Mountain Biking - I'm new to mountain biking, would like some definitions.

I've only been riding a mountain bike for about a month, before that I hadn't touched a bicycle since I was about 12 years old (damn... that was over a decade ago now). I'm having a lot of fun just riding on whatever looks like fun, but I see all these terms being thrown around, and I'd really like to know the difference between some of these things:

Freeriding vs. Downhill?

what is "North Shore"? I come from a surfing background, when someone says "North Shore" I think Waimea Bay or Pipeline on Oahu.

There's a difference between Urban and Street?

Some of these things, like dirt jumping are pretty straight forward, but I don't know the differences between all these various sub categories.

Thanks!

Fr and downhill are similar. But the mentality is different. Freeride is akin to bmx in the way we are slow and session stuff...dhilling is speed...fast...faster :)

North shore is the north shore of vancouver. If people are refering to north shore riding it is likely skinnies, teeters and manmade stuff.

No difference. Just a different name depending mtb or bmx background.

For some of us downhill isn't FASTER. YET!!!!! I WILL become a faster downhill rider.

But the point is still speed. Just cause you are slow doesn't mean you aren't trying to be faster :)

isn't downhill ususally like a comp where there is an actual course or trail, whereas free riding is choosing your own line, imporvising and jumping randomly.

yeah i'm wondering that too Reggie. I'd Like to try DH in the future when i can get a DH Bike.

Kind of. But there are comps for freeriding now.