Trail building glossary

There are numerous terms in trail construction that are not always self-explanatory for outsiders at first glance. In our glossary, we explain key technical terms from planning, construction and operation - in a compact, understandable and practical way.
Ideal for anyone who wants to delve deeper or simply have a say.

  • A berm, also known as a banked turn, is a banked turn that serves to maintain speed and control.

  • Designated area with specially created trails, usually with lift access and therefore subject to payment.

  • Tree trunk that is installed in the roadway at an angle in the longitudinal direction and functions like a ski jump.

B

  • Artificial jump from compacted earth, with a steep take-off so that high jump heights can be achieved for tricks in the air.

  • Steep, technical trail used purely for downhill skiing, usually with lift access.

  • Horizontal jump edge made of wood, stone or compacted earth.

D

  • Wide trail, with a smooth road surface and steep bends and waves or rollable jumps, designed for fast and rhythmic riding with minimal pedaling. Bumps and banked turns provide a rollercoaster-like riding experience.

F

  • Jump with a gap between take-off and landing.

G

  • Series of jumps in close succession.

J

  • Short, steep ramp to the jump. Usually made of wood with a metal substructure.

K

  • MTB feature that lies like an island between a step-up and a step-down jump and can be inclined lengthwise and/or crosswise.

  • Trail with a common entrance and starting point and a trail loop in between.

L

  • Elevated roadway on wooden construction, such as narrow bridges without fall protection, can be equipped with drops and other features (originally from "North Shore" British Columbia / Canada).

N

  • Circuit with waves and berms, which is ridden by pumping instead of pedaling.

P

  • Trail section with technical rock elements.

  • Smooth, sloping rock surface that is descended.

  • Small, rounded mound for pumping or jumping.

R

  • Trail that is used by several user groups (e.g. hikers & bikers).

  • Narrow, fin-like trail feature that is ridden lengthwise and is equipped with a jump edge at the end.

  • Narrow unpaved path or dirt track, usually naturally created or built by hand. In the German-speaking world, the word construction "Singletrail" has only become established due to a mistake or confusion with the correct term "Singletrack" - the term "Singletrail" does not exist in English. The origin of the original word pair "single" and "double track" refers to the number of trail strips - the single track is characterized by one trail strip, i.e. a path that is created by walking, preparing or driving on with a single-track vehicle, while the double track, on the other hand, has two trail strips that are created by driving on with a two-track vehicle.

  • Narrow wooden feature without fall protection that requires balance to navigate.

  • Special expert course with jumps, drops and other features for tricks on the MTB.

  • Several interconnected loops with varying degrees of difficulty, with the easier trails close to the access point and the more difficult trails on the periphery.

  • Jump where the landing is lower than the take-off.

  • Jump where the landing is higher than the take-off.

S

  • Jump with a flat surface between take-off and landing.

  • Take-off and landing zone of a jump.

  • Artificial or natural elements such as jumps, drops or rocks on trails.

T

  • Vertical or almost vertical wall that is traveled along its surface.

  • MTB feature that looks like a half-submerged whale when viewed from the side.

W