Just thought I would attempt to post this for those who listen to the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area radio system. It is a list of terms and slang you will hear on this system. Many of these are used ski industry wide, but as always, there can be local uses unique to a single ski area. Disregard any notations to a "Scanner Reference," as this refers to a unpublished document of mine, which will never be published or released. The era of paper guides ended a couple of decades ago.
Ski Area Terminology, Slang, and Lingo (used almost industry wide)
These terms are shown in this section, rather than the Scanner Reference for convenience. They are unique to monitoring ski areas. Lift terminology included is only that which is heard on the radio and has been simplified as much as possible. Avalanche terminology is contained in the Scanner Reference, as it applies to more than just ski areas.
AED: Automatic External Defibrillator (See Scanner Reference page xx)
Alpine: Refers to skiing done at developed ski areas on groomed slopes using skis equipped with bindings in which the entire boot is locked down on the ski. Also known as downhill skiing.
Anti-rollback: A mechanical system, which prevents the weight of passengers from making the lift roll backwards in case the engine or gearbox fails.
APU: Auxiliary Power Unit. A backup power system to run lifts in the event of a power failure.
Beeper: See “AVALANCHE BEACON” on Scanner Reference page xx.
Boo: Bamboo sticks. Used to hold hand charge explosives for avalanche triggering, and for many other uses such as holding up fences, marking hazards, placing signs, etc.
Bull Wheel: The large diameter sheave (pulley) at the ends of lift, one of which is powered (usually the lower called a drive bull wheel) and one which may be a tension sheave or bull wheel [adding the proper amount of tension to the rope (cable)], or may be just a return for the rope (a fixed return bull wheel). People who do not off-load the chair when they are supposed to are referred to as “going around the bull wheel”.
Bump: Moving ski patrol personnel from one station to another to provide variety.
Bump(s) Mogul(s):. See “MOGUL”
Burrito: A waterproof blanket/tarp which is folded into a rescue sled. The burrito may contain some or all of the following items: first aid kit, splints, backboard, oxygen, or an AED.
Cable: See “WIRE ROPE”
Circuit(s), bypass: A circuit(s) that partially or entirely circumvents monitoring and remote signal inputs of a malfunctioning operating circuit to allow operation of the system under specific conditions.
Circuit(s), control power: The control power circuit(s) is a normally a de-energized circuit(s). When energized this circuit provides power to the operating control circuit.
Circuit(s), operating control: When energized these circuits provide power to all electrical control functions which start, stop, run, and control speed for the lift. If it is de-energized, the lift system will stop or remain at rest.
Cross-country Skiing: Uses relatively narrow, light skis, and light boots (usually leather), equipped with a binding that allows for heel lift. A forward kick and glide motion, which is very much like walking, is facilitated, and travel over flat, uphill, and downhill terrain is possible.
Counterweight: A weight used to maintain tension in the rope or a moving part.
Death Cookie: Compact, icy, chunks of snow often develop on a cats track and can be thrown off the cat’s route of travel. If it is not run over on subsequent passes of the cat, and broken up by the tiller, it will remain on the snow surface. Whether this happens on a downhill slope or on a groomed cross-country ski trail, when a ski hits this chunk, the resulting loss of control earns this object its name.
Deropement: When a wire rope leaves its intended position in the groove of a sheave or saddle.
Detachable: A lift where the chair or gondola car detaches from the rope by means of an automatic clamp. Enables slow loading and unloading at the terminals, while running the lift at a high speed.
Diagonal Stride: The traditional form of cross-country skiing where one ski and the opposite hand and pole are moved forward simultaneously, weight is placed on the ski and kicked backwards while the pole is thrust to the rear, providing a forward pushing force. As the pushed ski moves to the rear, the opposite unweighted ski glides forward, while the opposite hand and pole are lifted up and forward. As the opposite ski moves forward, both skis glide, thus the diagonal stride is often called “kick and glide”. Once the opposite ski is fully moved forward, the process is then completed for the other side of the body. The tip of the front ski and tail of the back ski form a diagonal line, thus the name of the technique.
Drive: The electronic circuitry that controls the amount of voltage sent to the primary motor of the lift and controls its speed. It is also connected to all of the lift’s safety devices, which shuts down the lift automatically if a problem occurs on the line or at the terminals.
Drive Terminal: Houses the motor gearbox, auxiliary engine, and drive and safety circuitry. It can either be on top or at the bottom of a lift (“top drive”, “bottom drive”). Top drive is a bit more energy efficient, but requires the expense of providing electrical service to the top of the lift, which is costly.
Fall Line: A line drawn down a slope in the direction of its maximum steepness.
First Aid Refusal: Skier or rider who declines to have first aid or an evaluation done.
Freshies: New powder snow fallen on a slope, or transported there by the wind from non-groomed areas.
Gearbox: The lift’s transmission, which transfers power from the motor to the bull wheel at the drive terminal.
Gill Net: Refers to the orange plastic fence which is placed to channel skiers and riders, slow them down, or to catch them or their equipment at the bottom of a slope, protecting those in line or in base facility areas.
Grip: Attaches the chair or car to the rope. They can be fixed or detachable.
Haul Rope: See “WIRE ROPE”.
Lift: Used here to refer to both chair lifts and gondolas.
Manual Reset Switch: Used to start the lift after it stops, due to a fault, and must be activated by the lift operator.
Magic Carpet: A brand name for a surface lift that is similar to a conveyor belt. Guests step into the surface, which is a continuous surface. Typically used in children’s instruction areas and located on very gentle slopes.
Magic Wand: Refers to the safety device, which is triggered by people who remain on the chair after passing the unloading ramp. When triggered it stops the lift as most chair lifts are not designed or built for people to ride downhill.
Maze: The area in which the guests gather waiting to get on a lift. Optimizes lift loading. More commonly known as a lift line.
Mogul: Bumps on a ski hill are formed when many skiers make turns, throwing loose snow up on the side of each turn. As additional skiers follow the tracks of the previous skier, these deposits eventually harden into a series of fairly evenly spaced, steep bumps, which make skiing a little more difficult. Grooming equipment smoothes these off at night, and they are reformed the next day. Some steep runs are left with moguls, for those who like the challenge of the bumps.
NNN: “New Nordic Norm” (Normal) A cross country ski binding where a rod on the front of the boot clips into a spring tensioned portion of the binding. This has largely replaced the older style three pin Nordic binding for cross country skis.
Nordic: Refers to cross-country skiing.
Over (his/her) Head: Indicates that a skier or rider has found himself or herself on a ski trail that is too steep or hard packed for the individual’s skill level to handle.
Over Speed Device: An electric or mechanical device that automatically detects lift speed in excess of that intended by the designer or operator.
Packer Bar: Mounted aft of the tiller across the rear of a snow cat. On the outside it resembles a metal culvert, but with parallel ridges and it turns as the cat moves forward, compacting the snow loosened by the tiller, using its own weight. The ridges form the “corduroy” appearance of freshly groomed snow.
Pieps: A brand of avalanche beacon. See “AVALANCHE BEACON” Scanner Reference, page xx.
Pinhead: Slang for a cross country or telemark skier. Refers to the three pin binding that used to be the standard on all cross country skis. See “THREE PINNER.”
Piston Bully: A brand of snow cat and groomer.
PSIA: Professional Ski Instructors of America. Among other functions certifies teaching methods, qualifications of instructors, and provides training curriculum.
Randonee (Ran-doe-ney): Refers to skis or skiing with skis that are, or almost are, downhill or alpine in design. The heel portion of the binding can be released for cross country travel and locked down for downhill skiing. Also known as “Alpine Touring.” A common joke among telemarkers is that “Randonee” is a French word for “can’t Telemark”.
Rider: Snowboarder.
Rope: See “WIRE ROPE”. Very few “rope tows” exist at ski areas anymore.
RPD: Rope Position Detector. A safety device, which ensures the rope, is properly aligned. It is essentially a metal detector, which can sense very small (but out of specifications) movements in the rope.
RPD Fault: When the wire rope is out of alignment the control station of the lift will indicate this.
Runaway: A loose ski or snowboard traveling downhill.
Safety Gate: A device that will automatically stop a lift when tripped by a passenger’s weight, contact, or passage. Is usually a light beam or fiberglass wand. Keeps the passenger from going all the way “around the bull wheel”.
SCR Silicone Controlled Rectifier: Converts the commercial AC (alternating current) for use by a DC (direct current) motor that provides power for the lift.
Sheaves: Pulleys or wheels grooved for rope. Weight bearing and guidance sheaves are most noticeable on lift towers, where some can make a distinctive noise. They are lined with a special type of rubber when the sheave wheel supports or depresses the rope.
Shot, Cut, and Cleared: Indicates that ski patrol personnel have used explosives on a slope, ski cut it, and the slope is ready for grooming, maintenance personnel, and/or guests. Ski cutting consists of long, slope wide traverses, in which the patroller jumps up and down on their skis to place a force in the snowpack and releasing any potential avalanches. “Cut and cleared” refers to avalanche evaluation and control without the use of explosives.
Skating: A method of cross-country skiing used primarily for racing that developed in the late 1970’s. The motion of the skis resembles ice-skating, uses shorter, stiffer skis, stiffer boots, and much longer poles than used in light touring skiing.
Skating Lane: A smooth, flat, groomed area, adjacent to the twin track grooming used for diagonal stride skiing.
Skier: A person using skis.
Skinny Skis: Cross-country skis, which are used for touring or mountaineering.
Sled: A plastic sled designed for carrying an injured person in a prone position, with or without a backboard. Towed behind a ski patroller using two handles at the end of poles that are attached to the top of the sled, resembling a tow bar. These handles can be chained together; enabling the patroller to place the sled in front on steep slopes, hands free, where sidestepping, or handing the sled to another down slope patroller, may be necessary. The bottom of the sled has fins, 3-4 inches in depth, enabling the sled to be controlled.
Slider: A skier who falls on a slope of sufficient steepness and does not stop immediately or shortly after the fall.
Snowplow(ing): Pushing skis into a V shape, with the tips narrow and the tails wide and rotating the ankles inwardly. This forces the inner edge of the skis to push into the snow harder. This is a beginning skier’s best method for controlling speed and stopping. It is an effective technique for both cross-country and downhill skiing.
Telemarking: A turn used by cross-country skiers when skiing down slope. This turn provides stability for cross-country skiers who are using a binding where the heel does not lock down. A Telemark turn is somewhat difficult to complete using light touring gear, due to the flexibility of the skis and the low cut boots. Advanced Telemarking occurs on the steepest slopes both in the backcountry and at developed ski areas. Often the boots are plastic and are well up the calf of the leg. The skis are often as wide as downhill or alpine skis.
Three Pinner: A person using cross-country skis. Refers to the 3-pin binding where the toe of the boot has 3 holes that fit over 3 bins on the binding, to provide additional grip. This term is used in spite of the variety of bindings available for cross country skiing, including cable bindings (mostly used for backcountry skiing), specialized Telemark bindings and the NNN (New Nordic Norm - as in normal) binding.
Tiller: A round cylinder mounted across and at the rear of a snow cat, equipped with Rota-tiller type prongs. The cylinder is hydraulically driven by power from the cat’s engine and independently controlled (both speed and height) by the driver. The tiller uncompacts and breaks the snow into small, loose particles. See “PACKER BAR” in this section.
Toboggan: Injured skiers used to be carried down the hill on these. Because they are so difficult to control, plastic sleds are now being used. See “SLED”
Wire Rope: Commonly known as a cable, but actually consists of lengths of wire twisted around a core to form strands. These strands are then twisted around a core in a rope like fashion to form a “wire rope”.
Yard Sale: When a skier or rider falls and loses equipment, such as released skis, poles, gloves, hat, goggles, sunglasses, etc., and the equipment slides down the slope.
I hope all of this is helpful for someone. We all tend to know most of the terms, slang and codes used on radio systems. However, ski area terminology is unique to this industry and the above may be helpful for listeners.
