Discover the skiing glossary

Face of the mountain most exposed to the sun.

An air bag is a backpack equipped with an"air bag",like in cars. only in the backpack, the air bag is triggered by the wearer of the backpack by means of a handle on which he must pull. This system inflates two air pockets, one on each side of the bag (sometimes only one that goes around the bag) which allows you to float in the snow in the event of an avalanche. The air bag is not a guarantee of survival in the event of an avalanche, but it can seriously increase the chances of getting out alive.

Skiing on all kinds of varied terrain and snow: piste, edge of piste, forest near to the marked ski area... "all mountain", is"all-terrain"skiing.

Versatile skis, allowing to ski"all-terrain", and capable of adapting to different snow conditions (hard, packed, powdered, powdery). The waist will be wider than a downhill ski, offering good lift, and the ski will be flexible, to allow it to adapt to all conditions.

You practice alpine skiing when you descend using skis on steep slopes (or ski slopes) provided by ski resorts and accessible from ski lifts.

Height of a place above sea level, which is the reference level at 0m. You can consider that you are in altitude from 1500m of height. To give you an idea, ski resorts are generally between 1000m and 3800m above sea level.

When you do alpine skiing, the angle is formed between your upper body and your pelvis.

The angle formed between the base of the ski and the snow contact point will determine the grip capacity of your ski edge on hard snow. For carving, the recommended angle is 88 °. For a competitive racer, the angles are less than 87 °.

This is the period when your upper body adopts an attitude to trigger the edge change during a turn.

Apres-ski are warm shoes, or snow boots, that you put on after a day skiing.

Snow produced artificially thanks to the projection of water added with elements making it possible to form snow, by snow guns, under certain temperature conditions.

Avalanche transceiver or avalanche beacon, essential for off-piste skiing and inseparable from the shovel and the probe.It emits radio signals in order to be found or to search for other activated devices in the event of an avalanche.

Mass of snow that separates and descends until it is stopped by an obstacle or by the terrain.It can be natural or provoked in order to secure the places frequented (ski slopes, roads)

Skiing in the great outdoors (back country literally means open countryside, or deep countryside, hinterland). Consists of getting off the slopes and playing with the natural elements to perform tricks in all terrain and off piste.

A mix between freestyle and freeride, backcountry freestyle consists of skiing off-piste (backcountry) taking advantage of the natural terrain to perform tricks or carve kickers. Freestyle backcountry skis are wider than freestyle skis to allow easy skiing of non-compact powder snow, unlike freestyle where snow is prepared.

Backpack with two straps that are worn on the back. Backpacks are very practical in the mountains and have been used for hiking for a long time. They are now perfectly suited to skiing, some with an ingenious system allowing them to be put on the front without having to remove the shoulder straps to take the chairlifts without the risk of getting caught up. They are also equipped with various pockets designed for the shovel, the probe, the flask, etc ... and systems of attachments on the outside to carry the skis.

Movement by which the skier bends their knees and thus lowers their centre of gravity, intervenes in the change of direction and the initiating turns.

The binding is the system that connects the ski to the boot, and therefore to the skier.It is involved in the transmission of ski pressure.

The binding is the system that connects the ski to the boot, and therefore to the skier.

In a ski resort, each piste is colour coded according to its level of difficulty. Considered the most difficult, the black slope is for skiers with an expert level.

In a ski resort, each piste is colour coded according to its level of difficulty. Medium intensity, the blue slopes are accessible to beginners.

Ability of a ski to quickly exit a turn and then start again in the next turn, in the other direction, with maximum energy and speed.

Wide and elastic straps found on the top of the ski boot, around the shin. Thanks to the elastic, they allow to cushion the movement in flexion and to provide energy when the leg relaxes, hence the name of booster. Generally used by competitors, can be used in case of inflammation of the tibia.

The ski boot holds the skier's foot and ankle and transmits, via the bindings, the skier's pressure to the skis.

The brush is a small accessory that is used during a ski waxing session: after depositing the wax with the hot iron on the base of your skis, you will use the brush to remove the excess wax.

Allows you to adjust the tightness of the boot by attaching to the ratchet.The more buckles there are, the more the boot can be adjusted. It is possible to move the buckles on the boot for a better adjustment of the tightness of the boot.

The cable car, also called "egg" is a ski lift located in ski resorts to allow skiers to access the top of the piste. It is a small cabin that can carry 4 to 10 people suspended on a continuous moving cable.

The camber is the way your ski arcs upward when you place it on a flat surface.There are different shapes depending on the skiing activity: some will have a "camel"shape, raised in the centre with a contact point on each end, while others will have a"banana"shape, with a fairly long contact point in the centre.To see the camber, look at the profile of your ski.A downhill ski will have , for example a classic camber:when your ski is rotated to turn, the entire surface between the tip and the tail is in contact with the snow. A real pleasure to ski and make beautiful curves.

On the ski boot, system for adjusting the lateral inclination of the cuff (upper part, from the ankle) relative to the shell (lower part, into which the foot is inserted). Allows you to adapt the boot to the skier's morphology: arched legs, X legs, foot arch problems.

It is a ski turn where you take a lot of angle, getting as close as possible to the snow and holding down pressure on your ski, and you follow up with another turn of the same nature, without skidding or direct trace before changing direction.

Gliding style which consists of making large curves on groomed slopes, trying to lean as much as possible when turning.

The chairlift is a ski lift located in ski resorts to allow skiers to access the top of the piste. As the name suggests, these are several seats (from 2 to 8 depending on the model) suspended from a moving cable.

A narrow valley between two mountain ridges, or deep hollow, often enclosed, where snow is deposited in abundance. Very popular with freeride enthusiasts.

The combined event consists of one run or downhill two runs of slalom and classifying the racers by combining the results of these two races. Today, the combined event is a discipline in its own right. This event highlights versatile skiers who know how to play their speed downhill and compete in skill and technique in slalom.

Convergence is when the two skis come together at the tips, converge at the same point. There is convergence in the snowplough*, a technique that allows you to control your speed and learn to ski easily.

It is the heart of your ski, which gives it its soul, its strength and its longevity. Formerly exclusively made of wood, today it can be made of composite materials. Wood is still very often used, playing on the essences: beech will make your ski a champion of resistance, poplar will provide cushioning to preserve your knees when landing…

Cross-country skiing is practised on flat or hilly terrain. It is part of the Nordic skiing family of activities, which also includes Nordic combined and biathlon. It is the ultimate endurance winter sport.

Part of the ski boot's shell which rises from the ankle to the birth of the calf, approximately in the middle of the tibia. Fixed to the shell at the malleoli, it is articulated to allow the flexion position, opens and retracts on most models. It is this part that the manufacturers adapt to the female morphology, to offer more comfort.

The top of your ski, the one you see when you ski. The deco is an integral part of the ski and is often associated with the type of ski: the deco will have a different style on freestyle skis, from that of freeride, downhill or all mountain skis.If you do not choose a ski according to its decoration but rather according to its level and its type of skiing activity, the decoration can make the difference between 2 pairs which correspond to you!

Muscle tensioning of the lower limbs allowing to keep the ski-snow contact and thus cushion the relief, to control speed, to cushion adjustment..

The divergence is seen at the heels: the skis diverge when the heels move away from each other. The divergence occurs in many techniques and directional manoeuvres when skiing.

It is an alpine skiing discipline, often the most publicized event because the fastest and therefore the most spectacular. Its runs are the longest.The descent combines speed in its purest form, technical mastery and foolproof courage.

When you are on a ski slope or off piste, the downhill represents the part of the mountain which is below you, which descends.

The drag lift is a ski lift located in ski resorts to allow the skier to access the top of the piste. The skier is towed by a pole which goes up the slope.

The edge fault generally occurs after a bad movement of your ski which can cause a fall!

Straightening of the lower limbs from pressing down on the ground.

Term designating very wide skis at the waist, suitable for skiing in powder snow.

Muscle release of the legs and bust leading to the lowering of the centre of gravity.

Jump involving a vertical rotation forward,"front flip", or backwards, "back flip". Figure also called somersault.

Floating with skis consists of lifting the tip out of the snow, in powder snow, so that you can ski and manoeuvre more easily in this type of snow. Some skis float more easily because they are designed to do so, in particular freeride skis, thus requiring less effort from the skier to have fun in powder snow.

Off-piste skiing, outside the marked area. Often surrounded by nature and in powder. Freeriding involves risks and implies a very good knowledge of the mountain environment.

Skiing discipline which consists of performing tricks, flat or in the air during jumps, using bumps, pipes, kickers (modules) or metal bars called rails, generally in a snowpark.

Today integrated into all ski pants, gaiters are the inner part of the lower leg, in waterproof technical material, elasticated at the bottom, which is placed over the ski boot, preventing snow from entering. and protecting from the cold.

The giant slalom is a slalom course but the gates are not as close, the course is longer and speed becomes more important.

Essential ski accessories to keep your hands warm by protecting them from the outside elements.In gloves, each finger is separate, unlike mittens, where only the thumb is separated.

Protection element for your eyes, composed of an elastic strap, a screen and a frame. Protects from the sun and reverberation while avoiding the discomfort of the wind in the eyes, unlike sunglasses. Fits the ski helmet for ideal protection.

Small piece of fabric, often microfibre, allowing you to wipe the fog off or any marks on your goggles, and which one finds integrated in certain ski jackets, tied into an interior pocket, often designed to accommodate ski goggles.

Figure consisting in coming to catch the ski with the hand during the jump. The hand can be placed in different places depending on the desired effect. Coming from the English language"to" "grab" .

In a ski resort, each piste is colour coded according to its level of difficulty. The green slope is the easiest, perfect for learning how to ski.

Ability of the ski to stay gripped on to the snow, and therefore steer into the turn when the snow, speed or slope conditions become stronger (harder snow, high speed, steeper slope).

Generally found in snowparks. It is a snow structure artificially formed using a special groomer, in the shape of a half pipe (cut in half lengthways) "half pipe", which allows riders, by a pendulum movement , to gain momentum and perform a series of jumps and figures once thrown up in the air on each side.

Part of the pole which is held, located at the top, positioned over the tube and often covered with anti-slip material.

Protective equipment which covers the head leaving the face free, intended to protect the head against impact, in order to avoid head trauma. Available in different shapes, sizes, styles and can provide: a ventilation system, a removable lining, ear protectors ... Designed so that ski goggles to fit over it.

You hop turn when you chain a series of small close turns.

The ice axe is a mountaineering accessory that has several functions, and allows in particular to create an anchor point in difficult situations on a piece of ice, hard snow or stone, to hold on to.It is also used in ice climbing. It is often present in a freerider's backpack along with crampons.

This is the sole found at the bottom of the liner, intended to ensure your comfort. It can be insulating, providing support for the arch of the foot. It is often replaced by a custom sole.

Internal part of the ski boot which welcomes the foot. This is a very important part, because it is the quality of the liner that will essentially define the comfort, performance and warmth of your ski boot. It can be self-molding, thermoformable or injected for a custom fit. The liner can be removed to wash or dry it after a day skiing.

Buckle fitted with a screw system making it possible to lengthen or shorten the length of the buckle for an adjustment of the tightening "to the millimeter", when the claws of the ratchet are not sufficiently precise.

Clothing accessory which cover the hands to keep them warm and protect them from external elements (cold, wind, snow ...). In a mitten, only the thumb is separated, the other fingers are placed together in a large pocket.

Moguls are the English name for bumps found in bump fields. These fields have given birth to a ski discipline, less publicized but still practised today, mogul skiing, and in which France has known great champions like Edgar Grospiron, Olympic champion of the discipline in 1992 at the 'Albertville' Olympic Games, or Perrine Laffont, gold medal of the discipline in 2018 in Pyeongchang.

The monchu, is you! Or not ... It is simply a nickname given by seasonal workers who work in the resort to ski tourists.

Snow produced naturally during precipitations by certain temperature conditions.

You stop naturally when you are on terrain where the friction between the snow and the bases of your skis gradually slow you down.

Skiing or surfing off-piste consists of roaming on unmarked, unsupervised and ungroomed slopes. This practice provides different sensations from skiing on the piste, but it is also more dangerous. So remember to take your precautions and go with a guide.

It is when you plant the pole into the snow to trigger the turn.

Ski poles, you know what they are, but do you really know what they are for? Well it's simple, they allow you to control your balance, your synchronization once on the skis and serve as support to trigger the extension during the ski turn.

Terms designating freshly fallen, powdery snow, which freeride enthusiasts love.

The tightening strap of your ski boot, if fitted, is located at the highest point on your calf, and reinforces its support on your leg, always to allow better transmission of support, and thus be more efficient. This is why it is also called power strap.

The probe is an essential element of the trio when you go off-piste (shovel-probe-ARVA) and which makes it possible to probe the layer of snow which can cover an avalanche victim in order to precisely locate the latter before shovelling the snow to release it.

You put on your skis when you"lock" your ski boots into the bindings.

This is the distance that the ski should travel to complete the curve when it is placed on the edge. The radius of the curve therefore depends on the sidecut* of the ski, which corresponds to the widths of the ski at 3 points: tip, waist, tip.The greater the differences in width, the more the ski will be shaped, and the more it will be parabolic, the smaller the radius of the curve. The radius of the curve is important because it indicates whether the ski will be a ski made to carve, make sharp turns, with a short radius of curve, or made to keep direct track, because it will be stable in a straight line, with a longer curve radius.

Clamping element of ski boots, resembling a ladder with several "notches", on which is placed the buckle which is then closed to ensure the tightening of the ski boot.

In a ski resort, each piste is colour coded according to its level of difficulty. With a slope angle of between 30 and 40%, the red slope is for experienced skiers.

A rider is a skier or snowboarder. It is also a verb which designates the fact of going to slide: "I'm gonna ride the mountain".

On a ski, the rocker is the extension of the tip * towards the waist. Clearly, when your ski is placed in a flat surface, the tip no longer touches the ground, the point of contact is closer to the binding. The rocker makes it easier to pivot during a turn. In other words, the rocker is to skis what power steering is to the car!

When you go skiing, always remember to do it safely. This involves respecting the instructions of the piste service, respecting the piste code, wearing essential accessories such as a helmet, goggles or back protection, respecting the levels of the pistes difficulty. In safety, you will discover the mountain with pleasure.

The Salopettes has come back in force in ski clothing and is particularly appreciated by freeride enthusiasts: it is comfortable, prevents snow from entering the back, keeps you warm.

The sandwich is a technique for making skis. The different materials that make up the ski are superimposed over the entire width and then compressed together by a press to form the ski.

Schuss in skiing is going straight, trying to gain maximum speed.

The scraper is an accessory which is used when waxing skis and which makes it possible to scrape off the excess wax, before passing the brush, in order to leave the base very smooth for a maximum effect of the wax.

It is the shape of the ski, determined by its sidecut and its length. An"English"word.

Sharpening the edges of your skis makes them sharper, so that the skis grip more in hard snow.

It is the lower part of your ski boot, the part closest to the binding after the sole. Another important part in the transmission of pressure, but also in foot comfort.the boot can be more or less wide, to give more comfort and / or performance.

Outer part of the ski boot, composed of different parts (upper cuff, lower shell, toe cap, buckles and ratchet) which ensures the rigidity and tightness of the ski boot, and allows its cohesion with the binding to the ski, and thus transmission.

With a removable handle, often made of light but resistant materials, the shovel is placed in the backpack of freeride enthusiasts, to dig out a possible avalanche victim from the snow.

This is where the revolution comes from! The dimension line is defined by the width of the ski at three essential points: tip, waist, tail.In summary… the more a line is shaped, the greater the difference between the width of the tip and heel, compared to that of the waist, and the more the ski is parabolic.

Side part of the ski located between the base and the top of the ski.

A ski area (or ski resort) is a relatively large playground on which we can ski. There are many ski slopes in a ski area, accessible thanks to a number of ski lifts: chairlifts, cable cars and/or drag lifts.

This is the part under the ski, directly in contact with the snow and which allows the ski to slide.

For boots, the flex of a ski boot refers to how difficult it is to flex the boot forward.The greater the flex index, the more rigid the boot. An important flex index will be favoured by expert skiers, who seek great precision in energy transfer. To find the right flex according to your level, your type of skiing activity, and what you are looking for in terms of precision / comfort compromise, do not hesitate to be advised by a professional.

This is the part of the boot that is inserted into the binding, which gives a certain rigidity to the ski-bindings-boots assembly. Its condition is important, because if the sole is too worn, it will not guarantee good hold in the binding or may prevent the release of the bindings in the event of a problem. Some boots have interchangeable tips to keep a sole in good condition without having to change your boot.

Flex refers to the set of flex characteristics of a ski, the way it will flex or resist in certain points, the force that will need to be exerted for it to flex at certain points. The flex will determine the character of a ski, whether it is a nervous or a rather flexible ski, and must be adapted to your ski level. There are Lady flexes, suitable for women who often weigh less than men and do not necessarily adopt the same position on skis.

Ski jumping is a discipline in which skiers descend on a ramp ending in a springboard with the aim of going as far as possible. This discipline requires long and wide skis, to remain stable and have lift in the air, and a particular technique, in order to "fly" the furthest possible.

The ski pass is generally a small magnetic card, the size of a credit card, which allows you to take the ski lifts of the ski resorts which serve the slopes on which you will ski.

Pocket located on your jacket, on the left side, most often on your sleeve, either on the forearm or on the upper part, and which allows you to present your lift pass without having to take it out, without even having to think about it sometimes!

On your pole, the basket is on the bottom, a few inches from the tip. It stops the pole sinking too deeply when you plant it in the snow. On a Freeride pole, the basket is wider than that of a downhill pole so that it can remain on the surface in thinner and lighter snow.

Part of the ski binding that protrudes on each side of the ski when the binding is not locked, that is to say that the ski boots are not inside. Allows you to link the skis together and prevent the ski from sliding off on its own when it is not attached to your foot.

Technique which consists in sliding your ski perpendicular to the slope by combining two factors: a force exerted on the ski (pressure from the skier, steep incline of the slope) and a weak edge grip.This technique allows you to control your speed, but also to brake or ski through places that are quite difficult to access.

Alpine skiing discipline where skiers descend a slope by slaloming between gates on the course. It is a very technical discipline, where you have to know how to combine speed and technical precision so as not to miss any gate while arriving at the bottom of the course as quickly as possible.

Another name for skis comes from the fact that the skis were initially made from pieces of wood resembling slats.

Part of the sleeve of your ski jacket which is placed on the hand, with a hole to place the thumb, and which allows a perfect seal between the jacket and the glove or the mitten. Avoids snow entering and provides additional warmth.

Freestyle discipline which consists of descending a course equipped with different modules: kickers, tables, quarters, half-pipe, rails... by performing a maximum of figures on the proposed modules.

Snow transported when you cut the slope and make traces on it is called slush in skiing. It is the powder cloud that we see following freeride skiers when the snow is very fresh, but it is sometimes as important and dangerous as an avalanche flow.

Accumulation of snow forming a more or less thick layer which covers the mountains during the winter, and gradually disappears in the spring. When you go to the resort, you ski on the snow cover. It is made up of different layers which, depending on their cohesion and the stresses exerted on them (heat, weight of skiers, etc.), can detach and cause avalanches.

The snow groomer is a machine that improves the quality of the snow by making it smoother. Note the passage of the snow groomer on a ski slope by the presence of grooves on the surface of the snow.

When a ski resort lacks natural snow *, it uses snow guns, devices used to make and then deposit artificial snow * on its ski slopes.

Element of your ski jacket located inside, towards the waist, elasticated, and closes on to your pants. Prevents snow from entering and protects you from the cold.

It is a demarcated area on the ski area which includes all the freestyle modules: moguls, big air, half pipe, rails…

This consists of putting your skis in convergence, with the tips * close together and the tail * far apart. The snowplough allows you to brake and control the speed when you start skiing and thus evolve safely.

It is an element that can be found on the boot and which improves the rear support at the calf. It can be adjustable in height to perfectly adapt to the morphology of the skier.

The edges are the sharp metal edges located on each side of your ski at the level of the base. They allow you to grip the snow when you turn. Edges require special maintenance called "sharpening"*.

Super-G is another discipline in alpine skiing, a compromise between downhill and giant. The slope is less steep than downhill, but the race is almost the same.

"To switch" signifies "to change", in this case change the direction and skiing backwards, back to the slope. We ski in switch or fakie mainly in freestyle skiing, sometimes in backcountry skiing, to achieve certain figures.

The tail corresponds to the back of your ski. It is very important and can bring more or less rigidity to your ski.

Rear part of the ski binding, in which the heel of your ski boot is placed.

A pole is telescopic when it is made up of two parts allowing the height to be adjusted. Very practical for hiking and freeriding, to have shorter poles when climbing and adjusted when descending.

The spot is the place to be, the best place to ride, the favourite place of the locals. It is often a place kept secret by those who know it.

It is the front part of the ski, the tip of your ski, slightly raised. The skis can be"twin-tipped", that is to say that the tail of the ski is also slightly raised, this makes it easier to ski backwards, "in switch" or "fakie", especially in freestyle or backcountry.

You carve when you make sharp curves, that is, by taking an angle and getting as close as possible to the snow on the side where you turn.

Part of the ski boot where the forefoot is placed, at the toes. Must be wide enough to let the toes move and allow blood circulation, and adjusted enough to provide precision in the transmission of support to the ski.

Front part of the ski binding in which you insert the front of your ski boot. Which will release the ski boot if there is too much pressure on the sides, to avoid injury to the ankle or knee.

Like the tongue of your shoes, the tongue of your ski boot is placed on the top of your foot and goes up to the top of the boot. It provides cushioning on your shin, and allows you to simply put on the liner, and therefore the boot.Some ski boots also have a tongue built into the shell, called the hood *.

External "tongue" that goes up from the instep to the top of the boot, over the tongue of the liner.It stiffen the boot while providing greater cushioning capacity frontwards. They are found only on certain types of boots, and freestyle skiers particularly appreciate them for the cushioning provided when landing from a jump.

It's fresh snow, already traced.If it is always cool, the trapped snow is a relatively easy snow and pleasant to ski. On the other hand, if it is processed, hardened or frozen, it can become in-skiable.

Freestyle figures.

This is the moment when, by the combination of planting your pole and leg extension, your skis will pivot and position themselves on the edge of the side where you want to turn.

When you are on a ski slope or off-piste, the uphill represents the part of the mountain which is above you, which rises.

The WAIST corresponds to the narrowest part of your ski, located below the boot. Depending on your skiing activity, this part can be more or less narrow. A downhill ski will have a relatively narrow skate, in order to guarantee good pressure on the edges in hard snow. A good width allows you to have a stable ski in all snow and floatability in powder snow.

The wax is a product used to coat the base of your ski to improve its glide.

Waxing skis consists of applying a technical wax, on the base of your skis, so that your skis slide better or grip better on snow. Waxing your skis also helps protect the base and extend its life. There are solid waxes, which are applied hot using a waxing iron, which melts the wax cake in order to make it liquid, to be able to spread it on to the surface of the base. There are also liquid waxes, which are applied cold, and which will solidify thanks to the evaporation of the component which keeps them liquid.

A white day is a meteorological phenomenon where the general impression in the mountains is that everything is white, there is no more difference between the snow, the sky, and the rest of the environment. During these particular days, you can no longer distinguish the relief, and the white day can even cause to some people a vertigo phenomenon similar to seasickness, due to the loss of bearings. It is best to slow down to allow your eyes to see the relief and your brain to adapt.

a loop attached to the handle of the pole, in which you put your hand, so as not to lose the pole in any circumstance. It is advisable off-piste not to put your wrist straps on in order to drop the pole more easily in the event of a getting caught (roots for example) or avalanche.

Figure consisting in carrying out in the air a horizontal rotation of half a turn, that is to say 180 °.

Figure consisting in carrying out in the air a horizontal rotation of half a turn, that is to say 360 °.

Figure consisting in carrying out in the air a horizontal rotation of half a turn, that is to say 540 °.

Figure consisting in carrying out in the air a horizontal rotation of 2 complete turns, that is to say 720 °. If you can do that, you're starting to master it well, why not go even further and continue:900°, 1080°?