Roast Beef or a McTwist? Here are the tricks the best boarders are reaching for

Chicken Salad. Roast Beef. Eggplant. McTwist.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that’s a particularly voracious Friday night takeaway order.

In fact, these are some of the gravity-defying moves that snowboarders are pulling off during this Beijing Winter Olympics.

With Australian Scotty James taking silver in the halfpipe final on Friday afternoon – and Tess Coady already securing an Olympic bronze in slopestyle – it’s a great time to learn the difference between Stalefish Air and a Stiffy.

McTwist

According to the International Ski Association, to complete a McTwist the snowboarder will approach the halfpipe wall riding forward, before becoming airborne and rotating 540 degrees while performing a front flip. They have to land facing forward.

It’s loosely named after American skateboarder Mike McGill who invented the trick.

Wetcat

A McTwist, but with a 900 degree rotation.

Boned

When a snowboarder emphasises a trick so much that their arms or legs seem extended or stretched to the max.

Goofy foot

Much like surfing or skateboarding, this refers to a rider’s stance on the board. Someone boarding with a goofy stance will have their right foot forward, while a regular stance is with left foot forward.

Fakie

When a snowboarder goes backwards in their normal stance.

Nose and Tail

The front and the back of the snowboard, respectively.

Chicken Salad Air

The rear hand reaches between the legs to grab the edge of the board the heels are on, between the snowboard’s bindings which keep your boots on the board. The front leg has to be boned and your wrist rotated inward while you complete the grab.

Eggplant

The front hand goes on the rounded lip at the top of the obstacle, while the rear hand touches the side of the board that the toes are pointing.

Roast Beef

The rear hand reaches between the legs and grabs the edge of the board closest to the heels between the boot bindings, while the right leg is boned.

50-50

When a snowboarder slides along a rail with the board pointing in the same direction as the rail.

Stiffy Air

Any trick that’s performed with both legs boned where a grab is completed.

Stalefish Air

A trick where the read hand grabs the edge of the board closest to the heel by reaching behind their rear leg. The hand needs to reach all the way around so it’s right in the middle of the feet.

Steez

Describes when a trick is performed with exceptional style and ease. Can also refer to particularly cool outfits worn out on the powder.

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