Backside: A skater is spinning backside if the rotation leads the heel edge of the board to turn immediately forward. When approaching an obstacle, the trick is called backside if the obstacle is on the heel side of the board upon approach.

Bail: To fall. Can also describe when a skater is mid-air, decides not to land a trick, then kicks their board away for a safer landing.

Bank: Any incline used for riding up, completing a trick, then riding back down.

Bowl: A vert or miniramp with concave transition wrapping around 360 degrees, forming a bowl shape.

Deck: The wooden part of the skateboard.

Drop in: The act of going from a flat platform into a steep transition (such as at the beginning of a run during a competition).

Fakie: When a skater is in their normal stance (goofy or regular) but riding backward. Skaters will use the same foot they normally would to initiate tricks, even though the board is traveling in the opposite direction. Not to be confused with "switch" stance.

Flip trick: A move that involves the board spinning on any or a variety of its axes (the kickflip, below, is one example).

Frontside: A skater is spinning frontside if the rotation leads the toe edge of the board to turn immediately forward. When approaching an obstacle, the trick is called frontside if the obstacle is on the toe side of the board upon approach.

Goofy: A skater is goofy-footed if they skate with the right foot at the head of the board (as opposed to "regular" if the left foot is at the head of the board).

Grab: Using either hand to grab anywhere on the deck of the board while in the air.

Grind: A trick in which one or both trucks are sliding along the edge of an obstacle.

Kickflip: The rotation of the board around its lengthwise axis. To do this, a skater kicks up their front foot to the heel edge of the board.

Lip: The edge of any obstacle.

Lipslide: A slide in which the tail of the board goes up and over the obstacle.

Mute: Grabbing the toe edge of the board with the front hand while airing backside.

Nollie: Similar to an ollie, except the front foot is used to smack the nose of the board against the ground.

Nose: The front part of the skateboard deck. It is typically longer than the tail.

Ollie: The basis for most tricks in skateboarding. A skater uses their back foot to smack the tail of the board against the ground, while the front foot pulls the board up into the air.

Regular: A skater is regular-footed if they skate with the left foot at the head of the board (as opposed to "goofy" if the right foot is at the head of the board).

Slide: A trick in which any part of the deck is sliding atop an obstacle.

Spin: To rotate the board on its vertical axis.

Switch: When a skater is riding with their opposite foot forward (left foot forward if they're goofy-footed, right foot forward if they're regular-footed) and initiates tricks with the opposite foot they normally would. Because skaters are essentially doing the "mirror image" of a trick, switch tricks are more difficult than fakie or normal tricks.

Tail: The back part of the skateboard deck. It is typically shorter than the tail.

Truck: Metal T-shaped pieces mounted underneath the deck that hold the wheels in place.