Skiing Terms For Beginners: A Complete Glossary For Success
Summit Skier contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.
Are you heading to the ski slopes for the first time and want to master some essential ski slang? We’ve all been there!
Keep reading as I break down the key terms every beginner skier should know to understand the lingo and have an awesome time on the slopes this winter.
- Apres-ski: Socializing after skiing typically with drinks and food near (or on) the slopes
- Avalanche: A sudden, powerful, dangerous snow slide
- Backcountry: Skiing in ungroomed, remote areas
- Bail: Falling while skiing or snowboarding
- Black Diamond Runs: Advanced, steep terrain for experienced riders
- Bluebird Day: Clear blue skies and sunny weather
- Blue Runs: Intermediate-level slopes
- Bowl: A wide, open ski area with no trees that is steep
- Bunny Hill: A beginner-friendly, gentle slope meant for those starting out
- Cat Track: Flat, narrow path connecting slopes
- Carving: Making clean turns by digging your skis or snowboard edges in
- Chairlift: A ride up the mountain on a chair
- Corduroy: Freshly groomed, ribbed snow surface on a ski slope
- First Tracks: Being the first to ski on untouched morning snow
- French Fry: Skiing with skis parallel facing downhill, your skis are side by side, which looks like two french fries
- Glades: Skiing through tree-covered areas
- Gnar: Challenging, steep, or intense terrain; a popular saying you’ll hear is “Shred the gnar,” which means conquering challenging runs at a fast pace
- Goofy: When a snowboarder rides with the right foot forward
- Gondola: An enclosed lift for multiple riders, you can typically stand up on these or sit
- Green Runs: Easy, beginner slopes
- Groomed: Smoothed-out snow surface that has been groomed by cats (machines that flatten snow slopes)
- Half Pipe: U-shaped terrain feature for tricks and jumps
- Liftie: A worker operating the ski lift
- Magic Carpet: A conveyor belt lift for beginners, often seen on bunny hills
- Moguls: Small, snow-covered bumps
- Off-Piste: Skiing off marked trails
- Pizza: A beginner skier stance to slow down when your skis go into the V position and look like a slice of pizza
- Pow: Soft, fresh powder snow
- Powder Hound: Someone who loves powder skiing
- Quad: A chairlift seating four people
- Shred: Skiing or snowboarding with skill
- Ski-in/Ski-out: Direct slope access from lodging
- Straight Lining: Skiing directly downhill at speed
- T-Bar: A T-shaped lift pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill
- Terrain Park: This area contains jumps and obstacles; you’ll usually only find advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders here
- Traverse: Skiing across a slope horizontally
- Tree Skiing: Skiing between trees
- Tree Well: A deep hole around a tree trunk. You typically can’t tell because it’s covered by fresh snow, but if you ski over the top, sometimes loose snow will collapse, and riders will fall in; they are very dangerous, which is why it’s essential to avoid skiing super close to trees and always ski with a buddy
- Wax: Applied to skis or boards for speed
- White Out: Low visibility due to heavy snow
- Yard Sale: A significant fall where gear gets scattered, skis become unstrapped, gloves can fly off, etc.
Can You Think Of Any Other Ski Terms Beginners Should Know?
Let us know in the comments!
