Ski & Fitness Glossary

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Tacking turning
An uphill turn connecting two uphill traverses, maintaining a diagonal rhythm, with a lesser variation of the kick turn.

Tail-hopping
Unweighting of the tails of the skis, most easily performed on Alpine skis.

Target heart rate
The ideal intensity level at which your heart is being exercised but not overworked. Determined by finding your maximum heart rate and taking a percentage (60% to 85%, depending on fitness level) of it.

Telemark position
With the skis parallel, one foot is pushed markedly in front of the other, so that fore and aft stability is enhanced, especially used over rough terrain.

Telemark turning
A rhythmical linking of turns, using an alternating telemark position, with the forward ski being the outer ski of the turn (in a conventional telemarking sense).

Tempo
The rate of movements in a given technique.

Tendon
A flexible, non-elastic tissue that connects muscle to bone. The Achilles tendon is the large connector from the heel bone into the calf muscle.

Terrain-jumping
Making a deliberate jump, either over a cornice, or bump.

Tether
Attached to a belt and then to a ladder or some other fixed point at poolside, a tether helps you turn a too-small pool into a swimmer's treadmill. For example, you can have a great workout in a hotel pool or any other pool that's too small for laps.

Three phase
Also known as single-arm resting, whilst diagonal striding, the skier rests one arm in front of the body, rather than planting the pole, in a rhythmical fashion, to conserve energy or to rest the back, or when the track makes a moderate curve to the left or right.

Three-pinning
An American term allegedly invented by former Alpine skiers to refer to telemarking with three-pin Nordic Norm bindings.

Threshold
The heart rate at which lactic acid begins to build up faster than you can break it down. You should do the bulk of your training at just below that level.

The Tuck
The classic aerodynamic position adopted by racers to gain maximum speed, and by beginners going at ten miles an hour who feel like downhill racers. (It’s strange that racers always appear to be grimacing in the tuck, while beginners are always smiling!) From an up right position to the tuck the acceleration on a medium to steep slope can be considerable, and should therefore be used with care.

Tilted ski
A ski placed on its edge, as opposed to a flat ski.

Torque
The twisting movement of a ski. The amount it will twist along its length will affect its performance. Generally, the stiffer the torque, the higher will be the ski’s performance.

Trail
Prepared route down a mountainside or a path through wooded country. Known as piste in Europe.

Transition
The smooth linking of one technique with another, most commonly referring to moving from diagonal stride to double pole and its variations.

Trapezius or "traps"
The triangular muscles stretching across your back from the spine to the shoulder blades and collarbone. They work with the deltoids to lift your arms and shoulders. Good to have strong ones for carrying a backpack!

Traversing
Traveling directly across a slope, neither up nor down. See also uphill traversing and downhill traversing.

Triceps
The muscles on the back of the upper arms that straighten your elbows and allow you to push your arms forward. You use them when you're fly-fishing or pushing a running stroller.

Tuck position
A low crouch of the upper body generally used to decrease wind resistance when skiing at speed.

Tuck skating
The Scandinavian's preferred term for free skating.

Two phase
A common European term for diagonal stride.

Two skating
Also known as asymmetrical V-skating, or V-1, or two-skate double-pole, or paddling, or single time, this is skating off both feet (two skates - but one at a time!) with a double-pole push off every other skate.

Two-stride double-pole
See double-stride double-pole.

Two-skate double-pole
See two skating.