Glossary Of Equipment Terms
Alpine skiing
Downhill skiing typically utilizing chairlifts to gain elevation for decents. Often mistakenly referred to as a catch-all for the term "skiing".
Backcountry Skiing
Any kind of skiing done away from developed land or open roads. Usually refers to a combination of cross country and telemark skiing in wilderness or mountain areas.
Base (Ski)
The bottom of the ski, usually made of a hard, clear material in light touring and touring skis and of a slightly softer black graphite material in performance skis.
Basket
Plastic RfootS on the end of a pole shaft that provides a pushing platform for the poling motion. Smaller and lighter on performance equipment.
Camber
Built-in flex within both classic and skate skis to provide maximum performance during push and glide phases. Skate skis are single cambered while classic skis are usually double cambered to provide for grip and glide.
Classic Technique
(aka Traditional, Diagonol) Cross Country Ski technique involving opposite leg-opposite arm motion in a straight-ahead direction. This is the technique primarily associated with Cross Country Skiing. Virtually all the Cross Country Ski excercise machines try to emulate this motion.
Cross Country Ski Center
A commercial area featuring groomed trails and other amenities. Most areas feature lessons, rental equipment, food, first aid, and warming shelters.
Equipment/Classic Technique
Skis--Generally sized to the heel of a hand extended above the skier's head. Flexed to provide both glide AND compression of the wax pocket during different points in the Classic motion. Boots--Generally low to mid ankle support with a wide forward flex. Poles--Sized to fit under the skier's armpit.
Equipment/Skating Technique
Skis--Can come in wide variety of sizes depending on snow conditions. Performance and all-purpose skate skis generally are 10 cm shorter than Classic skis. Boots--Generally designed with superior ankle and lateral support. Poles--Sized to fit to the cleft of the skier's chin.
Header
(also--face plant, melon slide, nose burner) Face-first fall.
Klister
Gooey gel used for kick waxing in conditions such as old transformed snow and very wet snow. Absolutely the stickiest stuff on Earth but very effective in the right snow conditions.
Nordic Skiing
Typically refers to any form of Cross Country Skiing. The Nordic sport family includes: Cross Country Skiing, Biathlon, Jumping, Nordic Combined, Ski Orienteering, and Telemark.
Off-track skiing
(Touring) X-C skiing on unprepared snow whether previously skied-in or not.
Pole Grip
Handle on a ski pole. A loop runs around the wrist allowing a complete range of motion thru the poling phase.
Rollerskis
Short (2-3 ft.) metal shafts with rubber or polyethelene wheels attached to both ends.They are used primarily on pavement although some models work off-road. Primary off-snow training method for cross country skiers.
Sitzmark
Large indentation in a track or open area created by the hindmost end of a previously-fallen skier.
Skins
Strips of material that are temporarily affixed to the bottom of skis for climbing (hiking on skis) sustained grades. Usually only used in the backcountry.
Stick Wax
Small tins of kick wax that is applied in a crayon-like fashion. Color-coded by the brand to adapt to anything from sub-zero to freezing-level snow. Primarily used on fresh snow and sharp crystals.
Telemark
Type of downhill turn and style of turning typically involving one ski slid forward and a distinctive forward bent knee position. Telemark turns provide good fore/aft stability that makes them effective at an alpine area using chairlifts or in the backcountry.
Three pin
(also 3-pinning) Name for a strong, stable binding/boot system usually used in Backcountry X-C, Touring, and Telemarking. Can also refer to the abovementioned types of skiing.
Touring
(off track skiing or backcountry ) Any kind of Cross Country Skiing done off of groomed trails.
Track skiing
XC skiing on machine-prepared snow for either classic or skating techniques. Prepared tracks allow for superior glide and greater control for all types of skiers.
Wax
Comes in two types: kick and glide. Kick wax is used for grip in the Classic technique. Both Stick wax in a tin and klister are common varieties of kick wax. Kick was is applied exclusively to the milile third of Classic skis. Glide wax is used on the tips and tails of Classic skis and the entire length of Skating skis. Glide wax helps protect the base of a ski and adapt the base to the temperature of the snow for superior glide.
Waxless Skis
Skis with small ridge patterns on the milile third of the base to provide grip during the Classic motion.
