Ski & Fitness Glossary

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Packed powder
Powder snow that has either settled under its own weight, or been compressed into a firm surface.

Padling/Paddling
The Scandinavian's preferred term for two skating.

Parallel turning
Turning with the skis remaining parallel throughout each turn.

Passgang
The opposite of diagonal stride, in which the arm and leg on one side swing backwards and forwards together.

Passive unweighting
An unweighting of the skis created by skiing over a bump or through a dip, and not by a skier's conscious body movement.

Pectorals or "pecs"
The 2 pairs of muscles in the chest that work to pull the upper arms toward or across the chest. The pectoralis major covers the chest from the top of the arm to the collarbone, down to the sternum and upper 6 ribs. The smaller pectoralis minor is located underneath, and runs from mid-chest to shoulder blade. Push-ups work the pecs!

Perceived exertion
The level of intensity you feel your body is exerting during exercise on a scale of 0 to 10. An unscientific way of staying within your target heart rate zone.

Piste
An area of either machine or skier packed snow, generally to be found at ski resorts. A groomed piste is solely machine-packed snow.

Pole-plant
The point at which the ski pole is driven into the snow, either as a trigger to aid turning, or as a method of propulsion.

Poles
When held in the hand, used to propel oneself along, or balance. See also stock.

Positive ski base
A patterned non-wax ski base that has a protruding pattern, above the level of the base. See also negative ski base .

Posterior Chain
The posterior chain is a group of muscles in the lower body that are important in force development for explosive movements like jumping and sprinting. The muscles that fall into the posterior chain are the hamstrings, the calves, the glutes and those in the lower back.

Powder snow
Dry, freshly fallen snow that has not yet been compacted, by natural or other means. Deep powder requires different downhill skiing techniques if the skier wishes to remain above the snow surface.

Power Endurance
Most sporting events revolve around your ability to create explosive movements over an extended period of time. This athletic quality is known as power-endurance. Training for power-endurance can be absolutely grueling, however, the athlete that possesses the greatest amount of power-endurance usually goes home the winner.

Pre-rotation
Turning the body into the direction of the intended turn, to assist the skier's change in direction. See anticipation.

Pressure
Applied to one or both skis by the skier's body mass or muscle. See weighting.

Pronation
The natural inward motion of the foot after heel strike and before pushing off again with the ball of the foot. Overpronation is excessive inward motion and can lead to running injuries. Learn how to choose running shoes.

Pulk
A type of sled or toboggan most commonly found in Scandinavia used to tow children, or other loads behind the skier, connected by a harness to the skier's waist.

Pull buoy
A foam flotation device designed to fit between your legs and keep the lower part of your body afloat without kicking. It allows you to work only your upper body and concentrate on your swimming stroke.

Pyruvate
A nutritional supplement that has been found to enhance athletic performance and possibly aid in fat burning.