Learn the Lingo.

 If you are going to blend in with the locals and regulars on your ski holiday, you need a few essential words and expressions to get you by. Without knowing the terms below, conversations in the bar during the après ski might seem more like a foreign language!

Dump. Heavy snowfall we pray for to deliver the much sought after powder days (below).

Powder or pow. This is what most regular skiers and boarders live for - a decent layer of fresh snow. The colder the weather when the snow falls, the drier, lighter, fluffier it is to ski. Skiing or boarding in fresh powder gives a floating sensation that is hard to recreate. New skiers will find fresh snow a particular challenge as it requires a different technique (in short, bring your weight back – the opposite of what we are taught for general skiing). Fatter skis or powder skis are preferable in deep snow. Snowboarders have an easier time of it as the board floats better due to the wider surface area. They claim that skiing can’t come close to the sensation boarding gives you in powder.

Tracks or fresh tracks. The lines we put in the fresh snow. All skiers and boarders like nothing more than putting the first lines in a blank canvas then stopping at the bottom to admire their perfect s’s (or otherwise). Nothing is more frustrating that ruining you fresh tracks by putting a bad turn halfway down, or worse, falling over and totally destroying the rhythm.

Skied out. What happens when too many people have been putting tracks in fresh snow. The end of the pow!

Stash. A secret spot you can put some fresh tracks in long after most of the powder has been skied out. You need to know the area well to find the stashes!

Park rat. Park rats are the guys who hang out all day in the snow parks talking about jibs, rails, switch (riding backwards) 180s and 360s. There is nowhere cooler on the mountain to be seen. If you can perform, even better. Expression only used by people who don’t go in parks.

Kicker. A jump or ramp normally purpose built in off piste areas to allow skiers and boarders to get air and pull some stunts. Vary in size from tiny to enormous!

Booster. A natural change in slope angle, small dip, or buried rock/tree that allows the rider to get a little bit of air if they are going fast enough off it.