There are quite a few terms and vocabularies in the game of Skate Boarding that include certain aspects of the game like the Skate Board, the skating tricks and also the obstacles. As the game is very simple and easy to play, the terms of the game are very limited. The terms of the game of Skate Boarding are:
Basic Terms:
Deck: `Deck` is the flat standing surface of a Skate Board used by a skater. A grip tape usually covers it. This tape provides the skater a place to stand.
Grip Tape: This term identifies the sandpaper that is fixed to the top of the `Deck`. This is used in order to increase the traction or friction between the Skate Board and the skater`s feet so that they can easily keep a grip on the board.
Nose: This is the front side of the Skate Board. The area of the `Nose` is from the front truck bolts to the end.
Rail: The term `Rail` means the edge of the Skate Board. It can also be used to indicate the plastic strips that remain attached to the Board`s underside.
Tail: This is the bottom of the Skate Board that usually covers the area from the back truck bolts to the end.
Trucks: The front and back axle assemblies of a Skate Board are known as the `Trucks`. They usually connect the wheels to the deck and allow them for turns.
Wheels: One of the two most important parts of the Skate Board, the `Wheels` are made of polyurethane in general and got the size of between 39 and 66 millimeters in diameter. The skaters usually measure their hardness by using the udometer, a number that ranges from 0 to 100. The soft wheels are measured by the udometer of about 85 and the hard wheels have a udometer of 97 or higher.
Wheel Base: This term indicates the distance between the front and back wheels. The `Wheel Base` is normally measured between the two sets of innermost truck holes.
Terms About Tricks:
Air: This term means a trick of the skater where he rides in the air with all the four wheels remaining off the ground. This is a special trick and needs a lot of practice to do.
Backside: This term indicates about a trick or turn. In this trick, the skater`s backside remains to the ramp.
Caballerial: This special trick is named in the honour of Steve Caballero who invented this. In this trick, the skater performs a 360-degree turn on a ramp while riding the `Fakie` (backwards).
Carve: This trick means to skate in a long, curving arc. Here the skater pushes one side of the edge towards the ground.
Fakie: When a skater stands in his normal stance but moves the board continuously, then the trick is called as `Fakie`.
Front Side: This is the area where a skater does a trick or turn with his body facing the ramp or obstacle.
Goofy Foot: When a skater rides the Board with his right foot forward that is the opposite of his "regular foot".
Grind: The term `Grind` means to scrap one or both axles of the Board on a curb, railing, or other surface.
Crooked Grind: In the `Crooked Grind` trick, the skater grinds on only the front truck while he is sliding.
50-50 Grind: In this trick, the skater grinds equally on both the trucks.
Nose Grind: The skater grinds on only the front truck when he is performing the trick named as `Nose Grind`.
5-0 Grind: Here, the skater grinds on only the back truck.
Kick Flip: This trick has some similarity with the `Ollie`. If the skater kicks the board in such a way that it spins before landing back on it, then he is performing the `Kick Flip`.
McTwist: This is a special trick where the skater turns to 540-degree on a ramp. This trick was named after Mike McGill.
Mongo Foot: This is a style of pushing the Board where the back foot of the skater is kept on the board and he does the pushing with his front foot.
Nollie: When the skater taps the nose of the Board rather than the tail, he is showing the trick named as `Ollie`.
Nose Slide: This term indicates about the trick where a skater slides on a ledge or lip with keeping the nose of the board pressed against.
Ollie: This is a jumping trick performed by the skater where he taps the tail of the Board on the ground.
Rail Slide: In this trick, the skater slides on the bottom of the Deck along with an object like a curb or handrail.
Regular Foot: This term means the trick where the skater rides with keeping his left foot forward. This is the opposite trick of the "Goofy Foot".
Shove-it: When the skater spins the board 180 degrees beneath his feet while moving forward, he is performing the trick named as `Shove-it`.
Switch Stance: If a skater rides the board with his opposite footing than usual, then it will be referred as a `Switch Stance`.
Tail Slide: In this trick, the skater slides the bottom of the tail on a ledge or lip.
Some Obstacles:
Street Skating: This term identifies one of the kinds of skating. Here, the skaters skate on the streets, curbs, benches, handrails and on other elements of urban and suburban landscapes.
Vert Skating: In this type of skating, the skaters skate on ramps and other vertical structures that are designed for skating.
Half Pipe: This is a U-shaped ramp where the skaters perform. This can be made of any size.
Vert Ramp: This term means a `Half Pipe` that is usually at least 8 feet tall. It has some steep sides that become vertical at the top.
The terms of Skate Boarding that have been discussed so far are the most general terms. However, there may be some differences in these terms as well depending on the different states and countries where the game is being played over the years.