How to understand snowboard slang
Ever been in the lift line and questioned what language someone was speaking just to realize it’s English, but, well … not? Well, that’s why we have this guide to snowboard slang.
Snowboard culture dates back to the 80s and has always been disruptive and counter-cultural, to say the least. If skiers want it one way, snowboarders probably want it another.
And did you know snowboarding has its own language? Ever-evolving and constantly changing, snowboard vernacular – or ‘slang’ – celebrates all things rebellious about this wonderful sport. So, we’ll give you the run-down on the most common phrases you’ll hear on the mountain.
Plus, if you’re trying to stay as current as possible with all things snowboarding, why not check out this season’s range of snowboard jackets and snowboard pants? That way, you’re forever on the cutting edge.
Snowboard slang to know
There’s no better place to start than at the beginning. We’ll reel these off alphabetically, so strap in because we’re going ham.
Air
Catching air is when your snowboard leaves the ground – pure and simple. Kickers, side hits, or ollying – if you’re up, it’s air.
Example: “I caught some sick air off that side hit.”
Backcountry
The backcountry is everything that exists beyond the boundaries of a ski resort. Sometimes people will call these peripheral areas sidecountry or slackcountry, with backcountry meaning the more remote, unpatrolled, and unregulated snow-covered terrain everywhere there aren’t lifts.
Example: “You guys want to hit the backcountry this week for some touring?”
Backside
A spin initiated while turning your back to the riding direction. Your lead hand moves towards your chest during the rotation.
Example: “I’m going backside 540 off this kicker.”
Bail
An intentional fall. Alternatively, it’s used when a rider aborts a trick just before or during to avoid further or more serious injury.
Example: “I bailed out of that 720 because I knew I wasn’t going to get it around.”
Bluebird
Blue and cloudless skies overhead with plenty of sunshine.
Example: “I can’t wait for tomorrow – it’s going to be a bluebird.”
Booter
A big kicker or jump.
Example: “Man, that booter at the end of the jump line is insane.”
Bonk
Intentionally knocking or hitting your board against something as part of a jib.
Example: “You can definitely bonk that tree off that side hit over there.”
Bulletproof
When a cold night freezes freshly groomed slopes, resulting in a rock-hard riding surface that you can’t dig an edge into.
Example: “So sketchy riding out there. It’s bulletproof today.”
Corduroy
Freshly groomed slopes, the texture of which resembles corduroy.
Example: “There’s nothing like ripping fresh corduroy.”
Crater
When you hit a jump with a powder landing and don’t land it, you’ll form a crater.
Example: “You see that crater I left trying to throw that backie?”
Cruising
Leisurely riding – sometimes alone, sometimes with the homies. You’re not riding for anything other than the pure joy of it – usually without a care in the world.
Example: “Yesterday was so nice. Just cruising all day long.”
Dialed
Practicing a trick until you have it perfect.
Example: “You’ve got that method dialed, man.”
Dope
A common expression of something being awesome.
Example: “That blunt two-sev you stomped was dope.”
Face shot
Slashing powder off the front side of your board and riding through your own spray.
Example: “Pow was crazy today. Face shot after face shot, all day long!”
Fakie
Switch or fakie is the riding direction opposite to your natural riding stance. For instance, switch riders riding goofy, and vice versa.
Example: “Popped a quick 180 and rode it out fakie.”
Frontside
Opposite to a backside spin, this is initiating the rotation with your leading hand moving away from your chest.
Example: “Gonna keep it chill and throw a frontside 360.”
Gaper
Someone who stands by with their mouth open, watching others hit jumps and rails or doing otherwise gnarly stuff they couldn’t dream of.
Example: “Yo, check those gapers by the rope.”
Gnar/gnarly
Something rough or difficult, usually in reference to terrain, a feature, or anything negative.
Example: “This cliff drop is gnarly as hell,” “The lift lines are gnarly today,” or, “He was just ripping gnar all day.”
Ham
Doing something to its maximum, as in: going ham.
Example: “I sent that jump at full speed. Just went absolute ham” or, “Check that dude straightlining. He’s going ham.”
Homie(s)
Your friends, your family, your riding crew.
Example: “Nothing beats cruising with the homies.”
Jib/jibbing
Any stunt or maneuver that isn’t a big jump. This often refers to rails or boxes but also encompasses smaller jump features.
Example: “The jib features are sick this year!” or, “I’m just gonna be jibbing around today, nothing gnarly.”
Peep
To see or watch something.
Example: “Peep this trick.”
Phat
Good. Not much else to say.
Example: “My new board is phat,” or, “Yo, this beat is phat.”
Poacher/poaching
Someone riding where they shouldn’t, especially on private property or restricted terrain.
Example: “Peep that poacher ducking the rope over there,” or, “We were poaching up on the cat-ski area.”
Pow
Powder. The reason we all get out of bed in the morning.
Example: “Nothing beats a pow day.”
Rad
If phat or dope don’t cover it, rad works, too.
Example: “What a rad day today!”
Puking/nuking
Snowing heavily, usually preceding a pow day. Nuking is even better than puking.
Example: “Just checked the webcams, and it is puking up the hill,” or, “It’s freaking nuking right now – they might close the lifts.”
Rip/ripping
Someone riding hard or at full speed and with confidence.
Example: “That guy is ripping.”
Scorpion
Landing on your front so your board arches up behind you, bending your legs and back like a scorpion’s tale.
Example: “I’m not okay – I scorpioned on that last stack.”
Shred
Similar to rip, but if someone’s shredding, it means they’re really good.
Example: “Damn, that girl can shred!”
Sick
Dope, rad, or phat aren’t cutting it? Sick is your go-to.
Example: “This resort is sick.”
Sketch(y)
If something is sketchy, it’s generally unsafe, or you were close to crashing.
Example: “I didn’t fall, but that landing was sketchy as hell,” or, “The rails in this park are sketchy.”
Stack
To fall.
Example: “I stacked it,” or, “I’ve been stacking it all day.”
Stomp
To land a trick, usually without falter or wobble.
Example: “Totally stomped that 360. I’ve got them dialed.”
Taco
To fall while riding a rail and bend over it so your body is shaped like a taco.
Example: “Jeez, that taco looked painful as hell.”
Yard/yard sale
Going ‘yard’ is similar to going ‘ham’, but with more reckless abandon. A ‘yard sale’, however, is when you crash, usually before you even land – i.e., you screw the trick up and are guaranteed to crash.
Example: “He just went yard off that booter,” or, “Man, I yard-saled so hard on that jump.”
Wrapping up
Well, there it is: our quick and dirty list of snowboard slang. It’s not exhaustive, but it’s enough to get you started. Think of it as your quick-reference phrase book for the language of snowboarding.
Of course, if you think we missed something, let us know, and we’ll add it in! Just hit us up at crew@montecwear.com – we’d love to hear from you!
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