Can you tell double corks from daffies? How about a back full from a Buick grab?

This glossary provides a crash course on some of the different terminology used in freeskiing, moguls, aerials and ski cross competitions that will be heard during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

FIS: International Ski Federation ("Fédération Internationale de Ski" in French), the governing body of all freestyle skiing events for the Olympics

Freeskiing: A new-school ski movement, heavily influenced by snowboarding, that became popular starting in the late 1990s. Halfpipe, slopestyle and big air all are freeskiing disciplines. Freeskiing is considered distinct from freestyle skiing, even though freeskiing disciplines fall under the “freestyle skiing” Olympic program.

A note on trick names in freeskiing: The names of tricks often will include the spin direction, number of corks (if any), degree of rotation and type of grab. For example, a skier might land a “switch leftside triple cork 1440 mute grab”: In this example, the skier would be approaching the jump backward (switch), spin to their left (leftside), then simultaneously do three inverts (triple cork) and four full rotations (1440) in the air while holding a mute grab.

180: An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 180 degrees – one half spin

360 (or 3): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 360 degrees – one full spin

540 (or 5): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 540 degrees – one and a half spins

720 (or 7): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 720 degrees – two full spins

900 (or 9): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 900 degrees – two and a half spins

1080 (or 10): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 1080 degrees – three full spins

1260 (or 12): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 1260 degrees – three and a half spins

1440 (or 14): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 1440 degrees – four full spins

1620 (or 16): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 1620 degrees – four and a half spins

1800 (or 18): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 1800 degrees - five full spins

1980 (or 19): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 1980 degrees - five and a half spins

2160 (or 21): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 2160 degrees – six full spins

2340 (or 23): An aerial maneuver in which the skier rotates 2340 degrees – six and a half spins. At the 2025 X Games, Miro Tabanelli became the first skier to land a 2340 during a contest.

Alley-oop: In halfpipe competition, when a skier rotates 180 degrees or more in the uphill direction. This increases the difficulty of a trick because the skier is spinning against their direction of travel.

Big air: A type of contest which features one large jump. Riders perform one trick per run, and judges score that trick based on overall impression.

Booter: Another term for a slopestyle jump. Sometimes referred to as a "money booter."

Box: A jib feature that has a wider surface for sliding than standard rail features

Buick: A unique two-handed grab pioneered by Alex Hall. The skier grabs their left ski with their left hand, then reaches across their body to grab the same ski with their right hand.

Cannon: In slopestyle competition, a rail or a box extending off a jump at an upward angle. Skiers can slide over the cannon rail, then when coming off it, will have more air time than usual rail features allow.

Contest: A term commonly used for a freeski competition

Cork: An off-axis rotation. If a skier inverts twice, the trick becomes a double cork. A third invert makes it a triple cork, and so on.

Deck: The top horizontal portion of a halfpipe wall, above the lip

Direction: There are four different spin directions in freeskiing: rightside, leftside, switch rightside and switch leftside. They refer to: A) which direction the skier is facing when they approach the takeoff, and B) which side the skier is spinning toward when they start the trick. When evaluating a run, judges want to see skiers execute tricks in as many different directions as possible.

Disaster: A type of gap in which the skier jumps over the kinked part of a rail and lands near the end of the rail 

Double cork: An aerial maneuver consisting of two off-axis rotations

Grab: The way a skier grabs and holds their skis with their hand(s) during a trick. This exhibits control over the trick, which judges want to see, and adds to a skier's personal style. There are many different types of grabs, and they are based on which part of the ski is being grabbed. Common types of grabs include mute, safety, tail and Japan. Judges may reward skiers for performing a variety of different grabs during their run.

Flat bottom: The area in the halfpipe between the two walls

Future spin: Any spin with a degree of rotation higher than the current year. A 2160, 2340 or anything beyond that would be an example of a future spin.

Gap: A part of a trick where a skier jumps over some part of the rail and either touches the rail on the end or lands on another rail

Halfpipe: An icy, sloped, U-shaped course. Skiers go back and forth between the walls of the pipe, performing a trick each time they go up the wall and above the pipe. The length can vary, but the standard height for a competition is 22 feet. The large halfpipes used for major competitions are also called "superpipes."

Japan grab: With one leg stretched out and the other leg tucked, the skier uses their opposite hand to reach behind and grab the ski of their tucked leg underneath the binding

Jib: A slopestyle term for a surface other than snow, such as a rail or box

Jibbing: Riding on a surface other than snow

Jumps: In slopestyle, skiers execute tricks off multiple jumps, which each feature a takeoff and landing. Although slopestyle courses vary between venues, a typical course has three or four jumps. The size of jumps also varies, with bigger jumps allowing for more difficult tricks to be done. Also called "booters" or "kickers."

K-Fed: A rail trick which features a frontside switch-up followed by a backside 270 off the rail. Named for Kevin Federline.

Kicker: Another term for a slopestyle jump

Kinked rail: A rail feature that includes at least one spot where the angle of the rail changes as the skier slides over it

Knuckle: The top of the landing zone on a jump

Leftside (or left): When a trick is executed by spinning to the skier's left side

Lip: The top edge of the halfpipe wall

Misty: An invert in which the skier rotates while flipping forward

Mute grab: With skis crossed, the skier grabs their ski in front of the binding with the opposite hand

Nose butter: A technique in which the skier shifts their weight forward so the noses of the skis are pressed down while the tails are off the ground. This technique can be used to initiate a spin and often has been used by Swedish freeskier Henrik Harlaut.

Octo grab: With skis crossed, the skier grabs the front of one ski and the tail of the other ski at the same time

Pretzel: A type of rail trick in slopestyle. A skier spins onto the rail in one direction, then stops their momentum and spins off the rail in the opposite direction. For example, a skier may spin a leftside 270 onto a rail, then reverse their momentum and spin a rightside 270 off the rail. This would be known as a "270 on pretzel 270 out."

Quad cork: An aerial maneuver consisting of four off-axis rotations

Rails: In slopestyle, these are the non-jump "terrain park" features – basically, obstacles that are meant for sliding over. Many rail sections feature multiple options for skiers to choose from. Although slopestyle courses vary between venues, a typical course will have about three rail sections. Also called a "jib section."

Rightside (or right): When a trick is executed by spinning to the skier's right side

Rodeo: An invert in which the skier rotates while flipping backward

Safety grab: An easier grab in which the skier grabs the outside of the ski underneath the binding. If grabbing with the right hand, the skier grabs the right ski.

Screamin' seaman: While in the air, the skier crosses their skis over one another so that each ski is on the opposite side it normally would be on. The skier must then uncross their skis without getting tangled before landing.

Spin: A half-rotation is a 180, a full rotation is a 360, and so on. All tricks in halfpipe, as well as jump tricks in slopestyle, will be measured in multiples of 180 degrees. Rail tricks in slopestyle are measured in multiples of 90 degrees.

Slopestyle: A downhill course consisting of both jumps and rail sections. Skiers perform tricks at each section of the course and are then evaluated on their run.

Superpipe: A type of halfpipe with a much larger and smoother transition than a standard halfpipe, allowing skiers to get higher above the lip. Superpipes are standardized at 22 feet in height and used for all major competitions, including the Olympics.

Switch: Skiing backward. The skier's back is pointed toward the bottom of the slope, while the skier's front is facing toward the top. As the skier approaches a jump or rail, they are looking over their shoulder.

Switch-up: While sliding on a rail, the skier jumps, spins 180 degrees (or more) in the opposite direction, and lands back on the rail. Also called a "swap."

Tail grab: With skis crossed and the tails of the skis pointed upward, the skier grabs the tail of their ski near the tip. If grabbing with the right hand, the skier grabs the right ski.

Transition: The curved surface of the halfpipe walls between the flat section and vertical portion of the wall

Triple cork: An aerial maneuver consisting of three off-axis rotations

Twin-tip: Skis with the tips on both ends slightly bent up to allow for easier skiing both forward and backward. Used by all halfpipe, slopestyle and big air skiers.

Unnatural: When a trick is executed by spinning the opposite of a skier's preferred (or "natural") direction. For example, if a skier finds it easier to spin to their left, then a rightside spin would be their "unnatural" spin direction. This increases the difficulty of a trick.

Zero spin: The skier takes off switch, then lands switch without spinning or inverting

Absorption/extension: A component of a skier's "turns" score. As a skier moves through the course, they should follow the shape of each mogul, "absorbing" as they move up a mogul and "extending" as they move down a mogul. In doing so, the pressure between their ski and the snow should remain consistent.

Air bump: A specially constructed jump set in the mogul course

Air score: One of the three main judging criteria. Accounts for 20% of a skier's overall score. Skiers are required to complete two airs during each mogul run. Judges evaluate each skier's aerial maneuvers based on form and difficulty.

Backscratcher: The skier touches their back with the tails of both skis, legs together with their knees bent underneath their body and skis parallel

Body position: The stance, balance and movement of the competitor's body

Bronco: A 180-degree rotation with a spread eagle while the skier faces uphill. The skier then performs another 180-degree rotation to land facing downhill.

Carving: A component of a skier's "turns" score. Refers to the technique of edging through turns down the slope to control speed. A pure carved turn is one in which the tail of the ski precisely follows the track made by the ski tip. In this scenario, there is no skidding or lateral sliding; instead, there is only minor gliding between the snow and the base of the ski.

Control gate: A series of 10 equally spaced gates set on the mogul course

Cross: The crossing of the skis in an "X"

D-Spin: An off-axis backflip with a full twist

Daffy: A scissor-like position in which the skier spreads their legs wide apart with one in front of the body and one behind. The front ski points straight up and the back ski points straight down.

Double upright: The combination of two moves in one jump

Fall line: The shortest way down the course from the start to the finish. To avoid score deductions, skiers must stay in the selected fall line once they leave the start gate. This is a component of a skier's "turns" score.

Form: A component of a skier's "air" score. Judges consider the quality, amplitude and fluidity of each athlete's aerial maneuvers. This includes evaluating whether a trick is performed within an acceptable axis range.

Grab: During a jump, the competitor reaches and holds a part of the ski for a duration of time. Performing a grab results in a higher degree of difficulty.

Four-point landing: Both poles plant when the skier lands from a jump

Four-point takeoff: Both poles plant as the skier takes off from the mogul

Helicopter: Upright aerial spin of 360 degrees

Heli-X: An iron cross executed in the middle of a helicopter, while the skier faces uphill

Iron cross: The ski tips are crossed while the skier stays upright

Mule kick: A 90-degree drop of the skis with a 45-degree twist to the side. The tips drop, but the heels are kicked out to one side.

Off-axis: A titled rotation to one side of the vertical axis during a jump

Pace time: A calculated value which is different for men and women. To calculate the pace time, take the course length in meters then divide it by the pace time value.

Position: In a jump, the competitor can create a position, like crossing the skis, for a duration of time. Performing a position results in a higher degree of difficulty.

Quadruple: Performing four positions during a jump

Quint: Performing five positions during a jump

Reverse trough: Technique of skiing on top of the moguls and turning in the opposite direction of the ruts

Ruts: The deep area between moguls

Speed score: One of the three main judging criteria. Accounts for 20% of a skier's overall score. This is based on the total time it takes the skier to complete their run through the course, but will be converted into a comparable point value that goes into the overall score.

Spread: The skier's arms are extended and legs split apart to the side. The upper body remains upright with ski tips and tails even and parallel.

Switch: Skiing backward. Can refer to direction at the time of takeoff or landing.

Tip cross: The ski tips cross, the competitor stays upright

Triple upright: A combination of three positions in one jump

Trough: Ruts, or a deep path through the moguls

Turns score: One of the three main judging criteria. Accounts for 60% of a skier's overall score. The term refers to a technical evaluation of how well a competitor turns through the moguls. This includes such considerations as fall line deviations, carving, absorption and extension.

Twister: Skis twist 90 degrees to one side of the body, while the hands and body twist to the opposite side

With position: The addition of a position to a jump (i.e. "360 with position")

A note on aerial tricks: When aerial tricks are named, a jump with multiple flips often will be broken into a separate part for each flip. Each section describes what is happening during the course of that one particular flip. For example, a skier might attempt a "full, double full, full." This means that the first flip would have one full twist, the second flip would have two full twists, and the third flip would have one full twist. In other words, they are attempting a quadruple-twisting triple flip.

Air score: One of the three main judging criteria. Accounts for 20% of a skier's overall score. Judges evaluate the takeoff, height and distance of each skier's jump.

Back: The direction of travel of a competitor's jump. Also known as a single flip.

Back full: A single backflip with one full twist

Back layout: A single backflip in the layout position (body extended as straight as possible)

Back somersault: A single backflip

Back tuck: A single backflip in the tuck position

Chopping: The act of breaking up the snow in the landing

Double: Two flips

Double full: A single layout flip with two twists

Double layout (or lay-lay): Two flips in the layout position

Double somersault: Two flips

Form score: One of the three main judging criteria. Accounts for 50% of a skier's overall score. Judges evaluate the position of the skier's body, skis, arm, hands and/or poles while in the air.

Front somersault: A single forward flip

Front tuck: A single front flip in the tuck position

Full: A flip with a full twist (360 degrees)

Full in: A full twist on the first flip of a double or triple somersault

Full out: A full twist on the last flip of a double or triple somersault

Flip: A somersault, which is either performed backward, frontward or sideways

Half: A flip with a half-twist (180 degrees)

Half in: A half twist on the first flip of a double or triple somersault

Half out: A half twist on the first flip of a double or triple somersault

Height and distance: The arc the competitor travels when jumping. A section of the air score.

Hurricane: A quintuple-twisting triple somersault. American Jeret "Speedy" Peterson performed this to win silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Inrun: The slope where the skier gains speed before going off the kicker

Jump: Each skier needs to perform several different jumps as they progress through each round of the aerials competition

Kicker: The aerial jump

Knoll: The flat area that the kickers are built on before the start of the landing hill

Landing score: One of the three main judging criteria. Accounts for 30% of a skier's overall score. A proper landing involves a balanced, stable and controlled body position throughout.

Layout (or lay): The body is extended as straight as possible during a flip

Loop: A side flip, where the competitor rotates around the central axis

Pike: The body bends at the waist, the legs remain straight. A "V" or jack-knife position

Puck: The body is in an open tuck position with legs pulled up 45 degrees (hands do not necessarily touch the knees)

Pop: The extension or snap at the end of the jump which sets the flip in motion

Pull: A command used by coaches to instruct the aerialist to tuck his or her knees up more to speed up rotation

Quadruple (or quad): Four flips

Randy: A flip with two and a half twists

Rudy: A flip with one and a half twists

Single: One flip

Sling: A bad takeoff from the kickers that sets a very fast rotation. Slings usually happen when a jumper throws his/her arms and shoulders back too quickly.

Slap back: When a jumper over-rotates on landing and goes to their back before standing up and skiing out of the outrun

Stretch: A command used by coaches to instruct the aerialist to elongate his or her body to slow the rotation of the flip

Takeoff: A good takeoff has knees, hips and arms all completely extended as a competitor's feet cross the end of the kicker

Table: The flat area where the jumps are built

Triple: Three flips

Tuck: The knees are pulled up in front of the body to an angle of 90 degrees from the body

Twist: A 360-degree spin

Water ramp: A type of training facility that allows athletes to practice aerials into water during the summer

Air time: The time from takeoff of a jump until landing

Bank: A turn inclined at an angle

Bib: Worn externally by each racer in order to identify them during competition. The color of the bibs corresponds to their qualification ranking relative to the other skiers in their heat. The red bib is assigned to the highest-ranked racer, and they are allowed to choose their lane first.

Big final: The final round of a ski cross competition. Determines first through fourth place, including all medal positions.

Blocking: Purposely preventing a faster competitor from passing, by turning or obstructing the line

Corner jump: A jump with a sharp turn on landing

Course design: A detailed plan of the layout of the course including the number of features, changes of direction, safety measures and finish area

DNF: Stands for "did not finish." Missing a gate results in a skier receiving a DNF and being ranked in last place for their heat.

DSQ: Stands for "disqualification." Can be given for intentional interference that directly affects the result of another racer. A skier who receives a red card is disqualified from the competition, listed as DSQ on the final result list, and not ranked.

Fall line: An imaginary line that follows the steepest gradient down a slope. (i.e the path a rolling ball would follow down the slope)

Features: A series of natural or specially designed elements on the course

Heat: Each head-to-head race during the competition is called a "heat." Each heat consists of four skiers at a time racing each other down the course. During elimination rounds, the top-two skiers from each heat advance to the next round.

Holeshot: The race to the first turn. The skier who leads the field into the first turn "gets the holeshot" and often can use it to stay in front of their competitors.

Photo finish: The images, taken by a high-speed camera, of the competitors that cross the finish line

Rollers: A series of gentle jumps protruding from the surface of the course. Racers must traverse over them while attempting to maintain speed, either by absorbing them or jumping through them.

Seeding run: A time trial that determines each skier's seed for the elimination rounds

Small final: A consolation race featuring all skiers who did not advance out of the semifinals. Determines fifth through eighth place.

Step-up: A jump where the landing is higher than the starting point

Step-down: A jump where the landing is lower than the starting point

Table: A jump where the landing is on the same level or a little higher than the kicker. Also called a "tabletop."

Vertical drop: The total difference from the start elevation to the finish elevation

Waxing: Application of substances to the base of the skis