Fans of other similar sports often appreciate freestyle snowboarding as well, and that could be why this sport is so popular. It is a sport for people who love excitement, the pleasure of speed and flying through the air.
The following is an alphabetized list of some of the key terms you might hear if you hear fans talking about snowboarding or if you watch an event on television:
Air refers to the amount of time and distance from the ground. Most of the time this is associated with the amount of stunts that are performed while they are not on the ground.
Bonk refers to when you slide over an object and hit it with your hand. There is usually a bit of air involved in this. Most likely the name comes from the sound the plank makes when striking the blow, or when striking.
Duck stance refers to standing with both feet on the board at the same time. This is the normal position to just stand up, but it is a bit difficult while in the air or while gliding downhill.
Edges are the metal strips that run along the edges of the board. Snowboarders use this part of the board to change direction, apply the brake, or make a pattern in the snow. The edges are what you use to maneuver the board in the desired direction. This is done by shifting the weight from one to the toes or heels.
A fall line is a straight line that runs down the mountain. This is the line where the snowboard would travel the fastest, since the force of gravity acts directly and the force of friction is the lowest. The concept behind this name is that going down the mountain in this way feels so fast that it is like a free fall.
A garland means that the host crosses the slope. They need to increase speed by lowering and then suddenly change direction.
A half pipe is used for stunts. They go from one side to the other, in a funnel-shaped area that is specially designed for doing graceful stunts.
A kicker is a small jump that helps snowboarders get as much air as possible, allowing them to perform many tricks in the air. The lip is the edge of a pipe or some other area where you can take off to start a stunt.
When a cyclist turns, it can create a pothole called a tycoon. When you watch snowboarding events on TV or in the real world, there are several events. There’s the half pipe, where the pros compete to see who can do the best stunts in the air over a pipe. In a show jumping contest, the pros rush down the free line of a hill to gain as much momentum as possible.
They are then thrown from one lip to the end of the line and into the air. The goal is to do as many difficult tricks as possible while in the air. In powered snow driving, you start at the top of a hill and go straight down, doing as many turns, tricks, and little jumps as you can in the middle. This is a huge favorite among fans of freestyle.
Boarder Cross has several interns who go down a hill together, navigating a series of jumps, turns, and obstacles in a race to the bottom. This is a great and wonderful sport that is worth learning, even if you just want to watch it.