Glossary
74 terms every ski and snowboard rental shop owner, tech and counter staffer should know.
The upward curve in the middle of a ski when viewed from the side. Traditional camber provides pop, edge hold on hard snow, and a stable feel at speed.
For rental shops: Most rental fleets run traditional or mild camber skis for predictable handling.
A downward curve at the tips and/or tails that lifts them off the snow. Rocker makes a ski float in powder and turn easier at low speeds.
For rental shops: Rocker-tip skis are easier for beginners and more forgiving in varied conditions.
The hourglass shape of a ski, wider at tip and tail, narrower at the waist. Sidecut determines turn radius: deep sidecut = short turns, shallow sidecut = long turns.
The natural arc a ski carves based on its sidecut geometry, measured in meters. A 15m radius ski makes tight turns; a 25m radius ski makes long GS-style turns.
The width of the ski at its narrowest point (the waist), measured in millimeters. Narrow waist (70–85mm) for on-piste; mid (85–100mm) for all-mountain; wide (100mm+) for powder.
The portion of the ski edge actually in contact with the snow during a carved turn. Rocker reduces effective edge in powder but makes the ski more maneuverable.
How stiff or soft a ski feels when bent. Soft flex = forgiving, beginner-friendly; stiff flex = stable at speed, rewarding strong skiers. Rental fleets typically run medium flex.
A versatile ski designed to handle most conditions and terrain, typically with a mid-width waist (85–100mm) and moderate rocker. The default rental category for intermediate skiers.
A narrow-waist, deep-sidecut ski optimized for groomed runs. Sharp edges, tight turn radius, precise feel. Popular rental for experienced skiers on resort days.
A wide-waist (100mm+) ski with significant rocker, designed for deep snow. Floats better in powder but feels sluggish on groomers.
A ski with turned-up tips at both the front and tail, allowing switch (backwards) skiing. Standard on park and freestyle skis.
The polyethylene running surface on the bottom of a ski. P-tex is the material used for the base; it absorbs wax and glides on snow.
The top layer of the ski, usually decorative plastic or composite. Protects the core from impact and UV damage.
The internal structure of a ski, typically wood, foam, or a composite. The core determines flex characteristics and damping behavior.
A snowboard designed to ride primarily in one direction (nose forward). The nose is longer than the tail. Best for all-mountain and powder riding.
A snowboard with a perfectly symmetrical shape, identical nose and tail. Optimized for switch riding and park use.
A compromise shape: mostly symmetrical but with subtle directional bias. The most versatile category for rental fleets.
The position of the bindings on the board: stance width (distance between bindings) and stance angles (binding rotation in degrees).
The distance between the two binding centers, typically 50–60cm for adults. Wider stance = more stability, narrower = more responsive.
The rotation of each binding, measured in degrees. +15/-15 is a symmetrical duck stance; +15/+6 is a more directional setup. Rental default is typically +15/-9.
How far back from center the bindings are mounted. More setback = better powder performance; centered = more freestyle-friendly.
The front and back ends of a snowboard. On directional boards, the nose is longer and softer; the tail is shorter and stiffer.
The vertical plastic support behind each binding that transfers heel-side pressure into the board. Highback lean is adjustable on most bindings.
The angle at which the highback tilts forward, pressing into the boot. More forward lean = faster heel-side response; less = more comfort.
The international ski boot sizing system, based on foot length in centimeters. Mondopoint 26 means a 26cm foot length. Always more reliable than street shoe conversions.
The internal shape and width of a ski boot. Narrow last = 97–98mm across the forefoot; medium = 100mm; wide = 102mm+. Rental boots typically use wide lasts for fit flexibility.
A number (50–140) indicating boot stiffness. Softer (50–80) for beginners/rental; stiffer (100+) for performance skiing. Rental fleets stock 60–80 flex for adults, softer for kids.
The padded inner boot that sits inside the shell. Holds the foot in position, provides warmth, and transmits force to the shell. Liners pack out over time and need replacement.
The hard plastic outer of a ski boot. Cuff + lower shell + tongue. Shell cracks near the pivot or rivet are a retirement trigger.
The upper portion of a ski boot that wraps the lower shin. Cuff alignment adjustments tune the boot to the skier's leg shape.
The Velcro strap at the top of a ski boot that adds final tension around the cuff. Worn power straps stop holding tension and become a replacement item.
A standardized ski binding release setting, based on a formula using skier weight, height, age, ability, and boot sole length. Higher DIN = harder to release; lower DIN = easier to release.
For rental shops: Every rental shop should set DIN correctly for every skier. Wrong DIN is a real safety issue.
The tension the ski binding heel piece applies forward onto the boot. Too little = pre-release risk; too much = non-release risk. Checked as part of binding inspection.
The manufacturer's annually-published list of bindings still covered by their warranty. Rental bindings must be on the current indemnification list; dropped bindings cannot be legally rented.
The two components of a ski binding: one clamps the toe of the boot, one clamps the heel. Both release in a fall based on the DIN setting.
The plastic base of a snowboard binding that attaches to the board via a disc. Baseplate cracks are a retirement trigger; loose baseplates are a daily inspection item.
The plastic or metal plate that mounts a snowboard binding to the board. Four mounting screws pass through the disc into the threaded inserts in the board.
The buckle mechanism on a snowboard strap. Each binding has two (ankle + toe). Ratchets are consumables, expect 2–4 replacements per binding per season in rental use.
The rental calendar shows which 161s and 169s are out and which are free for the next fitting.
No credit card required. 21-day free trial.
A machine process that flattens the ski base and restores a consistent surface structure. Done on a stone grinder at a pro tune shop. Usually a 1–2 time per season process per pair.
The angle sharpened on the side edge of a ski or snowboard. Rental standard is 1°; performance is 0.5–0.75°; beginner is 2°. Sharper = better grip, less forgiving.
The angle sharpened on the base edge. Rental standard is 1°; performance is 0.5°. Too much base bevel (above 1.5°) makes a ski feel washy.
Deliberately dulling the first 5–10cm of edge at tip and tail so the ski does not catch at turn initiation. Factory-applied; rental tunes should preserve it.
A small raised nick in the ski edge, usually from hitting a rock. Burrs catch on snow and feel unpredictable. Removed with a file as part of edge tuning.
A wax applied with a temperature-controlled iron, allowed to cool, scraped flush, and brushed. The standard method. Provides longer-lasting glide than rub-on or spray waxes.
A thick wax coat left unscraped on the ski base during summer storage. Prevents base oxidation. Scraped off at pre-season audit.
The microscopic pattern on a ski base that breaks surface tension with snow. Finer structure for cold snow; coarser for warm. Restored with a structuring tool after base repair.
Base damage that penetrates all the way through the P-tex, exposing the core. Must be repaired with P-tex immediately, water ingress kills the ski.
Filling base damage with polyethylene material. Drip-style for deep core shots; ribbon-style for surface gouges. A standard tune-room repair.
A structured record per asset: what was done, when, by whom, and with what consumables. The foundation of a well-run rental tune room.
The cuff-to-lower-shell joint on a ski boot, at the ankle. Cracks typically appear here in boots approaching retirement.
An electronic device that transmits and receives a 457kHz signal. Every backcountry skier wears one, if caught, the transceiver helps rescuers locate them under snow.
A collapsible metal pole used to pinpoint a buried victim after the transceiver narrows the search. Standard length 240–320cm; aluminum or carbon.
A collapsible metal-bladed shovel used to dig out a buried victim. Plastic-bladed shovels are not acceptable for avalanche rescue.
The entry-level avalanche education course in North America. A 3-day (24-hour) program covering terrain evaluation, decision-making, and companion rescue. Many backcountry-gear rental programs require this or equivalent.
Rescue by the partners of the buried skier. Statistically the only rescue likely to find the victim alive, professional rescue typically arrives after the survival window has closed.
A group ritual at the trailhead: every transceiver tested to confirm transmit and search functions before starting the tour.
A fabric strip attached to the base of a touring ski that grips snow on the uphill. Removed and folded for the descent. Essential backcountry gear.
A ski binding with a "walk" mode that releases the heel for uphill travel and locks it for downhill. Includes tech/pin bindings and frame bindings.
A structured inspection of a rental boot before it leaves the counter: size against booking, shell condition, buckle function, liner health, sole wear. Catches most same-day return issues.
A structured inspection of a rental binding before each rental day: mounting tightness, baseplate integrity, strap condition, ratchet function, stance verification.
A full fleet inventory review 3–4 weeks before opening: count, inspect, tune, service, retire, and reorder. The single most important off-season task for a rental shop.
A structured review after season close: every pair gets a continue/sell/retire decision based on visible condition plus maintenance history. Done in the first week after close.
A counter process for damaged returns: photo, classify, check policy, calculate charge from rate card, document conversation. The basis of defensible charges.
A published list of charges for specific damage types (P-tex repair $25, strap replacement $15, etc.). Removes negotiation from damage conversations.
The dedicated space where ski and board maintenance happens: benches, vises, iron stations, edge setup, base tools. Separated from the rental floor for safety and workflow.
A rack designed to dry boot liners and shells between rentals. Heated boot trees accelerate drying and extend liner life; air-only racks take 4–6 hours per cycle.
A booking where the customer does not arrive and does not cancel. Typical ski rental no-show rate is 3–8% across a season, spiking on storm days.
A charge applied when a customer fails to show up. Industry standard is 50–100% of the rental fee, subject to clear disclosure in the booking terms.
A partial payment taken at booking, used to reduce no-show rates and cover early-cancellation losses. Typical range: 20–50% of the total rental.
The percentage of a fleet's capacity actually rented over a period. A 70% season utilization is good for most rental shops; peak-week utilization should hit 95%+.
The number of customers a shop processes per hour. Peak performance is 8+ customers per staff-hour; under 3 indicates flow or training problems.
A customer who arrives without a reservation. Slower to process than pre-bookings and harder to forecast for staffing. Most shops prefer booked-in customers.
The signed contract between the shop and the customer, covering rental terms, damage policy, waiver of liability, and return conditions. Legally required for most rental operations.
A day when booking volume exceeds 30% of baseline. Weekends, school holidays, and post-storm days. Structured peak-day forecasting reduces under-staffing risk.
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