This is an attempt to list as many of the basic terms in snowboarding as I can think of, if you have any more that you think I should add, e-mail me.

      A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T 0-9

A

Air-to-Fakie

A trick in the half pipe where the snowboarder hits the wall riding forwards, does the trick, performs no rotation and lands riding backwards. Basically straight up and down. Can also be performed on a flat jump but to land backwards requires rotating at least 180 degrees.

Alley-oop

A trick in the halfpipe where the rotation in the air is in the opposite direction to the approach. i.e. the rider hits the wall backside gets into the air and rotates frontside, or vice - versa.

Andrecht

A handplant where the rider approaches backside, plants the rear hand, grabs with the front hand and rotates backside.

B

Backside

The backside of the board is the side at which the heels rest (also known as heel side). The backside of the rider is the side to which the back faces. Hence a backside rotation is where the backside is upper most first (rotating to the right for a regular footer, to the left for a goofy footer). The backside wall of the half pipe is the one where when riding forwards, the backside faces upwards (the left hand wall for regular footers, the right hand wall for goofy footers).

Bone

To "Bone" means to staighten one or both legs fully whilst performing a trick.

Bonk

Intentionally hitting a non-snow object with your board (trees, picnic tables, skiers etc). Accidentally smacking a tree and then falling on your butt does not count!

Burger Flip

A half pipe trick where the rider hits the wall riding fakie, performs a 180 in the air and then performs a Mctwist whilst re-entering the half pipe. Invented by Todd Richards (lunatic).

C

Caballerial

A half pipe trick where the rider hits the wall fakie, performs a 360 in the air and lands riding forwards. Named for Steve Caballero.

Also see Gay Twist.

Coping

The lip of the half pipe. A reference to the curved top fitted to pools and skateboarding half pipes.

Corkscrew

An air where the rotation is performed off axis. i.e.The rider is layed out sideways instead of vertically.

Crail Air

The rear hand grabs the toe edge of the board and the back leg is boned.

Crippler Air

A half pipe trick where the rider hits the wall riding forwards, performs a 180 and a backflip simultaneously and lands riding forwards.

D

Disaster

Landing on the lip of the half pipe, with the board perpendicular to it.

E

Eggplant

A one handed 180 degree backside rotated invert in which the front hand is planted on the lip of the halfpipe wall.

F

Fakie

Riding backwards. Left foot forwards if Goofy, right foot forwards if Regular.

Fresh Fish

A grab where the rear hand goes between the legs to grab the toe side edge of the board.

Frontside

The frontside of the board is the side at which the toes rest (also known as toe side). The frontside of the rider is the side to which the front faces. Hence a frontside rotation is where the frontside is upper most first (rotating to the left for a regular footer, to the right for a goofy footer). The frontside wall of the half pipe is the one where when riding forwards, the frontside faces upwards (the right hand wall for regular footers, the left hand wall for goofy footers).

G

Gay Twist

A caballerial with a grab.

Goofy

Riding with the right foot at the front of the board (and no I don't know why right foot forward is 'goofy', go ask a surfer).

Grind

To slide along the lip of the halfpipe with the board parallel to the lip. This term was nicked from skate boarding where it does actually involve 'grinding' something.

H

Haakon Flip

A half pipe trick where the rider hits the backside wall going backwards and performs a 720 whilst doing a backflip. Invented by Terje Haakonsen (another lunatic).

Handplant (Backside)

A 180 degree handplant in which both hands or the rear hand may be planted on the lip of the wall and the rotation is backside.

Handplant (Frontside)

A 180 degree handplant in which the front hand is planted on the lip of the wall and the rotation is frontside.

Handplant (Layback)

A 180 degree handplant in which the rear hand is planted on the lip of the wall behind the take off point and the rotation is frontside.

Heel Side

The side of your board at which your heels rest. Heel edge is this same edge. See also backside.

Ho Ho

Any two handed handplant.

I

Iguana Air

The rear hand grabs the toe edge near the tail. Made famous by Damian Sanders.

Indy

A grab where the back hand grabs the toe edge between the feet. An Indy Air is a backside air performed with this grab whilst the rear leg is boned.

Invert

A trick performed on the lip on the halfpipe where the rider is upside down and one or both hands are on the lip.

Inverted aerial

Any air where the rider is upside down at any point.

J

J-Tear

An invert where the rider performs a 540 frontside rotation whilst planting one or both hands on the lip.

Japan Air

A trick where the board is grabbed mute, the rear leg is boned and the board is pulled up to head height.

Jib

The act of riding on something other than snow.

K

Kicker

Term for a small jump ramp which 'kicks' you into the air.

L

Late

A term used to describe performing a trick at the last possible moment, i.e. a late 180 would mean hitting the wall, getting air and rotating 180 degrees just before landing.

Lien Air

An air where the front hand grabs the heel edge and the body leans out over the front of the board. Named for skater Neil Blender.

M

Mctwist

An air where the rider hits the wall riding forwards and performs a 540 whilst doing a front flip. Every bit as scary as it sounds, it was invented by Mike McGill.

Mellonchollie

Grabbing with the front hand on the heel edge between the feet whilst boning the front leg.

Method Air

A trick where the front hand grabs the heel edge, both legs are bent and the board is pulled up to head height. Performed to great effect by Terje Haakonsen.

Miller flip

An invert where the halfpipe wall is approached riding forward, the front hand is planted, a 360 degree frontside rotation is made, and the rider lands riding fakie.

Misty Flip

An inverted backside 540 performed off of a straight jump. It is the straight jump version of the McTwist.

Mute

Grabbing with the front hand on the toe edge of the board.

N

Nollie

Just like an ollie, only you spring off the nose.

Nose Grab

Grabbing the nose with the front hand, obvious really.

Nuclear

A grab where the rear hand reaches right across the front of the body and grabs the heel edge of the board in front of the front foot.

O

Ollie

A skateboarding trick where the tail is kicked down and the nose lifted to pop the board into the air. The snowboarding version is basically the same. Invented by Alan Gelfand.

P

Palmer Air

A kind of method where the grab is near the nose, the board is pulled across the front of the body, and the nose is pointed downward. Named after Shaun Palmer.

Phillips 66

An invert where the rider approaches the halfpipe wall riding fakie, plants the rear hand on the lip of the wall while doing a "front flip" and lands in the transition riding forward. Named after skateboarder Jeff Phillips.

Pop Tart

Airing from fakie to forward in the halfpipe without rotation.

R

Rail

There are two rails on a snowboard; each comprised of a sidewall and an edge.

Rail Slide

To slide the rails of the snowboard onto almost anything, other than a flat slope. Some good rail sliding surfaces include: fallen tree branches/logs, the coping of a halfpipe, a picnic table.

Regular

To ride with the left foot at the front of the board.

Revert

To switch from riding fakie to forward, or from forward to fakie, usually while the snowboard is still touching the ground.

Roast Beef

The back hand grabs the heelside edge between the feet but the arm doesn't wrap around the back leg, that's a stalefish.

Rocket Air

The front hand grabs the toe edge in front of the front foot (mute) and the back leg is boned while the board points perpendicular to the ground.

S

Sad Plant

A term used to describe any handplant where the front leg is boned for style.

Seat Belt Air

The front hand reaches across the body and grabs the tail while the front leg is boned.

Shifty Air

A grabless trick where the upper torso and lower body are twisted in opposite directions and then returned to normal. Usually the front leg is boned.

Stale Egg

An eggplant with a stalefish grab.

Stalefish Air

The rear hand grabs the heel edge behind the rear leg and in between the bindings.

Stalemasky Air

The front hand reaches between the legs and grabs the heel edge between the bindings while the front leg is boned.

Stiffy Air

Any maneuver in which both legs are boned and a grab is incorporated, i.e. Mute Stiffy.

Switchstance (Switch)

The term for performing a trick while riding fakie (backwards). It is important to note that it's a specific term given to a maneuver which is performed exactly like riding forwards. The only difference is the rider is going backwards, hence the term "switched stance". Thus, any trick may be performed switchstance.

T

Tail Grab Air

The rear hand grabs the tail of the snowboard. Obvious really.

Taipan Air

The front hand reaches behind the front foot and grabs the toe edge between the bindings. The front knee is then bent to touch the board tuck knee style.

Toe Side

The side of your board at which your toes rest. Toe edge is this same edge. See also frontside.

Tweaked

A term used to explain the emphasis of style in a trick. In other words, if someone "tweaked out a method" they would grab hard and create an emphasis of the maneuver such that their ankles or other joints may appear bent or twisted to a maximum degree.

0-9

180

The snowboarder rotates 180 degrees in the air and lands riding fakie. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wall riding forward, rotates 180 degrees, and lands riding forward ( 1/2 rotation).

360

The snowboarder rotates 360 degrees in the air and lands riding forward. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wall riding forward, rotates 360 degrees, and lands riding fakie. This trick may also be performed by riding fakie and landing riding forwards; in which case it is called a Caballerial. See Caballerial ( 1 rotations).

540

The snowboarder rotates 540 degrees in the air and lands riding fakie. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wallriding forward, rotates 540 degrees, and lands riding forward ( 1 & 1/2rotations).

720

The snowboarder rotates 720 degrees in the air and lands riding forward. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wall riding forward, rotates 720 degrees, and lands riding fakie. Of course, it may also be performed switchstance by riding fakie and landing riding forward ( 2 rotations).

900

The snowboarder rotates 900 degrees in the air and lands riding fakie. In the halfpipe, the rider approaches the wallriding forward, rotates 900 degrees, and lands riding forward ( 2 & 1/2 rotations).

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Any comments? Mail me. rrob@blueyonder.co.uk