| The fans of other similar sports often appreciate | | | | like free fall.A garland means that the boarder is going |
| freestyle snowboarding too, and that might by why | | | | across the slope. They need to build up speed going |
| the sport is so popular. It is a sport for people who | | | | down, and then shift direction suddenly.A half pipe is |
| love the excitement, and the pleasure of speeds and | | | | used for stunts. They go from one side to the other, |
| flying through the air.The following is an alphabetized | | | | in a funnel shaped area that is specially built for doing |
| list of some of the key terms that you might hear if | | | | fancy stunts.A kicker is a little jump that helps |
| you listen to fans talking about snowboarding, or if | | | | snowboarders to get as much air as possible, which |
| you watch an event on television:Air refers to the | | | | allows them to perform many tricks in the air. The lip |
| length of time, and the distance off the ground. Most | | | | is the edge of a pipe, or some other area where you |
| times this is associated with the number of stunts | | | | can take off into the air to begin a stunt.When a |
| that are performed while off the ground.Bonk refers | | | | rider turns, he may create a bump called a mogul. |
| to when you slide over some object and slap it with | | | | When you watch snowboarding events on television, |
| your hand. There is usually a little air involved in this. | | | | or out in the real world, there are several events. |
| Most likely the name comes from the sound made | | | | There is the half pipe, where pros compete to see |
| by the board hitting the bump, or by the slap.Duck | | | | who can do the best stunts while in the air over a |
| stance refers to the position with both feet on the | | | | pipe. In a jump contest pros speed down the free |
| board at once. This is the regular position of just | | | | line of a hill, to gather up as much momentum as |
| standing up, but it is a little difficult while in the air, or | | | | possible.They then hurl themselves off a lip at the |
| while sliding down a hill.Edges are the strips of metal | | | | end of the line, and into the air. The object is to do |
| that run along the edges of the board. Snowboarders | | | | as many difficult tricks as possible while in the air. In |
| use this part of the board to change direction, or to | | | | power snow driving you start at the top of a hill and |
| apply brake, or to make a pattern in the snow. The | | | | go straight down to the bottom, making as many |
| edges are what you use to maneuver the board in | | | | fancy turns and tricks and small jumps as you can in |
| the desired direction. This is done by shifting one's | | | | between. This is a great favorite among freestyle |
| weight to the toes or heels.A fall line is a straight line | | | | fans.Boarder Cross has several boarders who go |
| down the mountain. This is the line where the | | | | down a hill together, navigating a series of jumps, |
| snowboard would travel fastest, since the force of | | | | twists, and obstacles in a race to the bottom. This is |
| gravity acts directly and the force of friction is | | | | a great and wonderful sport that is worth the time |
| lowest. The concept behind this name is that going | | | | to learn about, even if you just want to watch.Gregg |
| straight down the mountain this way feels so fast it's | | | | Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. |