Big Air — Glossary

Every Big Air term explained in plain language: technique, equipment, rules and slang – with tips on avoiding the classic mistakes.

Bar Pressure (Equipment)

The resistance you feel at the bar — your primary feedback on where the kite sits and how much power it's pulling.

Board Volume (Litres) (Equipment)

A board's volume in litres — the most meaningful number when buying, because it drives buoyancy and therefore how many waves you catch.

Chicken Loop (Equipment)

The loop at the bottom of the bar that hooks into your harness and transfers the kite's pull to your hips.

Core Tension (Movement)

Active stabilisation of abdomen, back and pelvis — the bridge that lets force travel between legs and arms at all.

Depower (Equipment)

Reducing the kite's power by shortening its angle of attack — the central safety feature of modern kites.

Edge Change (Movement)

Switching from heel edge to toe edge or back — the moment where most snowboard crashes happen.

Goofy & Regular (Slang)

Your stance on the board: regular rides left foot forward, goofy right foot forward. Neither is better.

Jibe / Gybe (Movement)

A change of direction where the stern passes through the wind. The counterpart to a tack, where the bow turns through the wind.

Kite Size (Square Metres) (Equipment)

The kite's area in m². Chosen by wind strength and body weight — too big is more dangerous than too small.

Pop-Up (Take-off) (Movement)

The move from lying to standing on the board — one single flowing motion while the wave already carries you.

Water Start (Movement)

Getting from sitting in the water to riding: the kite pulls you up onto the board via a controlled power stroke.

Wind Window (Movement)

The three-dimensional area downwind of you in which the kite can fly. Where it sits inside that area determines the pull.

General

Terms from training theory that apply in every sport.

1RM (One-Repetition Maximum) (Rule)

The maximum weight you can move for exactly one clean repetition. The reference value behind almost every training plan.

BMR & TDEE (Rule)

BMR is your basal metabolic rate at complete rest; TDEE is total daily expenditure including everyday movement and training. Nutrition targets always work off TDEE.

Cadence (Movement)

Steps per minute when running, or pedal revolutions when cycling. For most runners, 170–180 steps per minute sits in the sweet spot.

Deload (Cheat code)

A deliberately lighter week with volume or intensity clearly reduced, so adaptation can catch up.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) (Cheat code)

Delayed muscle soreness 12–72 hours after unfamiliar load. Not a measure of training quality.

Knee Valgus (Movement)

The knees collapsing inward during squats, jumps and landings. One of the key risk markers in technique analysis.

Progressive Overload (Cheat code)

The one principle no training works without long-term: the stimulus has to grow over time, otherwise adaptation stops.

RIR (Reps in Reserve) (Rule)

How many clean reps you had left at the end of a set. RIR 2 means two more were available.

RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) (Rule)

A scale for perceived effort. In strength training it usually runs 1–10, where RPE 8 means you had two more reps in the tank.

Zone 2 (Aerobic Base) (Cheat code)

The easy endurance zone where you can still hold a conversation in full sentences. The base of almost every endurance plan.