This story originally appeared in the Variables section of the January 2015 issue of TransWorld SNOWboarding. Click here to subscribe. History is messy, and prone to heated debate, but it's hard to deny that snowboarders have been misusing the term Indy for over two decades.

What is an Indy in skateboard?

An Indy grab, also known as an Indy air, is an aerial skateboarding, snowboarding and kitesurfing trick during which the rider grabs his/her back hand on the middle of his board, between his/her feet, on the side of the board where his toes are pointing, while turning backside.

Why is it called an Indy air?

The Indy is done by grabbing the toe-side rail with your back hand while doing a backside air. Invented by Duane Peters, who was riding for the Independent Truck Company at the time, hence the name Indy. Note that an Indy Air cannot be performed when turning frontside, it is by nature a backside-turning air.