To sum up my collection of ski slang, here is a medley of terms heard all over the mountain. Some you should aspire to achieve, but others you should avoid like a snowless winter.
Miscellaneous Skier Slang
An epic apres ski celebration
Aprés Ski – Literally ‘After Ski’. The end of the day chill-out session used to celebrate another great day on the slopes. Some people prefer this to actually skiing.
Bunny Slope – Beginner hill; usually accessible by a magic carpet or poma lift.
Core Shot – Damage to the base of your ski that cuts completely through the ptex exposing the core.
Dome piece/brain bucket – Helmet. Don’t ski without one.
Epic – Incredible, unforgettable and inspiring.
Face Shots – The epic result of skiing in powder so deep that the snow sprays you in the face.
Fall Line – The path down the slope that gravity naturally pulls you. One slope may have multiple fall lines.
Gaper Gap – Separation between hat or helmet and goggles exposing a fleshy gap of forehead that looks ridiculous and can’t possibly be warm - Don’t let this happen to you.
Liftie – Chairlift operator.
Magic Carpet – Moving sidewalk that transports children and other beginners up the bunny hill.
Milk Run – First run of the day; usually used as a warm up.
Poach – To ski freshies on a run that is closed or out-of-bounds. Prohibited but totally worth it.
Rag Doll – To fall and slide down the mountain out of control bouncing off the snow jarring your body and resembling a rag doll.
Shred – To ski or snowboard (not applicable to novice riders).
Texas Tote (Also known as the Arkansas Attachée Case) – A technique creatively designed by the inexperienced tourist to aid in carrying ski equipment. The executor arranges his poles so that one pole strap is looped around the tips of the skis and the other around the tails, then uses the poles to carry the contraption like a briefcase. Absolutely absurd.
Yard sale – A big fall in which the victim loses most equipment and the slope resembles a yard sale of skis, poles, goggles, hats, and gloves.
Although this series has not been an all-inclusive guide, I hope you have learned a few new words to add to your shredding vocabulary. At the very least I hope you’ve had a good laugh visualizing some of the ridiculous things and people that happen to skiing.
Please feel free to add your own favorites as I am always looking to expand my vocabulary.
For more info: Slang of the ski world Part I Slang of the ski world Part II
Comments
Just when I thought I knew all of the ski voacabulary you taught me a few more. Thank you!
Texas Tote could also be a Houston Handle, Houston Handbag, or the Texas Briefcase.
Texas Tuck with Curb Feelers ( you know, the spring or wires attached to bumpers.) I digress. Pick a tourist who doesn't ski well. So he's skiing in a wedge. When he wants to go faster, he tucks, poles sticking out sideways. When he tucks, it looks like he has something in his drawers that he doesn't want to touch him....ie. crap. So you put the image together.....Gaper skiing in a Wedge, bent over in a tuck that resembles he crapped himself, with the poles sticking out sideways.
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