Glossary of termsUpdated 6 months ago

Snowboarding Glossary: Essential Terms for Snowboarders

A

All-Mountain Board
A versatile snowboard designed to perform well in all conditions and terrains, from groomed trails to powder fields and park features. It’s the go-to choice for beginners and intermediates because it’s adaptable and easy to control.

Alpine Snowboarding
A style of snowboarding focused on carving and speed, similar to slalom skiing. Alpine snowboards are typically narrower, with more rigid boots and bindings. Great for hard-packed snow and groomed runs but less effective in powder.

B

Backcountry (BC)
Off-piste snowboarding that takes place beyond the ski resort boundaries. Known for its natural and often untouched snow, the backcountry requires specific gear like split boards, avalanche safety equipment, and knowledge of the terrain.

Base
The underside of a snowboard that glides along the snow. Snowboard bases come in two main types: extruded (low-maintenance but slower) and sintered (more expensive but faster and more durable).

Binding Types
Bindings attach your boots to the board. Key types include strap-in bindings, which offer secure fit and adjustability, and rear-entry bindings, which prioritize convenience. Step-on bindings are a newer option that combines security with ease of entry.

Boot Flex
The amount of flexibility or stiffness in a snowboard boot. Soft-flex boots are forgiving and ideal for beginners and freestyle riders, while stiffer boots provide better response for aggressive all-mountain or backcountry riders.

Butter
A trick that involves spinning or twisting the board while riding on a flat or low-angle surface. Great for freestyle riders, and popular in the terrain park.

C

Camber
A traditional snowboard profile with an upward arch in the middle. Camber boards provide excellent edge control and pop, making them ideal for carving and high-speed stability. Best for groomed trails.

Chatter
The vibration is felt through the board when riding at high speeds or in icy conditions. A sign of instability, is usually minimized by choosing a stiffer board with effective dampening materials.

Core
The inner material of a snowboard, typically made from wood (poplar or bamboo) for durability and responsiveness. Some cores incorporate composite materials for lightweight strength.

Corduroy
The parallel, ribbed texture left on a groomed trail by a snowcat. Perfect for carving, especially in the morning when it's fresh and untracked.

Crust
A layer of ice on top of soft snow, often found after a freeze-thaw cycle. Crust can be tricky to ride on because it breaks unpredictably and can throw off balance.

D

Directional Board
A snowboard designed to be ridden predominantly in one direction, with a longer nose for better float in powder. Ideal for all-mountain and freeride enthusiasts.

Dampening
The ability of a snowboard to absorb vibrations and reduce “chatter.” Materials like urethane and rubber are often added to the core to increase dampening, especially for all-mountain and freeride boards.

Duck Stance
A binding setup where both feet are angled outward, resembling a duck’s stance. Commonly used in freestyle and park riding as it facilitates easy switch riding.

E

Effective Edge
The part of the snowboard edge that makes contact with the snow. Longer effective edges provide better grip and stability on groomed runs, while shorter edges are preferred for park and freestyle due to their maneuverability.

Extruded Base
A type of snowboard base made by extruding polyethylene. Extruded bases are slower than sintered bases but easier to repair, ideal for beginners and budget-friendly boards.

F

Freestyle Board
A snowboard designed for tricks, jumps, and terrain park features. They’re shorter, softer, and more flexible than other boards, making them easy to maneuver and forgiving on landings.

Freeride Board
A snowboard built for riding off-trail and in natural terrain. Often stiffer and more directional, freeride boards excel in powder and variable snow conditions.

Flex
Refers to the flexibility of a snowboard, ranging from soft (for park and freestyle) to stiff (for high-speed stability and carving). The right flex depends on your riding style, weight, and ability level.

G

Groomers
Smooth, manicured trails created by snowcats, often with a corduroy texture. Groomers are ideal for carving and high-speed cruising, and are typically the best terrain for beginners.

Grab
A trick where the rider holds onto the edge of the board while airborne. Popular grabs include the indy, melon, and mute, each with a distinct hand position and style.

H

Hardpack
Hard, compacted snow often created by heavy traffic or grooming. It’s firm and can be icy, so it’s challenging for beginners but excellent for carving with a properly edged board.

Highback
The vertical part of the binding that supports your calf. Highbacks provide leverage for heelside turns and vary in flexibility depending on the type of riding you prefer.

I

Ice
A condition where the snow has become very hard or frozen. It’s notoriously difficult to ride on, especially for beginners. Sharp edges are essential for control on icy terrain.

J

Jibbing
Riding and performing tricks on non-snow surfaces like rails, boxes, or logs. A key feature in freestyle snowboarding, requiring a flexible board and forgiving bindings.

 Jump
Any feature, natural or man-made, used to get airborne. Jumps can range from small "side hits" on groomed trails to massive "kickers" in the terrain park.

K

Kicker
A large jump with a steep ramp, typically found in terrain parks. Kickers are designed for big air and complex tricks, and they require confidence and skill.

Knuckle
The transition area at the top of a jump landing. Landing on the knuckle instead of the downslope can lead to a hard impact, so aim to clear it when hitting jumps.

L

Lib Tech
A popular snowboard brand known for innovative technologies, like Magne-Traction edges for better grip on ice. Many Lib Tech boards are all-mountain and freestyle-focused.

Leash
A safety strap that attaches the snowboard to the rider’s boot to prevent runaway boards. Now less common with modern bindings but still required in some resorts.

M

Magne-Traction
A patented edge technology by Lib Tech that adds wavy edges for better grip on icy and hardpack conditions. Ideal for riders who frequent icy slopes and need extra traction.

Micro Camber
A slight camber profile that combines the pop of camber with the forgiveness of rocker. Often found in all-mountain boards, providing balanced performance across varied conditions.

Mounting Disc
The circular plate used to attach bindings to the snowboard. Different boards have various mounting patterns like the standard 4x4, 2x4, and Burton’s Channel system.

N

Nose
The front end of the snowboard, usually designed with a slightly raised or elongated shape for better float in powder. On directional boards, the nose is often larger than the tail for better control in deep snow.

Nollie
A trick where the rider pops off the nose of the board instead of the tail. Similar to an ollie in skateboarding, a nollie is a stylish way to add flair on flat terrain or while approaching features.

O

Ollie
A basic jump technique where the rider uses the tail of the board to spring off the snow. Ollies are foundational in freestyle and help build skills for jumping and other tricks.

Overhang
Refers to how much your boots extend over the edge of the snowboard when mounted in bindings. Too much overhang can lead to "toe drag" or "heel drag," where boots catch the snow during turns.

P

Park
Short for terrain park, an area designated for freestyle riding with jumps, rails, boxes, and other features. Boards specifically designed for park use are often softer and more flexible for easier trick execution.

Pipe
Short for halfpipe, a U-shaped snow structure with smooth walls used for performing aerial tricks. Riding the pipe requires a specific set of skills, including balance and control in steep transitions.

Powder
Fresh, fluffy, and light snow ideal for snowboarding. Powder snow requires a board with a wider nose or specific shape for “floating” on top, such as a powder or freeride board.

Q

Quiver
A collection of different snowboards, each suited for various types of snow and terrain. A quiver might include a powder board, an all-mountain board, and a park board, offering flexibility for any snow condition.

Quad Cork
An advanced aerial trick that involves four off-axis spins (or flips). Quad corks are rarely attempted outside of competitions and are typically performed by the most skilled riders in big-air events.

R

Rocker
A snowboard profile where the middle of the board is lower than the tip and tail, forming a “reverse camber.” Rocker boards are more forgiving and float well in powder, making them great for beginners and freestyle riders.

Rail
A metal feature commonly found in terrain parks, used for jibbing and tricks. Rails require a flexible, durable board with good edge control for successful sliding maneuvers.

Rocker-Camber-Rocker
A hybrid board profile with camber underfoot and rocker on the tip and tail. This shape provides a blend of stability, edge control, and float, making it a popular choice for all-mountain and freestyle riders.

S

Sidecut Radius
The arc of the board’s edge that affects turning. A deeper sidecut makes it easier to turn quickly (great for park), while a shallower sidecut aids in high-speed stability (better for all-mountain and freeride).

Sintered Base
A high-performance snowboard base made by compressing and heating polyethylene. Known for its speed and durability, a sintered base is preferred by advanced riders but requires more maintenance than an extruded base.

Splitboard
A snowboard that can be split into two halves for backcountry touring. Splitboards allow riders to climb uphill on skis, then lock back into snowboard mode for the descent.

Stance Width
The distance between the bindings on a snowboard. Adjusting stance width can improve balance, control, and comfort based on the rider's height and style.

Switch
Riding with the opposite foot forward, usually to perform tricks or ride backwards. Switch riding is essential in freestyle and park, where spinning and landing in both directions is common.

T

Tail
The back end of the snowboard. Some boards have slightly stiffer or tapered tails to improve stability in turns or landings, especially in powder and freeride boards.

Twin Tip
A snowboard shape that is symmetrical in design, allowing riders to ride equally well in either direction (regular or switch). Ideal for freestyle riders who perform spins and tricks in both directions.

Torsional Flex
The flexibility of a snowboard when twisted, affecting its responsiveness during turns. A board with high torsional flex is easier to control and maneuver, while low torsional flex provides stability at higher speeds.

Tree Runs
Riding in areas where there are trees scattered throughout the snow. Tree runs require quick reflexes, a narrower board, and control to navigate the natural obstacles.

U

Untracked
Fresh snow that has not yet been ridden on. Untracked powder is the holy grail for many snowboarders, offering a smooth, buoyant ride with minimal resistance.

V

Vert
Refers to vertical inclines or steep terrain, often in relation to halfpipes or natural cliff drops. Riding vert requires balance, edge control, and confidence due to the increased speed and challenge.

W

Waist Width
The width of the snowboard at its narrowest point. Riders with larger feet often prefer wide boards to prevent toe drag, while narrower boards offer quicker edge-to-edge transitions.

Wide Board
A snowboard with an extra-wide waist to accommodate larger boot sizes and reduce toe drag. Wide boards provide stability in deep snow but may be less nimble for quick turns.

Y

Yard Sale
Slang for a crash that sends gear (such as goggles, gloves, or poles) flying in different directions, resembling a “yard sale” of items scattered across the snow.

Yankee Snow
Colloquial term for hard-packed or icy snow, especially in colder regions. This type of snow is tough to ride on and often requires sharp edges and solid carving skills.

Z

Zoning
The practice of choosing areas of the mountain based on skill level, terrain type, or snow conditions. Many resorts zone areas for beginners, intermediate, and advanced riders to keep things safe and fun for everyone.

Advanced Tricks, Technologies, Regional Slang, and Historical Terms in Snowboarding

Advanced Tricks

Backside Rodeo
A trick that combines a backflip with a 180-degree spin, creating a unique off-axis rotation. The trick demands precise body control and is popular in freestyle and big-air competitions.

Frontside Boardslide (FS Board)
A jib trick where the rider approaches a rail or box from the frontside and slides with the board perpendicular to the rail. A foundational rail trick, it’s also one of the first tricks many riders learn in the park.

Method
A stylish grab where the rider pulls their back leg up while grabbing the heel edge, arching their back for maximum flair. Known as one of the most iconic snowboarding tricks, it’s a crowd-pleaser and a testament to a rider’s control.

Double Cork
A high-level aerial trick involving two inverted off-axis flips. Double corks are common in big air and slopestyle events, requiring both amplitude and precision to land.

Backside 540 (BS 540)
A half-turn spin where the rider performs a 540-degree rotation with their back facing the jump. The “backside” label indicates the initial direction of rotation, with many variations based on grabs and stance.

Handplant
A trick where the rider plants one hand on the edge of a halfpipe or banked wall while momentarily inverting their body. This old-school trick has become a favorite among pipe riders and showcases strength and style.

Cab 720
A 720-degree spin initiated from a switch (opposite) stance. Named after skateboarding legend Steve Caballero, Cab spins add style and technicality, especially when paired with unique grabs.

McTwist
A trick that combines a flip and a 540-degree spin, named after skateboarder Mike McGill. The McTwist requires a controlled off-axis rotation and is a highlight move in both skate and snow halfpipe.

Specialized Snowboarding Technologies

Asymmetrical Sidecut
A sidecut with a tighter radius on the heelside edge to improve carving and balance. Asymmetrical boards cater to a more natural stance, helping riders maintain stability through turns.

Carbon Stringers
Thin, carbon fiber strips embedded into the snowboard to enhance responsiveness, torsional rigidity, and pop. Commonly found in high-performance boards for advanced freeriders and big mountain enthusiasts.

Hybrid Camber
A mixed profile combining camber and rocker sections, creating a balance between pop, stability, and float. Hybrid camber is versatile and increasingly popular for all-mountain and freestyle boards.

Poplar-Bamboo Core
A core construction that combines poplar wood with bamboo for a lightweight, responsive feel. Known for its strength and natural flex, this core is common in eco-friendly and high-performance boards.

Biaxial and Triaxial Fiberglass
Layers of fiberglass woven in different directions. Biaxial fiberglass (woven at two angles) offers flexibility, while triaxial (woven at three angles) provides stiffness, ideal for stability at high speeds.

Titanal
A high-strength alloy of aluminum commonly used in snowboard cores for added stability and vibration dampening. Boards with Titanal construction handle well at high speeds and on rough terrain.

Splitboard Skins
Adhesive-backed strips that attach to the bottom of a splitboard, allowing it to grip the snow while climbing. Essential for backcountry touring, skins are typically made of nylon, mohair, or a blend of both.

V-Rocker
A rocker profile with a V-shape, featuring rockered sections in both the tip and tail and a flat middle. The V-Rocker design enhances float and playfulness in powder, making it suitable for freestyle and all-mountain boards.

TBT (Triple Base Technology)
A unique board shape with a lifted side edge in the nose and tail, creating a 3D base profile. Triple Base Technology offers smoother turns, catch-free rides, and better float in powder.

Urethane Sidewalls
A dampening material used in snowboard sidewalls to absorb impacts and reduce chatter. Urethane sidewalls add durability and a smoother ride on rough, icy terrain.

Regional Slang

Japow
A combination of “Japan” and “powder,” referring to Japan’s famously deep, light, and dry powder snow. Known worldwide, Japow is ideal for powder boards and revered by powder enthusiasts.

Cham’ Lines
A term referring to the legendary off-piste lines in Chamonix, France, where extreme freeride routes are the norm. Cham’ lines often feature steep chutes, cliffs, and glaciers.

Sierra Cement
Heavy, wet snow often found in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Sierra Cement is challenging to ride due to its weight, requiring boards with a wider nose and more float.

Cascade Concrete
A Pacific Northwest term for dense, sticky snow that’s often wetter than traditional powder. Riding on Cascade Concrete can be tiring, so riders may opt for a stiffer, more responsive board.

Euro Carve
A style of carving popular in Europe, particularly among alpine snowboarders, involving deep, low-to-the-ground turns. The Euro Carve shows off a rider’s edge control and commitment.

Chili Powder
Refers to the light, dry snow found in the Andes mountains of Chile. Perfect for powder riding, this type of snow is known for its floaty, forgiving texture.

Boilerplate
An East Coast term for hard-packed, icy snow that’s difficult to ride on. Requires sharp edges and a stable board to handle the slick surface.

Dumped
Slang for heavy snowfall, indicating a large amount of fresh powder has accumulated. A “dump” is a snowboarder’s dream for a fresh, floaty ride.

Historical Terms

Snurfer
The original predecessor to the snowboard, invented in 1965 by Sherman Poppen. The snurfer was a small board with a rope handle for steering, and it set the stage for modern snowboarding.

Craig Kelly
Known as the “Godfather of Freeriding,” Kelly was a pioneer in the 1980s who influenced the style and spirit of modern snowboarding. He helped shape freeriding as a discipline and popularized backcountry snowboarding.

Apocalypse Snow
A 1983 French film series that featured snowboarders riding in Chamonix, France. It helped bring snowboarding to European audiences and showcased freeriding’s potential.

Banana Technology
Introduced by Mervin Manufacturing (parent company of Lib Tech), Banana Technology introduced the rocker shape to snowboarding in 2007. It created a trend of reverse-camber boards that made tricks and powder riding more accessible.

Ingemar’s Method
Named after Ingemar Backman, who performed a groundbreaking method air in 1996. The trick, performed with incredible height, was a landmark moment in snowboarding style.

Burton Air
A popular board model from Burton Snowboards in the 1980s and 1990s, known for being a lightweight, all-purpose board that helped drive the sport's popularity in North America.

Tom Sims
One of the early pioneers of snowboarding and skateboarding, Sims founded Sims Snowboards and played a significant role in the development of early boards and gear. His brand remains iconic.

Skate-Influence Era
Refers to the period in the late 80s and early 90s when snowboarders adopted tricks and styles from skateboarding, leading to more technical and trick-based riding in parks.

Alpine Snowboarding Renaissance
A movement in the 90s that focused on alpine carving and speed. Though less popular today, alpine snowboarding paved the way for precision-focused boards and techniques.

X Games Arrival
The 1997 debut of snowboarding at the Winter X Games helped legitimize the sport and brought it to mainstream audiences, showcasing tricks like spins, flips, and halfpipe riding on a large stage.

Heli-Snowboarding Boom
Heli-snowboarding, where helicopters take riders to remote backcountry locations, became a luxury trend in the late 90s. Heli-snowboarding offers access to untouched powder and challenging, isolated terrain.

Big Air Explosion
The mid-2000s saw an explosion in big air events, where riders performed huge tricks on massive jumps. This era of big air helped introduce snowboarding to a broader audience, pushing the limits of what was possible.