Whistler lingo (#1 in an occasional series)

It's remarkable how you can become a product of your environment, almost without realising - and speech is just one aspect of how the people you spend time with can have an effect on you. Recently it occured to me that since I moved to Whistler (with its blend of Canadian, British and Australian influences) I've found a whole new set of phrases creeping into my speech, most of which relate to the more enjoyable things in life, like partying, being happy, and snowsport accidents. Here are some of my favourites to be heard around Whistler:

Stoked (adj.) - well-known, this one. Translated as 'very happy' or, depending on which part of England you come from, 'made-up' or 'chuffed'. Implies a general sense of satisfaction with life and the world.

Superman (noun) - when a skier double-ejects from their bindings in such a way and in such a direction as to result in said skier flying through the air, head-first, like Superman. Often accompanied by squeals of fear and an inevitable thud, but not (usually) by lycra underwear worn over trousers. Found most amusing by snowboarders, for whom binding-ejection is much more of a rarity.

Yard sale (noun) - employing more visual imagery, this term refers to a collision or fall which results in the poor skier spreadeagled on the snow, with both skis and both poles (and perhaps even goggles, hat, gloves, sunnies, etc.) scattered all over the place, looking like it would if they were holding a yard sale. I had a pretty special one today, in full view of a beginner's lesson. If it didn't put them off skiing for life then they'll be alright.

Eat shit (verb) - not as nasty as it sounds, or much worse depending on your point of view. Quite simply, when you fall forward and get a face full of snow.

Face plant (verb) - similar to the above term, but more specifically when someone falls off a ledge, rail, box or other such raised level, face first, without any other part of their body or equipment hitting the deck first. An extremely painful maneouvere when performed on hard packed snow, you can imagine.

Pow (noun) - soft, powder snow - usually freshly-fallen and more or less untracked. Can be doubled up to form the much more risable 'pow-pow', as in "dude let's go get gnar-gnar in the pow-pow!", whatever that means.

Hooned (verb) - strictly-speaking, this one was already in my vocabulary but it is a term meaning 'to go very fast' and can well be applied to skiing down a groomed run or through a tree run so quickly that the skin on your cheeks is yanked back and turned a funny shade of pink, and as such I've found myself using it more and more often.

Spill (noun) - a fall, or when you hoon down somewhere and then hit moguls or a big patch of powder.

More soon.