SKIOLOGY
Skiing terms, definitions and ski slang - skiology
Here are a few skiing terms, ski definitions, skiing slang and sayings so you don't feel out of place in the snow. I am sure there are loads more but this is all we have heard of.
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
Frostbite - 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 skiing - 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 [more information]
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 [more information]
Parallel skiing - Skiing the the skis parallel. Skis can be either together or apart
Powder - Light, ungroomed snow [more information]
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 [more information]
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
