Snowboarding has a vibrant culture with its own set of slang terms that enthusiasts use to describe various tricks, gear, conditions, and experiences on the mountain. If you’re new to the snowboarding scene or just curious about the language riders use, here’s a list of some common snowboarding slang:
1. Shred:
- Usage: “Let’s go shred some fresh powder!”
- Meaning: To ride or snowboard with skill and enthusiasm.
2. Pow:
- Usage: “The mountain got a dump of pow overnight!”
- Meaning: Short for powder, referring to fresh, fluffy snow.
3. Gnarly:
- Usage: “That jump was gnarly!”
- Meaning: Extremely challenging, difficult, or impressive.
4. Stoked:
- Usage: “I’m so stoked for this weekend’s snowboarding trip!”
- Meaning: Excited, enthusiastic, or pumped up.
5. Park Rat:
- Usage: “He spends every day in the terrain park – total park rat.”
- Meaning: A rider who primarily enjoys riding in terrain parks.
6. Jib:
- Usage: “Let’s hit the rail and jib!”
- Meaning: To ride or slide along obstacles like rails and boxes.
7. Huck:
- Usage: “He loves to huck himself off big jumps.”
- Meaning: To jump or throw oneself off a feature, often used in the context of big jumps.
8. Face Shot:
- Usage: “Dude, I got a face shot in the deep powder!”
- Meaning: When fresh powder sprays up and covers your face while riding.
9. Goofy / Regular:
- Usage: “Are you goofy or regular?”
- Meaning: Refers to a rider’s stance – goofy means riding with the right foot forward, while regular means left foot forward.
10. Bluebird Day:
- Usage: “It’s a bluebird day – perfect for riding!”
- Meaning: A day with clear blue skies and excellent visibility.
11. Pow Day:
- Usage: “We got lucky with a pow day – time to shred!”
- Meaning: A day with significant fresh snowfall.
12. Goggle Tan:
- Usage: “Check out my goggle tan from the sunny day on the mountain!”
- Meaning: A tan or sunburn acquired while wearing goggles, leaving a distinctive pattern.
13. Bail:
- Usage: “I had to bail on the trick – couldn’t stick the landing.”
- Meaning: To fall off or abandon a trick or feature.
14. Pow Slash:
- Usage: “He threw a pow slash on that turn!”
- Meaning: Making a deep turn in the powder, creating a spray of snow.
15. Cat Track:
- Usage: “Take the cat track to get to the terrain park.”
- Meaning: A narrow, flat trail often used for traversing across the mountain.
These terms add flair to conversations among snowboarders and capture the unique experiences and expressions within the snowboarding community. Whether you’re hitting the park, exploring the backcountry, or just enjoying a pow day, these slang terms help convey the excitement and camaraderie of the sport.