10 words to understand your freestyle friends better
Like all disciplines, freestyle has its jargon… which is enough to puzzle neophytes! Don’t you know whether you should be happy that your best friend has “landed their first 720 air”? When you hear “table” and “reception”, do you think more of a banquet than a snow obstacle? Do you understand absolutely nothing about the commentators of the Olympic Games who rave about the slopestyle, big air or halfpipe events? Here are 10 basic words to remember to be part of the community of freestyle fans!
Basic vocabulary
1. Run
A series of tricks, for example along a course made up of various obstacles (slopestyle) or in a halfpipe (a half-pipe made of snow inspired by skateboard ramps).
2. Dropper
To take off from the start of a course or site. For example: dropping into a half-pipe, dropping from the top of a freeride face, dropping into a snowpark…
3. Table
A snow module found in a snowpark. It consists of a kick (or kicker) to launch off and a landing (where the rider “lands” after the jump). The important thing is to control your speed so as to land safely on the landing area (neither too short to risk landing on the “nole”, nor too long to avoid flying off to the next flat).
4. Tricks
Generic word meaning “figures”. Figures include rotations, grabs…
5. Trick tackle
A successful trick (“he tackled his double cork”)
6. Grab
Grabbing means catching your ski or board. As the possibilities for grabbing are “infinite”, there are many variations (nose grab = grab the front of the tip/board; tail grab = grab the back of the tip/board; safety grab = grab the side of the ski; mute grab = grab the front of the opposite boot to make an X with your skis, etc.).
7. Rotation
Turning (in the air, on the flat, over an obstacle). For example: frontflip/backflip, 360° (a complete turn on oneself), cork (off-axis rotation in the air)… The combination of several rotations at the same time can give tricks with long names (like the triple backside cork 1260 mute!).
8. Switch
Slide backwards, lunge backwards into the air
9. Rail/box
A bar or box, usually made of metal, on which to slide in a snowpark.
10. Jib
Jjibber means riding on obstacles that aren’t made of snow. For example: rails, boxes, street furniture…
How’s that? Did you congratulate your buddy on his famous first cork?
To find out more :
- Take your first steps in freestyle in complete safety at Easy Park, Tignes’ snowpark for beginners, with green and blue tables and rails.
- Take a look at the DC Park and its “expert” line to see experienced riders and pros at work (and try to recognize the tricks).
- Follow the Tignes shapers on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at the construction and maintenance of Easy Park and DC Park all winter long.
- Come and cheer on the riders at Tignes’ freestyle events, such as Mountain Shaker and its Slopestyle and Big Air World Cups.
This winter, everyone goes for it
How are athletes judged at events?
Tips from the pros on choosing your snowboard equipment
