Winter Olympics Glossary
Each sports discipline has its own terminology, important both for communication and competition. Considered a precise language for each sport’s category or a working tool for experts and journalists, but also a sign of belonging to a specific tribe of sports fans.
- Alpine skiing
- Biathlon
- Bobsled
- Curling
- Freestyle skiing
- Hockey
- Luge
- Nordic Combined
- Short Track
- Ski Jumping
- Snowboarding
- Speedskating
Alpine skiing
Camber: An arch that is built into a ski to make it more flexible.
Carve: A turn in which a skier applies weight on the edges of the skis.
Chicane: A combination of three to five closed gates in the slalom.
Closed gates: Vertical gates on a ski run
Edge: The sharp area on the side of the ski's base that helps the skier maneuver
Fall Line: The quickest way down a ski slope, but not usually the straightest.
Flex: The flexibility of a ski. A ski with little flex is better for hard-packed snow. A ski with more flex is desirable for softer snow.
Flush: A gate pattern with three to four closed gates during the slalom.
Gate: A gate has two flags at the top of flexible poles. Skiers are required to pass through each gate on a run.
Hairpin: A weaving slalom gate pattern with two closed gates.
Open gate: Horizontally gates on a ski run.
Release: A mechanism that separates binding from the boot on a ski to prevent injury after a fall.
Schuss: A describing a fast downhill turn.
Tuck: Aerodynamic squatting position that skier use in downhill skiing.
Biathlon
Arm sling: Used to stabilize the .22 caliber rifle while shooting.
Muzzle cover: The protective design prevents snow from entering the muzzle of the rifle.
Bobsled
Brakeman: The athlete who stops the sled after a race.
Cowling: The outside layer of a bobbled. It's typically made of fiberglass.
Driver: The athlete who steers the bobsled.
G-force: Inertial force, equal to the force of gravity that holds the bobsled to the wall on turns.
Kreisel: A curve that turns into a circle when the track crosses over or under itself.
Labyrinth: A combination of little curves, with little or no straightaway.
Line: The quickest path to complete a course.
Lip: A barrier that keeps sleds from sliding off the course.
Cross country skiing
Classical technique: Skiers make long, straight strides in parallel tracks set roughly 7-12 inches apart. Skiers may only leave the grooved path when making a pass. The classical technique was used for all Olympic cross country events through 1984.
Freestyle technique: Athletes are allowed to push off both legs, in a skating-style approach. Skiers propel themselves by putting pressure on the inside edges of their skis. This technique made its Olympic debut in 1988.
Wax: A critical component in cross country skiing. There are two types of wax - glide wax and kick wax. Glide wax is applied to the entire underside of the skis in freestyle competition. In classical events, it is applied to only the front and back portions, while kick wax is used on the middle part.