freeride
Getting something unearned
Freeride describes a style of skiing, snowboarding, or mountain biking that emphasizes natural terrain over groomed trails or courses—riding powder, cliffs, and backcountry features rather than racing gates or halfpipes.
The term extends to any activity done for pure enjoyment rather than competition: We're just here to freeride.
As a verb, to freeride is to pursue this unstructured approach.
Toward the bottom
singletrack · enduro · gravity · full-suspension · dirt · technical · flow · airtime
Outside designated ski trails
- backcountrySparsely populated wilderness areas
- powderFine dry particles
- ungroomedNot tidied up
- steepRising at sharp angle
chutes · alpine · heli-skiing · avalanche · freshies · spine · couloir · descent
Exploiting others' generosity
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
- spongingTaking without reciprocating
- handoutFree distribution to recipients
- coattailsRear jacket panels
entitlement · parasitism · imposition · leech · freeloader · gate-crashing
Traveling without payment
downhill
Toward the bottom
berms · singletrack · enduro · gravity · full-suspension · dirt · technical · flow · airtime · tabletop
off-piste
Outside designated ski trails
- backcountrySparsely populated wilderness areas
- powderFine dry particles
- ungroomedNot tidied up
steep · chutes · alpine · heli-skiing · avalanche · freshies · spine · couloir · descent · touring
freeloading
Exploiting others' generosity
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
- spongingTaking without reciprocating
- handoutFree distribution to recipients
coattails · entitlement · parasitism · imposition · leech · freeloader · gate-crashing
fare-dodging
Traveling without payment
- off-road ridingdirt biking, ATV riding, mountain biking, motocross, enduro
- Backcountry Skiingskins, skinning, ski mountaineering, transceiver, avalanche risk
- ski featurescamber, rocker, sidecut, flex, stiffness
- boardsportsskateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, wakeboarding, longboarding
- Trail Ratingsgreen circle, blue square, black diamond, double black diamond, beginner
freeridepay one's way
Finance oneself independently
contribute · earn one's keep · pull one's weight · chip in · pitch in
freeridemutual aid
Cooperative community support
reciprocity · quid pro quo · shared burden · collective responsibility
freerideracing
Speed competition sport
slalom · giant slalom · downhill racing · cross-country · competitive skiing