Skating glossary terms

Skating glossary terms


Concave – This is a term that describes the contouring of a skate deck. It involves the raising of the edges on each side of the board, making it somewhat bowl shaped. This helps provide more traction and control to the rider for staying on and performing tricks.

Continuous Edge – This is a term that is used to describe edges that are designed without having small cracks in the outermost contact area. This is often used for adding strength and sometimes stiffness to the board’s edges.

Coping – This is a rounded lip found at the very top of a ramp or an obstacle, and it is typically comprised of metal, PVC pipe or cement.

Crooked Grind – This is a term that is used to describe a nose grind where the nose is sliding at the same time.

Dampening – This involves controlling and minimizing resonance in vibration that is created using the energy that is separated by the surface and the board flex. This is a term that is used to describe any material that is built into the core of the board or the edges in order to keep the board responsive and quiet.

Darkslide – This is a term that is used to describe flipping the board upon approaching something to grind, grinding on the grip tape while the feet are on the very bottom of the board.

Drop In – This is a term that is used to describe entering the obstacle or the ramp from above.

Durometer – This is a term that is used to describe the measurement of hardness or resiliency of a wheel made from urethane.

Face Plant – This is a term that is used to describe the face of the rider hitting the ground before the rest of his or her body does.

Fakie – This is a term that is used to describe riding backwards.

Front Side – This is a term that is used to describe executing a turn or a trick with the body facing in the forward direction.

Gay Twist – This is a term that is used to describe completing a 360 in the air while riding fakie at the lip of an obstacle or a ramp, grabbing the board and heading back down front side.

Goofy Foot – This is a term that is used to describe riding with the right foot ahead of the left foot.

Grab – This is a term that is used to describe grabbing the board with either one or both of the rider’s hands.

Grind – This is a term that is used to describe riding on an object where only the trucks of the board are making contact. Examples of obstacles that can be grinded on include handrails and ledges.

Grip Tape – This is a term that is used to describe adhesive sandpaper material that is fixed to the entire top of the skateboard in order to improve the traction for the rider.