Half-pipe
A U-shaped ramp with curved walls used for riding back and forth and performing tricks.
Definition
A half-pipe is a channel shaped like the bottom half of a pipe, with two curved walls facing each other and a flat section between them. Athletes travel back and forth across it, using the curved transitions to gain speed and launch into the air off the top of each wall.
Half-pipes are used in several sports and are built from different materials: a snow half-pipe is shaped for snowboarding and freestyle skiing, while a skateboarding half-pipe is usually made of wood or concrete. In each case the shape is what defines it.
Where you’ll hear “half-pipe”
Sports that use this term:
Snowboarding
A downhill snow sport where you ride a single board sideways down the mountain.
Skateboarding
A creative board sport of rolling, balancing and learning tricks on streets, paths and skateparks.
Alpine Skiing
A downhill snow sport where you glide and turn down groomed slopes on a pair of skis.
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Disciplines
- HalfpipeHalfpipe is a freestyle snowboarding discipline in which riders descend a semicircular snow channel, launching off its walls to perform aerial tricks.
- VertVert skateboarding is ridden on a large halfpipe whose walls curve to vertical at the top, letting skaters rise above the coping to perform aerial tricks.
- SlopestyleSlopestyle is a freestyle snowboarding discipline in which riders descend a course of jumps and rails, performing tricks on features of their choice.
- Big AirBig air is a freestyle snowboarding discipline in which riders perform a single trick off one large jump, focusing on difficulty and execution.
- StreetStreet skateboarding centers on performing tricks over obstacles like stairs, rails, ledges, and gaps that mirror features found in urban environments.
Equipment
- Squash racquetA slim strung racquet used to hit the ball against the walls in squash.
- Padel racketA solid, stringless perforated racket used to play padel.
- BasketballA large, inflated ball with a dimpled surface used to play basketball.
- Badminton racketA lightweight strung racket used to hit the shuttlecock in badminton.
- Football (soccer ball)A round, inflated ball used to play association football and futsal.
Muscle groups
- TrapeziusThe large, diamond-shaped muscle of the upper back and neck that moves and steadies the shoulder blades.
- LatsThe large, fan-shaped back muscles that pull the arms down and toward the body in every rowing and pulling action.
- TricepsThe muscles on the back of the upper arm that straighten the elbow in every pushing movement.
- HamstringsThe group of muscles along the back of the thigh that bend the knee and extend the hip to drive sprinting and jumping.
- CalvesThe muscles at the back of the lower leg that point the foot down and spring you off the ground with each step.
Player roles
- Ball-winnerA ball-winner is the player tasked with regaining possession through pressing, tackling and interceptions — a team's tireless defensive workhorse.
- PlaymakerThe playmaker is a team's creative hub — the player who orchestrates attacks, controls the tempo and distributes the ball so teammates can score.
- AnchorThe anchor is a cross-sport holding role: a steadying, defensive-minded player who shields the back line, screens danger and gives teammates a reliable base.
- Utility playerA dependable, versatile player who can competently fill several different positions as the team needs, rather than specialising in just one.
- Target playerA target player is a focal attacker who receives, holds up and links play for others, often physically strong and good in the air or with the hands.
Facilities
- Sports hallA large indoor hall with multi-sport line markings, used for court sports like basketball, volleyball and badminton.
- Ice rinkA sheet of prepared ice, usually rink-boarded with rounded corners, used for skating and ice sports.
- Padel courtAn enclosed court, much smaller than a tennis court, walled with glass and mesh so the ball can be played off the walls.
- Fitness studioAn open indoor room used for instructor-led group fitness classes such as yoga, aerobics and indoor cycling.
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- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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