mogul | A mound of packed snow. A slope full of them forces short, quick turns and punishes anyone who straightens up. |
| Nordic skiing | Skiing with a free heel, covering cross-country and ski jumping. It rewards endurance rather than descent. |
| Off-piste | Skiing outside the marked and patrolled runs. Better snow, and a real avalanche risk that goes with it. |
| Parallel turn | Turning with both skis held parallel through the arc, the technique that follows the snowplow. |
| Piste | A marked, prepared run. Everything not on one is off-piste. |
| Pond skimming | The end-of-season tradition of skiing across a pool of meltwater at the base of the hill, in costume and usually not all the way across. |
| Powder | Fresh, dry, uncompacted snow. Skiers shorten it to pow and plan whole trips around it. |
| Schuss | A straight run down the fall line with no turns at all, taken for speed. |
| Ski boots | Stiff plastic boots that lock into the bindings and transfer every movement of the leg into the ski. |
| Ski lift | Any of the systems that carry skiers uphill: chairlifts, gondolas, T-bars and magic carpets. |
| Ski patrol | The staff who mark hazards, run avalanche control and reach injured skiers on the mountain. |
| Ski poles | The two poles used for timing turns, balance and pushing along the flats. |
| Ski touring | Climbing uphill on skis under your own power, then skiing down. It happens away from the lifts. |
| Ski wax | The layer applied to the base of the ski to cut friction against the snow. Different snow temperatures take different waxes. |
| Skins | The strips of grippy fabric stuck to the base of touring skis so they slide forward but not backward. They are peeled off at the top. |
| Slalom | The race discipline through tightly spaced gates, decided by quick, precise turns rather than speed. |
| Snow cannon | A machine that makes artificial snow from water and compressed air, used to open runs early and keep them open. |
| Snowplow | The beginner braking technique with the ski tips together and the tails apart. Instructors call it a wedge, and children get told it is a pizza. |
| T-bar lift | A surface lift that drags two skiers uphill at a time on a T-shaped bar while they stay on their skis. |
| Telemark | The free-heel turn from the Telemark region of Norway, taken with the inside knee dropped and the rear heel lifted. |
| Terrain park | The area set aside for jumps, rails and boxes, where freestyle skiing actually happens. |
| Traverse | Skiing across the slope rather than down it, used to lose speed or to reach a different line. |
| Tuck | The low crouch racers hold to cut wind resistance on a straight section. |
| Yard sale | A crash that scatters skis, poles, hat and goggles across the hill so it looks like a rummage sale. |
#1 Alpine Skiing
A type of skiing that entails descending on snow-covered hills and mountains with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing is synonymous with downhill skiing and is one of the most popular forms of the sport.
#2 Après-ski
A French term meaning “after ski,” which refers to the social activities and entertainment following a day of skiing. Après-ski often includes enjoying food, drinks, music, and relaxation after a day on the slopes.
#3 Black Diamond
A designation for ski slope difficulty indicating an expert-level trail with steep gradients and varied terrain. Black diamond runs are typically for advanced skiers who can handle challenging conditions.
#4 Carving
A technique where skiers make clean, long, and smooth turns by tilting the skis on their edges and bending them into an arc. Carving is known for providing precision and stability at high speeds.
#5 Downhill
A discipline of alpine skiing focused on the fastest straight descent down a slope, with minimal regard for gate markers. It requires skiers to have a high level of skill and courage due to the speed and risk involved.
#6 Edge
The sharpened metal strip running along the sides of skis and snowboards, providing grip and control on snow. Skiers use their edges to steer and stabilize while turning and stopping.
#7 Freestyle
A discipline of skiing that involves tricks, jumps, and terrain park features such as rails, boxes, and half-pipes. Freestyle skiing includes events like moguls, aerials, halfpipe, and slopestyle, focusing on athletes’ ability to perform acrobatic maneuvers.
#8 Gondola
A type of aerial lift used to transport skiers and snowboarders up mountains. Gondolas consist of enclosed cabins that hang from a continuously circulating cable, offering a comfortable ride shielded from the elements.
#9 Mogul
Knolls of compacted snow scattered across a ski slope, making for a bumpy ride. Skiers navigate through moguls by making quick turns, which requires good technique and can be quite challenging even for experienced skiers.
#10 Nordic skiing
A type of skiing where the heel of the boot is not fixed to the ski, allowing for a more natural walking or gliding motion. It includes disciplines like cross-country skiing and ski jumping and emphasizes endurance over speed.
#11 Piste
A marked ski run or trail that’s been prepared, compacted, or groomed by a snowcat. Pistes vary in difficulty, and their condition plays a critical role in providing a safe and enjoyable skiing experience.
#12 Powder
Fresh, soft, and fluffy snow that hasn’t been compacted. Powder is often sought after by skiers for its cushioning effect and the sensation of floating it provides. It requires adjustments in technique to ski effectively.
#13 Slalom
A skiing discipline that involves navigating a quick, winding path down a slope marked by tightly spaced poles or gates. Slalom skiing tests precision and agility, and it’s both a recreational activity and a competitive sport.
#14 Snowplow
A beginner skiing technique where the skis are positioned in a V-shape with the tips close together and the tails wide apart, used to slow down or stop. This technique is often taught to first-time skiers as a way to maintain control.
#15 Telemark
A style of skiing named after the Telemark region in Norway, where it originated. It’s characterized by a distinctive turn where the skier leads with one ski and lunges forward, with the rear heel lifted off the ski, differentiating it from alpine skiing where the heels remain fixed
#16 Traverse
A skiing technique used to move horizontally across a slope rather than directly downhill. Skiers use the traverse to control speed, navigate to a specific area of the mountain, or approach a downhill line more strategically.
#17 Chairlift
A transportation system found at ski resorts, consisting of a series of chairs suspended from a continuously circulating cable, designed to carry skiers up the mountain. It simplifies mountain ascent, providing easy access to higher slopes.
#18 Fall Line
The most direct line down a mountain slope, following the natural pull of gravity. Skiers reference the fall line to choose the quickest and often the steepest path down the terrain.
#19 Groomed Trail
A ski run that has been packed down and smoothed by a machine known as a snowcat. Groomed trails provide a more predictable and easier-to-ski surface, ideal for intermediate skiers.
#20 Off-Piste
Refers to skiing in the backcountry or on unmarked and unpatrolled areas outside of the groomed trails. Off-piste skiing is favoured by those seeking adventure and fresh, untouched snow but comes with increased risks.
#21 Schuss
A straight downhill run in skiing without turning, allowing for maximum speed. It’s a term often used to describe a fast, direct descent, showing off a skier’s ability to control speed and balance.
#22 Ski Poles
Long slender poles made from aluminum or composite materials, used by skiers for balance and propulsion. Ski poles assist in maintaining rhythm during turns and can help propel skiers across flat terrain.
#23 T-bar Lift
A type of surface lift that pulls skiers and snowboarders uphill while they remain standing on their skis or boards. It consists of a series of T-shaped bars suspended from an overhead cable, each bar accommodating two riders side by side.
#24 Yard Sale
A humorous term describing a skier’s fall where equipment, like skis, poles, hats, goggles, gets scattered across the slope, resembling items laid out at a yard sale. It highlights the often chaotic nature of a substantial wipeout.
#25 Base Layer
The clothing worn directly against the skin, designed to keep a skier warm and dry. Base layers are typically made of moisture-wicking materials to maintain body temperature in cold conditions.
#26 Binding
The mechanism on the ski that securely attaches the ski boot to the ski. Bindings are critical for safety, as they’re designed to release the boot to minimize injury during a fall.
#27 Ski Wax
A substance applied to the bottom of skis to reduce friction with the snow, improving glide and speed. Waxing is considered both an art and a science by avid skiers for optimal performance.
#28 Ski Boots
Specially designed footwear that attaches to skis via bindings. They provide the necessary support and transfer the skier’s movements to the skis, and come in various styles for different skiing activities.
#29 Ski Lift
A transportation system used to carry skiers up a mountain. Types of ski lifts include chairlifts, gondolas, and T-bars, each designed to get skiers to their desired slopes efficiently.
#30 Snow Cannon
Also known as a snow gun, a snow cannon is a device that produces artificial snow by combining water and compressed air. These are used in ski resorts to supplement natural snow and extend the skiing season, especially during periods of low snowfall.
FAQ
What type of skiing is named after the Alpine region?
Alpine skiing, which is the same thing as downhill skiing. The heel is fixed to the ski, and the discipline covers everything from a resort run to the downhill and slalom races. Nordic skiing, by contrast, leaves the heel free.
What do skiers call fresh, untouched snow?
Powder, shortened to pow. Fresh snow nobody has been on yet is untracked, and the first run down it gives you first tracks. A sunny day right after a snowfall is a bluebird day.
What is the beginner slope called in skiing?
The bunny slope, also called the bunny hill. It is the gentlest terrain on the mountain, usually served by a magic carpet lift, and on North American trail maps the easiest runs are marked with a green circle.
What are the things that carry you up the mountain when skiing called?
Ski lifts. The main types are the chairlift, the enclosed gondola, the T-bar that drags you uphill on your skis and the magic carpet conveyor used on beginner slopes.
What happens when a skier has a yard sale?
A yard sale is a crash bad enough that the skier’s equipment ends up spread across the slope, skis one way, poles another, goggles and hat somewhere else. The name comes from how the scattered gear looks laid out on the snow.
What is it called when you ski across water at the end of the season?
Pond skimming. Resorts dig a pool at the bottom of a run for closing weekend and skiers try to carry enough speed to cross it, usually in costume and usually not successfully.
Snow and terrain (powder, corduroy, crud, piste, mogul, fall line), equipment (bindings, edges, poles, skins, wax), lifts (chairlift, gondola, T-bar, magic carpet) and technique (carving, snowplow, parallel turn, traverse). They are all in the skiing glossary above.
What are some Skiing terms for beginners?
“Snowplow,” “Pizza,” and “Piste” are some Skiing terms beginners should start with. These terms help understand control techniques and the surface being skied on.
What are some funny Skiing terms?
“Yard sale” and “Après-ski” are some funny Skiing terms. They humorously refer to a dramatic fall and social activities after a day of skiing, respectively.
What is a famous Skiing phrase?
“Shred the gnar,” is a famous Skiing phrase, used to describe the act of skiing with exceptional skill, often on difficult terrain, and embodies the passion and enthusiasm of the skiing community.
