Skiing Glossary

Skiing (alpine discipline)alpine skiing · downhill skiing · kayak

The sport of sliding down snow-covered slopes on two long skis attached to the feet, using two poles; holiday skiing usually means the alpine discipline.

In the alpine discipline the heel is fixed to the binding and the focus is on going downhill. In Nordic disciplines such as cross-country skiing, the heel is free and you travel over flat or rolling terrain.

Basic coursebeginner course · beginner lessons · temel eğitim

The first stage of learning, in which someone who has never skied learns everything from putting on skis to stopping safely, and from turning in a snowplough to skiing down easy runs under control.

On Doğadayız's basic course packages you train in a group with an instructor for two days; an unlimited ski pass and magic carpet access, ski or snowboard equipment, helmet and goggles are included in the package. There are separate experience packages for those who have skied before.

Field note:On the first day your goal isn't to ski well, but to stand comfortably and be able to stop under control. Anyone who has learned to stop moves on to turning much faster on the second day.

Ski instructorski teacher · ski coach · kayak eğitmeni

The person who teaches ski technique in steps suited to your level and is responsible for the group's safety and the choice of runs.

A good instructor doesn't move everyone along at the same pace, but at each person's own level. Doğadayız's winter courses follow a programme designed and personally led by our founder Mustafa Kaya, a sports science (BESYO) graduate.

Muscle soreness (DOMS)DOMS · delayed onset muscle soreness · stiff muscles · hamlık

Temporary pain felt in the muscles within 1–3 days of unaccustomed intense exercise; in the first days of skiing it shows up especially in the legs and buttocks.

Warming up, drinking water regularly through the day, light stretching in the evening and enough sleep all reduce muscle soreness. If the pain is in a joint, at a single point and sharp, it may be an injury rather than muscle soreness; tell your instructor.

Falling and getting upfalling over · getting back up · düşme ve kalkma

Falling sideways and backwards onto your hip when you lose control, and getting up by bringing your skis side by side across the slope and pushing yourself up with your poles.

Field note:If your skis aren't across the slope, they'll slide away as you try to get up. First get your skis horizontal, then use the uphill side of the slope to push yourself up.

Snowplough (pizza)wedge · pizza · kar sabanı

The V (pizza slice) position made by bringing the ski tips together and pushing the tails apart; it is how beginners control their speed and stop.

The wider the V, the stronger the braking. The snowplough is also the basic skill used to start turns later on, when you move on to parallel skiing.

Field note:Bend your knees slightly, spread your weight evenly over both skis and look in the direction you want to go, not down the slope.

Snowplough turnwedge turn · saban dönüş

The basic turn made in the snowplough position by putting your weight on the ski opposite the direction of the turn: to turn right you press on the left ski, to turn left on the right ski.

Parallel skiingparallel technique · skiing parallel · paralel kayak

The flowing skiing technique that follows the basic course, in which the skis stay parallel to each other throughout the turn, with their edges tilted the same way.

The move from snowplough turns to parallel skiing usually goes through an intermediate stage: the turn starts in a snowplough and, midway through, the inside ski is brought parallel to the outside ski. Doğadayız experience packages focus on this transition.

Parallel turnparallel swing · paralel dönüş

A turn made with the skis kept parallel, shifting your weight onto the outside ski and tilting both skis onto their edges at the same time.

Carvingcarved turn · oyma dönüş

A fast, clean turning technique made on the edges of the skis without skidding, ‘carving’ a thin line into the snow.

Because skis are narrower at the waist (sidecut), a ski tilted onto its edge draws its own arc. It is an advanced technique and is at its most enjoyable on firm, well-prepared pistes.

Edgeedging · edge control · kenar

The sharp metal strips along the underside of the ski; tilting the ski sideways makes these edges grip the snow, and that is where turning and braking come from.

On hard, icy snow, sharpened edges directly affect grip. With rental equipment, edge maintenance is the responsibility of the rental shop.

Fall lineline of steepest descent · eğim çizgisi

The direction in which a ball would roll by itself on a slope, i.e. the steepest way down; turns are made by crossing from one side of this line to the other.

A skier turning towards the fall line speeds up; one turning away from it slows down. The secret of speed control is to complete the turn and move far enough away from the fall line.

Traversetraversing · skiing across the slope · yamaç geçişi

Skiing across the piste at right angles or diagonally to the fall line; used to change direction without picking up speed and to rest.

When traversing, the uphill edges are pressed into the snow and your weight is on the lower ski.

Pole plantpole touch · baton batırma

Briefly touching the tip of the pole on the turning side into the snow at the start of the turn; it gives the turn rhythm and timing.

Side step and herringboneside stepping · herringbone · yan adım ve balık sırtı

Two ways of climbing short slopes on skis: in the side step you keep your skis across the slope and step sideways; in the herringbone you open the tips and keep the tails together, walking up in a V shape.

Moguls (bumps)mogul · bumps · mogul run · tümsekli pist

A series of bumps formed when many skiers turn on the same line and the snow piles up; they call for rhythmic, short turns and flexible knees.

Skiskis · pair of skis · kayak tahtası

The long gliding tool attached to the foot, with an upturned tip and a base and metal edges underneath; its length is chosen according to the skier's height, weight and level.

Beginners are usually given soft skis a little shorter than their height; short skis turn more easily. As your level improves, longer and stiffer skis stay stable at higher speeds.

Binding and DIN settingski binding · DIN · release setting · bağlama

The mechanism that attaches the ski boot to the ski is called the binding; the DIN setting is the safety setting that determines the force at which the binding releases the boot in a fall.

The DIN value is set according to weight, height, age, boot sole length and skiing level. Too high a setting won't release the boot in a fall and creates a risk of knee injury; too low a setting will open unintentionally while skiing. This setting should be made by a specialist at the rental shop.

Field note:When renting equipment, give your weight and level accurately. Saying “I ski a bit better than that” leads to the binding being set harder than necessary.

Ski bootski boots · kayak botu

A boot with a hard plastic shell and an inner liner that holds the ankle at a set forward angle; it transmits the movement of the leg to the ski.

Boot stiffness is expressed as a “flex” value; beginners are more comfortable in softer boots. The boot should fit snugly, but your toes shouldn't be crushed and your heel shouldn't lift.

Field note:Wear a single, thin, long ski sock inside the boot. Thick or double socks don't keep your feet warm; on the contrary, they restrict circulation, make you cold and spoil the fit of the boot.

Ski polepoles · ski stick · baton

Light poles with a basket near the tip, used for balance, rhythm and pushing yourself along on flat ground.

When you hold a pole of the right length upside down and grip it below the basket, your elbow forms roughly a right angle. Beginners may not be given poles in their first lessons; balance is built with the legs first.

Helmet and gogglesski helmet · ski goggles · kask ve kar gözlüğü

A helmet protects the head against impacts and falls; ski goggles protect the eyes from the wind, the snow and the intense sunlight reflected off the snow surface.

Because snow reflects most of the sunlight back, your eyes tire and can even get sunburnt on cloudy days. The lens colour of the goggles is chosen according to the light conditions. In Doğadayız basic course packages, helmet and goggles are free of charge.

Layeringthree-layer system · layered clothing · katmanlı giyinme

The basic way of dressing for winter sports, made up of a base layer that wicks sweat away, a mid layer that keeps heat in and an outer layer that keeps out wind and water.

Cotton underwear gets wet with sweat and chills you; synthetic or wool base layers are preferred. As the weather changes during the day, you adjust your warmth by taking off or putting on the mid layer.

Piste coloursrun colours · piste grading · blue run · red run · black run · pist renkleri

Colour codes showing the difficulty of runs: in the European system blue means easy, red intermediate and black difficult; in some countries and resorts the easiest runs are marked green.

The colour shows the relative difficulty of runs within the same resort; one resort's red run may be harder than another's. In North America, green circle, blue square and black diamond symbols are used.

Field note:At a new resort, always make your first run on a colour one level below the one you know; move up once you've got to know the piste and snow conditions.

FIS rules for conductpiste rules · skier's code · FIS rules · pist kuralları

The 10 rules of conduct set by the International Ski Federation (FIS) that apply to everyone on the piste; their aim is to prevent collisions and accidents.

The main ones: behave in a way that doesn't endanger others; adapt your speed and skiing to your visibility and the conditions; the skier in front of you has priority; leave them enough room when overtaking; look uphill before entering the piste and when setting off; don't stop in narrow places or where you can't be seen; if you're climbing on foot, use the side of the piste; follow signs and markings; help at an accident; if you're involved in an accident, give your details.

Ski passlift pass · lift ticket · skipass

A card or ticket that entitles you to use the resort's lifts, such as chairlifts, drag lifts and gondolas; it can be daily, hourly, multi-day or seasonal.

A ski pass pays for getting up the mountain, not for skiing down the piste; different rules may apply in areas you climb on foot and on magic carpets. In Doğadayız basic course packages, the unlimited ski pass and magic carpet fees for the training days are included in the package.

Magic carpetconveyor lift · baby lift · yürüyen bant

A conveyor belt set into the ground on beginner slopes that you step onto without taking off your skis and that carries you uphill; essential for first lessons.

Drag liftT-bar · button lift · surface lift · teleski

A lift that pulls skiers uphill by means of a cable and a handle while their skis slide over the snow; you don't sit, you are pulled.

Field note:Don't try to sit down on a drag lift; put the bar behind your backside, bend your knees slightly and keep your skis parallel in the direction you're being pulled.

Chairliftchair lift · telesiyej

A lift that carries skiers uphill seated on open chairs with their skis on; chairs can seat two, four, six or eight people.

When boarding, the chair comes from behind and the skier simply sits down; at the top, the ski tips are held up and you glide away down the ramp. The safety bar is kept closed throughout the ride.

Gondola and cable cargondola lift · aerial tramway · gondol ve teleferik

Transport in enclosed cabins, for which you take off your skis and carry them on; on a gondola small cabins circulate continuously, while on a cable car large cabins shuttle back and forth.

Piste basher (snowcat)snowcat · piste groomer · grooming · ratrak

The tracked vehicle that levels and compacts the pistes every night; the neat ‘corduroy’ lines you see on the pistes in the morning are its tracks.

A groomed piste is the surface on which ski edges grip best. That's why the first hours of the morning are usually the best time to ski.

Powderpowder snow · fresh snow · pudra kar

Freshly fallen, light, dry, uncompacted snow; skiing on it feels like floating, but it calls for a different technique.

In powder you shift your weight slightly back and load both skis evenly so that the tips don't dive into the snow. Resorts with a cold, dry climate such as Sarıkamış are known for their snow quality.

Artificial snowmachine-made snow · snowmaking · snow cannon · yapay kar

Snow produced by snow machines spraying water and compressed air at low temperatures; it keeps pistes open when natural snow is scarce.

Artificial snow is denser and harder; when well prepared it gives a fast, stable piste surface.

Snow depthsnow cover · base depth · kar kalınlığı

The depth of the snow on the piste in centimetres; whether pistes open, the snow quality and the length of the ski season all depend on it.

There has to be enough depth so that the rocks and soil beneath the piste don't reach the skis. Doğadayız winter programme dates are planned according to the resorts' snow conditions.

Off-pisteoff-piste skiing · off piste · pist dışı · off-pist

Skiing on natural terrain outside the marked and groomed pistes; it carries avalanche risk and requires advanced skills, local knowledge and safety equipment.

Off-piste areas may lie outside the resort's rescue and safety services. Never go off-piste without an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel, and without a guide who knows the area.

Après-skiapres ski · after-ski · kayak sonrası

The culture of socialising, music and fun that carries on at the resort or the hotel after a day's skiing.

In Doğadayız winter programmes, training and skiing by day and evening entertainment with the group are part of the programme; it is the winter counterpart of the social adventure holiday.

Erciyes Ski ResortErciyes · skiing in Kayseri · Erciyes Kayak Merkezi

One of Türkiye's largest and most modern ski resorts, set on the slopes of the 3,917-metre Mount Erciyes in Kayseri.

You enter the resort through different gates such as Tekir, Hacılar and Hisarcık; the gates are linked to each other. Thanks to its proximity to the airport and its neighbour Cappadocia, it is ideal for short winter breaks. Most of Doğadayız's basic course and experience packages take place at Erciyes.

Sarıkamış Ski ResortSarıkamış · Cıbıltepe · skiing in Kars · Sarıkamış Kayak Merkezi

A ski resort in Kars known for its pistes running through Scots pine forests and for the quality snow brought by its cold, dry climate.

The long pistes winding through the forest give skiers both scenery and shelter from the wind. Doğadayız's Sarıkamış package combines skiing with the cultural and historical routes of Kars.

PalandökenPalandöken Ski Resort · skiing in Erzurum · Palandöken Kayak Merkezi

A ski resort very close to Erzurum city centre, popular with experienced skiers for its long, steep pistes, which hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade.

BanskoBansko Ski Resort · skiing in Bulgaria · Bansko Kayak Merkezi

One of the best-known ski resorts in the Balkans, rising above a historic town at the foot of the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria.

A gondola takes you from the town up to the pistes; the town's stone houses and lively evening scene add a special touch to a ski holiday. It is one of Doğadayız's winter programmes abroad.