Snowboard Lingo & Terms

And just when you think I couldn't possibly have anything else to tell you about a board there's more. It's important to understand snowboard lingo. That way when the salesman tries to impress you with really big words you'll know the lingo and won't be fooled.

The Base – is the bottom of the snowboard and it is made of polyethylene or P-Tex. There three types of bases you can buy. The Extended, Sintered, and Graphite.

The Extended Base – this is the cheapest base, the easiest to repair, and it lasts the longest. However they are slower and they don't absorb the wax very well.

The Sintered Base – is more durable, more expensive, and harder to repair. However the speed and the absorption of the wax make it worth the money!

The Graphite Base – is the ultimate base in speed. Soooo fast. Racers almost always use a graphite based board. However they are expensive!

The Steel Edges - every board is has a steel edge border. This border is what gives you the grabbing power to make those turns.

The Core – the core of the board is what's found between all the exterior materials. It can be made of wood, foam, or some other composite material. It holds the metal inserts that are used to mount the bindings.

The Fiberglass- the fiberglass is on top of the core. It's what gives your board that extra strength. Many boards actually have two layers of fiberglass to increase the strength of the board.

The Topsheet – This is the plastic coating on the fiberglass. It's designed to protect your board from UV rays and impacts. It's also what allows your board to become a canvas for that so cool graphic.

Have I confused the heck out of you now? Are you getting the picture? Each board has it's pros and cons and what you'll need to decide is what type of snowboarding you'll be doing the most of then choose a board that fits. Don't buy a board that's too big or heavy because after a few trips up the mountain you'll be exhausted. Choose a lighter more functional board that can give you a full days entertainment. And always remember that you get what you pay for so don't buy just on price. And if you're having troubles choosing a board then ask the salesperson for help.

A - Z - Snowboarding Lingo

#

180 - One Hundred and eighty degrees measure of rotation. Used to describe skateboarding tricks
360 - Three hundred and sixty degrees measure of rotation. Used to describe skateboarding tricks.
411 - Video magazine for skateboarders. Usually released every 2 months
5-0 - A Type of grind. Grinding with the axle of the rear truck on the edge of the object
50-50 - Type of grind. Grinding with the axles of both trucks on the edge of the object.

A

A - A measurement for the hardness of skateboard wheels
ACIDDROP - Skating off the end of an object with ollieing or touching the board with your hands
AIR - The name given to the trick of the skateboard and skater when they leave the ground without ollieing.
AXLE - The metal rod running through the hanger on which both ends you screw on your wheels. Through time they may be known to 'slip' causing one wheel to be tight and while the other is loose. Taping on the tight side will knock the axle back into place.

B

BACKSIDE - Originated from surfing. In surfing it is the direction in which you turn if you are traveling up a wave and turn so as you back faces the wave. While in snowboarding it is used to describe your direction of rotation in skating. It's the opposite of 'frontside'.
BANK - An elevated surface. A common urban form of ramp.
BASEPLATE -The flat part of the truck that fixes to the board via four drilled holes for truck bolts. Also has an area to attach a pivot cup and kingpin, ready to attach the rest of the truck.
BEARING - The part of the board that bears the friction of movement. There should be two bearings within each wheel.
BIGSPIN - A 360 degree shove it while turning your body 180 degrees in a backside direction.
BLUNT - Going up over an object and landing with the tail along the edge of the object and the rear two wheels on top of the object. The board should then be pointing in a near vertical position.
BOARD – The main platform area of a skateboard. Prone to snapping with incorrect landing of skateboarding tricks.
BONED - Pushing the board out in front and pointing downwards while in mid-air.
BONELESS - Take the front foot off the board and grab the board with your hand. With your back foot still on the board jump up, then place your front foot back on the board and remove your hand before landing.

C

CASPER -With the board upside down, place the front foot underneath the board and backfoot on the tail, pointing the board into the sky.
COMP - Short for competition.
CONCAVE - The contour given to decks. The concave will dip down from the left to right and should be asymmetrical. Provides strength to the board and aids the skater when performing tricks.
COPING - Metal piping running along the top edge of ramps. Provides a longer life to the ramp plus aids to the range of skateboarding tricks.
CURB - What coping is to ramps is what curbs are to streets. One of the most used and abused objects on the street for skating. Painted curbs provide a smooth grindable edge, though most can be made this way by applying common candle wax.
CUSHION - Donut shaped rubber components found on trucks. Slotted onto the kingpin. Provide steering and act as shock absorbents. Can be bought in a range of colors and hardness's.

D

DECK -Main platform area of a skateboard. See Deck
DELAM - Damage done to a deck through skating as a layer is chipped from the plywood deck. The thin layer removed is called a 'delam' and the name is also given to the mark left where it once resided
DOWNHILL - Skating as fast as you can down the steepest of hills for the greatest of adrenaline rushes. Has also developed into a separate area of skateboarding with special boards and techniques.
DROPIN - As the name suggests. Place your tail on the platform of a ramp with your wheels hanging over the edge ready to drop into the ramp. With your weight on the tail, gradually move you weight forward till you end up riding down the ramp.

F

FAKIE - Traveling backwards on your snowboard
FAT - Means high or far. Used to express a skateboarding trick that is performed over a long distance or to a great height
FEEBLEGRIND - Grinding with the rear truck while the front truck goes over the top of the edge of the object. Hence the board will be at a slight angle to the direction of movement.
FLIP - It involves making your board turn upside down a variation of combinations. A flip is generally when it completely flips over to land back on the wheels.
FOCUS - Snapping the deck into two pieces. It was once 'fashionable' to do this when you became frustrated, said to be conjured up by a part of the industry who wanted people to buy more boards by making people think it was cool to focus the board you where riding. Riders have become smarter than that. Boards are too expensive.
FRONTSIDE - Used to describe your direction of rotation in skating. The opposite of backside.
FUNBOX - Usually the highlight of an artificial street course. A platform object with banked sides plus handrail if your lucky

G

GOOFY - You skate goofy if you skate with your right foot forward. It's the opposite of regular which is skating with your left foot forward
GRAB - Using your hand to 'grab' onto your board
GRAPHICS - The art work on the bottom of a deck..
GRIND - Moving along the edge or on top of an object with the axles of both trucks, Variations include 50-50, 5-0, Tail, Nose, K-Grind, Smith, Sausage, Feeble and Slappy.
GRIPTAPE - A sticky back sandpaper material. Usually black but can be bought in a range of colors, even clear. It is used to cover the top of the deck then trimmed to enable friction and therefore aid the skater.

H

HANDRAIL - Common urban feature, used for holding onto while traveling up and down stairs, though used by skaters for a whole range of tricks.
HANGER - Part of the truck. This is the part that gets most abuse. When you grind, you are grinding along the top of the hanger. Contained inside the hanger is the axle.
HEELFLIP - Flipping the board with your heel. Your front foot should move up and across the board flipping it in the opposite direction of a kickflip.
HIP - When two ramps are placed together so that one is at a slight angle the other, the part at which the ramps join is called the hip.

I

INDY GRAB - Grabbing the board in front of you with the rear hand.

J

JAM - Getting a load of skaters together for a skateboard session.

K

K-GRIND - Grinding along on the leading truck without having the board over the object.
KICKFLIP - Flipping the board by using the same method as you would if you were trying to kick something.
KICKTURN - Rotating on the rear wheels of the board with the front wheels raised from the surface.
KINGPIN - The bolt that holds the hanger, cushions and base plate together of your truck. Probably the most likely part of a skateboard to snap. Very cheap to buy and even cheaper if you get one from a hardware store
KINK - Used to describe handrails. A kink is the changing of the handrails angle.

L

LAUNCH RAMP - A ramp made for skaters to launch from, hence the name. A portable street ramp.
LIP -The top edge of a ramp.
LIPSLIDE - Sliding along on the rails of the board with the rear wheels going over the object.

M

MANUAL - What people commonly call a wheelie. This is traveling along of your board balancing on the two rear wheels.
MC TWIST - 540 degree backside air with a mute grab. Invented by Mike McGill.
MELLONCOLLIE - An ollie and ,while in midair, grabbing the board behind you with the leading hand.
MINI RAMP - A ramp (two transitioned banks facing each other with flat bottom and platforms that does not have any vert. Usually around 6 feet in height.

N

NOCOMPLY - Old school street skating trick. There are many variations but the basic is to travel along with rear foot on the tail, then place the front foot on the ground and pop the board into the air.
NOLLIE - Follows the same concepts as an ollie. While travelling along place the front foot on the nose and pop up into the air using the nose (rather than the tail in an ollie). The exact same as a switch-stance fakie ollie.
NOSE - The part of the deck in front of the front truck. Opposite end to the 'tail'.
NOSE GRAB - Grabbing the front of the board (nose) with the leading hand.
NOSE GRIND - Grinding on the leading truck only.
NOSE SLIDE - Sliding along an object using the underside of the nose.

O

OLLIE - Invented on ramps by Ollie Gelfand and brought to the streets by Rodney Mullen. Air without using your hands. The basis for most skateboarding tricks and the one that should be learnt first.

P

PIVOT CUP - A plastic cup that fits into the base plate and stops the metal hanger from coming into contact with the metal base plate.
PLATFORM - An elevated flat surface.
POP SHOVEIT - A shoveit mixed with an ollie. Enables shoveits to be performed higher.
PRO - A professional.

Q

QUARTER PIPE - One side of a mini-ramp or vertical ramp, yet usually with less width and found on street area's at skate parks. Often used for gaining speed on a street course or practicing ramp tricks.

R

RAILS - On the underside of the board. The edges on the deck running along either side of the board between the trucks.
RAIL SLIDE - Sliding along an object on the part of your deck between the trucks. Also known as a board slide.
REGULAR – If you with your left foot forward you are regular. The opposite of goofy.
REVERT - Finishing a trick coming out forwards, then quickly sliding round 180 to come out backwards.
RIP GRIP - Thin sticky back sponge material. To be stuck onto the bottom of boards to give your fingers some grip when grabbing.
RISER -Usually made from plastic or rubber and it fits between the deck and baseplate of the truck.
ROCK AND ROLL - Ramp Trick where you go up to the lip and push the front truck over it. Stall, then turn 180 back down the ramp.
ROLLIN -To skate along the platform of a ramp, over the lip and down onto the transitions. The part of a ramp that curves onto the platform is also called a roll-in, because of the purpose it serves.
RUBBER - Another name for bushing.

S

SAD PLANT - A variation of a hand plant where your grab the inside rail and straighten your front leg.
SAUSAGE GRIND - Grab your tail while doing a smith grind on your front truck.
SHOVE IT - Turning the board without turning your body so as the board spins round under your feet.
SIDE WALK SURFER - UK based skateboard magazine.
SKATE PARK - A place dedicated to skateboarding of artificial means.
SKETCHY - Just about landing tricks. Someone who lands a trick, wobbles about and generally just about lands the trick is sketchy.
SLALOM - Doing the thing that skiers do, except on hard ground with usually a dedicated skateboard.
SLAM - Its basically another word for falling off your board and hurting yourself.
SLAPPY - Doing grinds along such things as curbs without ollie-ing onto it.
SLICK - Special plastic layer fixed to the bottom of a deck supposed to aid slidding.
SMITH GRIND - Grinding with the rear truck, while the front truck does not go over the top of the object but runs along the side of it. The center of the board my also be touching the edge of the object due to the nature of the trick.
SNAKE - If your skating an object in which only a limited number of people can skate, a snake, or snaker, is the person that seems to have more goes than anyone by jumping the naturally occurring queue
SNAKE RUN - Twisting path with banked sides. Looks like a snake from above, hence the name.
SPACER - A small hollow cylindrical object, usually made from metal, placed between two bearings inside a wheel. Used to give bearings a longer life if used correctly.
SPINE - If two ramps are put back to back and do not have a platform at the point of connection, the upside down 'V' shape is called the spine.
STALE FISH GRAB - Grabbing the board behind you with the rear hand (round the back of the rear leg).
STAIN - Normal deck without a slick bottom
STANCE - Either regular of goofy. The way in which you stand on your board.
STOKED - The feeling of doing something well.
STREET - Most commonly used terrain of skateboarding, this has lead to the banning of skateboarding in certain areas.
SWITCH STANCE - The art of skating the stance that you are did not learn to skate with. This means if you do tricks skating goofy, to skate switch stance you perform tricks with a regular stance and vice-versa.
SURFING - Without it, skateboarding may not exist. Skateboards where made by surfers when the waves where too small to practise, and ramps where created to form an artificial wave.

T

TAIL - The part of the deck behind the rear truck. Opposite end to the nose.
TAIL GRAB - Grabbing the rear of the board or tail with the rear hand.
TAIL SAVER - A piece of plastic that attaches to the underside of the tail. Designed to prevent wear and tear on the tail from such activities as ollies.
TAILSLIDE - Sliding with the tail of the board upon the object and the rest of the board hanging off the object, without having gone over it.
TECHNICAL - The name given to complex skating ie.freestyle. Involves flipping and shoveit-ing your board in all manners of directions.
THRASHED - The wear and tear of an object due to skateboarding.
THRASHER - Skateboard magazine that has been running since the start of time. Loads of ads with some music thrown in for good luck.
TOSS - Such as 'product toss' or 'sticker toss'. An event usually found at sponsored competitions where products are thrown to the crowd.
TRANSITION - Part of a bank/ramp that inclines in an upward direction.
TRANS WORLD - Great skateboarding magazine known for amazing photos and quality feel.
TRUCK - Fixes to the board, and the wheels fit to the truck. Two needed (a pair) per skateboard. A complete truck is made up of a base plate, hanger, axle, kingpin, cushions, 2 special washers and 2 bolts for the axles.
TRUCK BOLTS - Four used per truck. Keeps the truck attached to the board.
TWEAK - To point the board in a different direction than normal.

V

VERT - Part of an inclined surface that is vertical in gradient.

W

WALLIE - Skating onto, up and over a street object.
WALL RIDE - The act of skating up a vertical wall.
WAX - Used to make objects increasingly the slide for skateboard tricks. Can be seen as a black residue on objects that have been skated after being waxed.
WHEEL - Four of these things are needed per skateboard. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, hardness and colors.
WHEEL SLIDE - The technique of slowing down without putting your feet down. It is what people may commonly call a skid. Can be done frontside, backside, 90, 180, 360, etc.
WOOD - The material used for decks. If someone refers to a deck as being a 'wood' or 'stain', it usually means that there is no 'slick' layer on it.
WRIST GUARD - Protective equipment for the wrist. A type of glove containing a plastic/metal splint running along the underside of the wrist onto the palm of the hand.