DICTIONARY OF SNOWBOARDING TERMS

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J's

Jam Session Halfpipe Competition
An event where all competitors are allowed to ride the halfpipe continuously during one allotted amount of time. The top winners are chosen by judges who watch the jam session and decide who is the best.

J-Tear
An invert where the athlete rotates roughly 540 degrees in a frontside direction while planting one or both hands on the lip of the wall. Invented by Mike Jacoby.

Japan Air
The front hand grabs the toe edge in front of the front foot(mute), both knees are bent, the rear leg boned, and the board is pulled to the level of the head.

Jib
The act of riding on something other than snow, i.e. rails, trees, garbage cans, logs.

K's

Kink
When riding halfpipes or other jumps, one may come into contact with various abnormal and not smoothly transitional surfaces. These kinks cause problems when trying to ride over them.

L's

Lame
A term used to describe when something is not good. e.g. "This really lame guy cut me off in the lift line.

Late
A term used to describe incorporating something into a trick just before its' completion and landing, i.e. a Method to Late 180 would mean doing a method air and at the last possible second rotating 180 degrees and landing fakie.

Leash
A retention device used to attach the snowboard to the front foot so that it doesn't run away.

Lien Air
The front hand grabs the heel edge and the body leans out over the nose. Named after skateboarder Neil Blender. (Lien is Neil spelled backwards).

Lien Method Air
A cross between a Method and a Lien.

Lip
The top edge portion of the halfpipe wall. See Coping.

Lip Trick
Any trick performed on or near the lip of the wall of the halfpipe.

M's

McEgg
An invert where the athlete plants the front hand on the wall, rotates 540 degrees in a backside direction, and lands riding forward.

McTwist
An inverted aerial where the athlete performs a 540 degree rotational flip. In other words, the athlete approaches the halfpipe wall riding forward, becomes airborne, rotates 540 degrees in a backside direction while performing a front flip, and lands riding forward. Named after skateboarder Mike McGill.

Melonchollie Air
The front hand reaches behind the front leg and grabs the heel edge in-between the bindings while the front leg is boned.

Method Air
The front hand grabs the heel edge, both knees are bent, and the board is pulled to level of the head.

Miller Flip
An invert where the halfpipe wall is approached riding forward, the front hand is planted, a 360 degree frontside rotation is made, and the rider lands riding fakie.

Misty Flip
An inverted backside 540 performed off of a straight jump. It is the straight jump version of the McTwist. Therefore the approach is riding forward and the landing is fakie.

Mosquito Air
A halfpipe trick in which the front hand reaches behind the front leg and grabs the heel edge between the bindings. The front knee is then bent to touch the board tuck knee style.

Mute Air
The front hand grabs the toe edge either between the toes or in front of the front foot.

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