Skateboarding has its own distinct culture and terminology. While the meaning and use of skateboarding terms can differ depending on where and how they are used, the following jargon is widely recognized and understood by skateboarders worldwide.
Air - An aerial trick.
Bail- A bail refers to the act of falling or jumping off the board while attempting to land a trick.
Brain bucket - A Helmet.
Board!- A phrase typically shouted to warn others when a board is careening across a skatepark.
Bomb A Hill- Speeding downhill, that's all there is to it; it may sound basic, but it offers an incredible sensation.
Brute - Gnarly.
Burly- Executing a trick with significant height or difficulty.
Bussup- Successfully landing a trick in a shaky manner but still managing to continue riding.
Bust- Used to describe a skate spot where skaters are likely to be asked to leave, or one that is otherwise unsuitable for skating.
Butter- An obstacle that allows for smooth grinding or sliding, or an adjective used to describe a trick performed exceptionally well.
Carve- A maneuver in which the skater creates a long, curving arc.
Catch- When performing a flip trick and catching the board with your feet before it touches the ground.
Cess Slide- The action of sliding sideways on all four wheels while on a transition.
Chip- When a piece of wood is broken off from the skateboard.Skateboard Deck.
Concave- The shape given to decks. The concave dips down from left to right and should be asymmetrical. It provides strength to the board and assists the skater in executing tricks.
Concrete Wave- Refers to skateboarding (riding the concrete wave).
Demo- A skateboarding event featuring riding and gear demonstrations, typically held in skateparks and skate shops.
Drop in- A method of entering a bowl or halfpipe from the top edge.
Eat it / Ate it- To fall off your board and crash.
Face plant- To fall off the board face-first before any other part of the body hits the ground.
Fakie- To ride your skateboard in reverse.
Fingerboard- A miniature skateboard toy that is maneuvered with fingers.
First T- Term for "first try," indicating the initial attempt at performing a trick.
Flatspot- A flatspot is exactly what it implies, a flat area on your wheel that leads to an unpleasant noise, worsening as you go faster.
Flow- Skateboarders who consistently receive complimentary products from a company. This is usually the first step toward becoming a professional skateboarder.
Footage- Skateboarding recorded on video.
Focus A Board- Jumping onto, or smashing your foot through the board to break it.
Fruitboots- Term for inline skates and skating. Roller Blades.
Gnarly- Originally a surfing term, but skaters use it to describe anything awesome, amazing, dangerous, crazy, or wildly reckless.
Goofy- A skater who rides with their right foot forward.
Grom- A young skater.
Grip Job- A term used to describe aGrip Tape design.
Grip Thumb- A frequent injury among skateboarders where the tip or edge of their thumb becomes irritated from grabbing the nose of their board and touching the grip tape.
Hang up- When either the back or front truck catches on an obstacle, typically resulting in a fall.
High Side- When the wheels grip too much during a slide, causing you to be thrown off your board forward down the hill. It's dangerous and not enjoyable. Simple solution: lean back more.
Hot Pocket- A sharp pain experienced in the front of the ankle due to the foot being pushed upwards upon landing.
Hyped - Excited.
Landing Bolts- To execute a trick flawlessly with the board steady and balanced beneath your feet.
Line- The path a rider selects through a challenging section.
Local- A skater who lives near or frequently visits a skate spot or skatepark.
Lock In- The process of a skateboarder securing their board or trucks into a slide or grind position in the most stable way.
Low Side- When the wheels slide out more than anticipated, causing the board to shoot out from under you. Results in holes in your pants. Simple solution: lean forward more over the board.
Make- When you successfully land the trick you've been attempting for a while.
Mall Grab- A method of carrying or holding a skateboard by the truck.
Mob- To have an unappealing style.
Mongo- Propelling the skateboard with the front foot while keeping the back foot on the board.
Old School- A term used to describe a trick, skater, or almost anything that represents an older style.
On lock- If you can consistently perform a trick repeatedly without difficulty.
Poser- A skater who tries to pretend to be someone they are not.
Pro- Abbreviation for “professional”.
Pumping- Shifting your body weight on your skateboard to gain speed without your feet touching the ground.
Rad- Abbreviation for radical.
Razor tail- When the tail of a skateboard becomes sharp due to excessive contact with the ground.
Regular- To ride with the left foot forward.
Ripper- A skateboarding term for a very skilled and consistent skater.
Scrub a wheel- To remove dirt and residue from a new wheel.
Scorpion- A wipeout so severe that one's feet nearly reach the back of one's head.
Sesh- A skateboarding session.
Shinner- A skateboarding term referring to when the board strikes the rider’s shin, often causing a bruise.
Sidewalk Surfer- Another term for skateboarder.
Sidewalk Surfing- Another term for skateboarding.
Slam- Skateboard slang for a severe fall.
Snake- A snake is a person who cuts in front of others at the skatepark or continues skating when it's not their turn.
Spot- A term skateboarders use to describe any location with features suitable for skating.
S.K.A.T.E- A game skateboarders play where someone begins by performing a trick. If they fail, the next person attempts their own trick. If they succeed, everyone else must try it, and those who fail receive a letter. The winner is the last person who hasn't spelled out the full word S.K.A.T.E.
Sketchy- An unstable landing, where your feet barely land on the board, or the skatepark may be poorly constructed.
Stoked - To feel excited.
Steezy- A blend of the words "style" and "ease," intended to commend a stylish and flawlessly executed trick or maneuver.
Tech- A skateboarding style that focuses on highly intricate freestyle tricks and maneuvers performed on flat surfaces.
Wheel bite- A term describing when excessive weight is applied to one side of the board during a turn or landing a trick, causing the underside to contact a wheel and stop its rotation, often resulting in the board halting suddenly and the rider being thrown off.
Wheelburn- A scrape on the underside of a skateboard deck created when the wheels rub against it due to excessive weight on one side.
Wipeout- To fall off the skateboard or have a crash.
Yew- Used to express excitement.