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Jobmonkey - Ski terms Category: Sport and Leisure > Ski resort glossary Date & country: 19/08/2008, USA Words: 67

T-Bar
A T-shaped rope tow on which two skiers balance in sitting positions and are pulled to the top

White out
Poor visibility due to a combination of fog and snow. Usually occurs at high altitudes

Wind-chill factor
Taking wind spped into account when determining apparent temperature

Traverse
To ski across the mountain rather than down

Tree skiing
Skiing through the trees. Usually reserved for intermediate and expert skiers

Stem Christie
Advanced form of the snowplow turn

Tail
The back of the ski

Telemarking
Skiing with detached heels and metal edges on special cross -country skis; often in backcountry terrain

Snowplow
To put skis in V-position to turn or slow down

Snowboarding
The alpine equivalent to surfing

Snowcat
A tractor used for grooming purposes

Skijoring
A smaller version of dog-sledding in which one dog pulls a skier

Slalom
A race with tight turns around obstacles

Ski brake
A required attachment for skis; it keeps skis from going downhill without you

Skating
Pushing off with one ski and sliding with the other to move along a flat surface

Sidestep
To climb a hill using sideways footing

Shredding
Slang for snowboarding

Sideslip
A technique for descending a hill by sliding down sideways on ski edges; often used to control speed

Schuss
To ski straight down the hill

Shovel
The front of the ski

Ruts
Tracks created by repetitive skiing that can make for treacherous ski conditions

Rope tow
A moving rope that skiers grab to be towed up the mountain. Don't let the rope run through your hands as it may ruin your gloves!

Runout
A long, flat run back to the lift

Regular season
Dates vary in different regions, but regular-season lift prices are higher than low season's and lower than during the holiday and high seasons. Often includes January and early April

Powderhound
A person who insatiably seeks the best powder snow throughout the season.

Piste
French for trail

Poma
A surface lift straddled by skiers, with a platter to sit on. Often called a button lift, disc, or platter lift

NASTAR National Standard Race
A race in which skiers of all levels can compare their abilities against a national average

Off-piste
Used to describe uncharted ski areas

Moguls
Mounds of snow created by skiers; also called bumps.

Low season
usually between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lodging and lift rates are available at lower prices

Hot dog
A person who takes jumps off small cliffs and performs tricks on skis

Kick turn
An easier option for beginners turning on steep slopes. Ask an instructor to demonstrate

Lateral bullet
A skier who is skiing out of control across the slopes

Holiday season
Usually between mid-December and mid-January; prices are high as a result of school vacations and the holidays

High-speed detachable quad
Lifts sometimes called superchairs because of their velocity. During loading and unloading, the chair actually detaches from the cable and moves slowly

High season
Usually from February to early March. During this time, lift tickets and lodging are more expensive

Heli-skiing
Skiing in areas only accessible by helicopter. This is primarily for advanced skiers as it is potentially dangerous

Grooming
Snow removal, packing, and preparation of the runs for skiing

Graduated length method
The use of progressively longer skis as skill improves

Gondola
Small suspended cars that carry four to ten skiers at a time up the mountain

Glade skiing
Skiing between trees

Goggles
Protective eye wear used to gurd against ultraviolet rays, wind, and powder

Frostbite
A serious condition that takes place in extremely cold conditions, when part of your body freezes. This usually happens to the face or other unprotected areas

Frozen granular
Snow that is old and that has frozen together. The difference between it and ice is this: ice chips away and frozen granular will dent and keep its shape. Eventually, frozen granular will turn to ice

Flea market
Result of a wipe-out when clothing and gear separate from the skier (a.k.a. a tag or garage sale)

Flat light
Condition occurring when haze decreases depth visibility

Fixed grip lift
A surface chairlift that pulls skiers by cable to various levels of the mountain.

FIS
French acronym for the International Ski Federation

Extreme skiing
Pushing your ski expertise to its limit by conquering a steep run, uncharted mountain, or severe ledge

Fall line
The most direct route down the hill, often involuntarily taken by falling skiers

Downhill skiing
Gravity-induced skiing (a.k.a. alpine skiing)

Edging
Controlling turns with the edge of your skis

Death cookies
Cookie-sized chunks of ice sometimes formed during grooming

Curling
A sport played on ice involving gently pushing a large, smooth stone along a narrow course. Superficially similar to shuffleboard

Crevasse
A deep, disguised crack in a glacier

Cross-country skiing
Skiing on a flat, snowy surface using the body for momentum and resistance. The best aerobic exercise possible

Cruising
Skiing leisurely down an easy slope

Chute
A steep trail surrounded by rocks

Cornice
An overhang of snow caused by wind

Carved turn
A tight turn made with the edge of the ski

Cable car
Also called a tram. This moving vessel consists of two cabins, suspended on cables, that take skiers to the top of the mountain

Bunny slope
Beginner slope (not just for children)

Boarding
Snowboarding

Bomber
A person who skis too fast or out of control

Binding
The connector between the ski boot and the ski. In the event of a fall, the skier is able to twist out of the binding to release the ski

Après-Ski
The period after a long day on the slopes to relax around a fire with a drink, party, go to dinner, or take a hot soak in the outdoor jacuzzi