You can ride goofy, fakie or regular, but while the names might seem a bit silly, the sport of snowboarding is serious competition. Freestyle snowboarding entered Olympic competition at Nagano in 1998, but the parallel giant slalom makes its debut in Salt Lake City.

Speed and style
Halfpipe or freestyle boards (left) are wide and flexible, essential for balance and tricks. They have shovels on both ends of the board and low-backed bindings to make it easier to do skateboard style tricks.

Giant slalom or alpine boards are stiff and narrow and are ideal for turns and high speed. High-backed bindings or stiff plastic boots provide support at faster speeds. The tail is squared like a downhill ski.

Taking a stance
An athlete's weight and height determine the size and flexibility of the board. Depending on which foot is forward, the stance is called goofy - right foot in front ­ or regular - left in front. Riding backward, with your rear foot on the front edge, is called fakie.

These boots are made for ridin'
Giant slalom boots (left) have a hard plastic exterior, similar to that of alpine ski boots, and have extensive foot and ankle support. Halfpipe footwear is softer with more flexible foot and ankle support.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS