Ski vocabulary

Basic vocabulary to find your way on the slopes

Between run colours, ski lifts and instructors' jargon, skiing has a language of its own. Here's what you need so you're not lost the moment you arrive at the resort.

• Green, blue, red, black run: the colour shows the difficulty level, from the easiest (green) to the most technical (black). It says nothing about the length of the run, only about its gradient and technical difficulty.
• Chairlift: a lift you sit on, with your skis on.
• Gondola: an enclosed cabin that carries skiers, with skis stored outside.
• Drag lift (or T-bar): a lift that pulls you along standing up, skis on the ground.
• Snow front: the area at the foot of the slopes, where you'll find the lift departures, ski schools and often the terraces.

Gear and equipment

Even before you put your skis on, a few words come up again and again in shops and rental outlets.

• Bindings: the system that attaches the boot to the ski, adjusted to your weight and level (the famous "DIN" setting).
• Edge: the metal edge of the ski, essential for gripping the snow in turns.
• Waxing: caring for the ski base with wax so it glides better.
• Liners: the removable inner part of the ski boot, which moulds to your foot.

Clothing

A good ski outfit relies on several layers: a technical base layer close to the body, an insulating mid-layer (fleece, sherpa), then a waterproof, breathable jacket and trousers as the outer layer. Add a beanie, gloves and sometimes a headband or neck warmer to protect your face from the wind.

Expressions you often hear among skiers

• Powder: fresh, unpacked snow, much loved for off-piste skiing.
• Groomed: a run prepared overnight by snow groomers, with a smooth, even surface.
• Snowplough: the basic technique for braking and turning, with skis in a "V" shape.
• Off-piste: unmarked and unsecured areas, reserved for experienced skiers and to be approached with the necessary precautions (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel).
• Off or freeride: another way of referring to skiing away from the groomed runs.

Whether you're heading off to ski around the Tourmalet or the Pic du Midi, this little glossary should be enough to understand the instructors, your more experienced friends and the signs at the top of the runs.