Speak Like a Local in Jackson Hole
Residents of Jackson Hole have their own shorthand when it comes to referring to people, places and things in the area, and skiers most assuredly have their own vocabulary.
Here’s our guide on how to speak like a local in Jackson Hole and perhaps somewhat “disguise” the fact that you’re a visitor; not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course! We just want you to know the lingo here.
Local Slang in General
• “The mountain” or “The Village:” Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. As in, “I’m skiing the mountain (or the Village) today.”
• “Town Hill,” the “Hill,” or the “The King:” Snow King Mountain Resort
• “The ‘Ghee’:” Grand Targhee Resort
• “The square:” Jackson Town Square. Also, “town,” as in, “I was in town,” “I’m going to town,” and “Let’s go partying in town.”
• “The park:” Grand Teton National Park; Yellowstone National Park to us is simply, “Yellowstone.”
• “The lake:” Either Jackson Lake or Jenny Lake
• “The Snake” or simply, “The River:” Obviously, the Snake River
• “The Pass:” Teton Pass, which connects Jackson and Wilson (WY) to Teton Valley, Idaho
• “Driktor:” A combination of the two bedroom communities of Jackson Hole that are reachable via the Pass — Victor and Driggs
• “The Canyon:” Snake River Canyon (refers to highway 26/89 south of Jackson and the river that runs through it.) As in “Let’s float the canyon” or “drive the canyon” to Alpine, another bedroom community.
Pet peeve: Those mighty jagged mountains are called the Tetons or the Teton Range, not Grand Tetons, plural, nor is the park called Grand Tetons National Park.
Skier Slang
The following are just some of the terms commonly used by skiers that should help you better understand conversations on a chairlift, gondola, or the Aerial Tram and on the slopes.
(Credit: Jackson Hole Buckrail and Powder magazine)
Bluebird: A beautiful, sunny blue sky day typical of spring skiing
Casper Beach: The area outside of the Casper Restaurant at JHMR where skiers and riders don their sunglasses, have a bite to eat, and/or sip on drinks on bluebird days, typically in the springtime.
Cord: Short for corduroy; refers to the snow surface of smooth, groomed trails that have been manicured by a ski resort and resemble corduroy pants.
Corn: A form of sun-baked snow that forms in the spring and is composed of small snow grains. Visitors from Back East will be more familiar with this ski slope snow condition.
Cowboy pow: Typically ankle-deep snow found on a smooth surface
Face shot: When deep snow blows into the face of a skier while they’re making a turn.
Gaper: A derogatory term for someone who isn’t good at skiing or familiar with its cultural norms. This descriptor usually refers to tourists.
Garage or Yard sale: When one crashes spectacularly — usually underneath a chairlift, gondola, or the tram with many witnesses —and leaves ski poles, hat, gloves, goggles, and skis scattered on the slope.
Gondy or Gondi: Shorthand for gondola
Knuckle dragger: A snowboarder
Puking: It’s snowing, a lot. Other commonly used phrases include “nuking” and “dumping.”
Skid: One who lives to ski. Often works at night to maximize skiing during the day
Whiteout: This refers to a day when it is actively snowing (or puking, nuking, or dumping) while skiing.
Pizza: To push your skis into a wedge shape to slow down.
Scorpion: When a skier face plants and their heels swing towards the back of their head. Named for the “scorpion” shape skiers take during these kinds of falls.
Shredder: Someone who’s good at skiing
So there you have it! Now, bone up on the vocabulary of Jackson Hole locals so you’ll not only understand what we are saying both on and off the slopes, but you’ll sound less like a gaper and more like someone who’s been around these parts more than once (wink-wink).
