Lesson Ability Level
Signing up for the right level ski or snowboard lessons is critical for the success of any student. While we always spend time assessing our students to ensure they are at the right level, starting them off in the right place can make a huge difference in their success. Below we have provided you with some descriptions of each level to help you make a more accurate decision regarding where to place you or your child in either Ski or Snowboard Lessons.
Skier Ability Levels:
Level 1
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Never-ever (No prior skiing experience)
Level 2
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Turn type: J-turns, step turns
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Trail type: green circle
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Can put on skis and take off skis
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Can duck walk around on flat ground
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Comfortable gliding and stopping on our bunny hill from half way up
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Can ride the handle tow
Level 3
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Turn type: basic wedge turns (pizza turns)
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Trail type: green circle
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Comfortable gliding and making turns from the top of our bunny hill
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Should be able to traverse across the hill
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Comfortable with the crossover
Level 4
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Turn type: linked wedge turns (linked pizza turns)
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Trail type: blue squares
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Can ski groomed blue squares with confidence
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Can ride the chairlift
Level 5
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Turn type: mostly wedge christie turns (half pizza, half french-fry turn)
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Trail type: blue squares with excellent control in speed
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When skiing above their ability, they may resort back to wedge turns
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Able to ski in parallel when on flatter terrain
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Start skiing with poles
Level 6
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Turn type: mostly parallel turns (french fry turns)
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Trail type: blue squares and some black diamonds
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Stops without a wedge (a pizza)
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May resort back to wedge christies when on black diamond terrain
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Beginning to use poles correctly
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Level 7
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Turn Type: all parallel turns, all the time
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Trail type: Black diamonds
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Uses poles correctly
​Snowboarding Ability Levels:
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Level 1
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Never ever tried snowboarding before.
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Level 2
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Turn type: gliding straight or simple direction changes
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Trail type: bunny hill
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Can put on and take off equipment
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Can move around on the flats.
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Level 3
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Turn type: gliding turns, can nearly link turns heel to toe side.
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Trail type: bunny hill
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Can put on and take off equipment
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Almost ready for easy green runs on the mountain.
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Comfortable gliding
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Level 4
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Turn type: smooth,linked, gliding turns on all but the steepest green sections
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Trail type: green circle runs
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Can ride chairlifts
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Can link heel & toe turns
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Level 5
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Turn type: smooth,linked, gliding turns on all but the steepest green sections
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Trail type: green circle and easier groomed blue square terrain
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Can link turns of varying sizes
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Can control your speed in most situations by adjusting your line, with little need for braking.
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Level 6
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Turn type: linked turns of varying size at moderate speed.
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Trail type: can ride all blue terrain
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Is skidding less
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Tail of the board is following the tip, for more control of their line.
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Level 7
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Turn type: can mix carved and skidded turns
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Trail type: all blue square and easier black diamond terrain
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Can ride moderate moguls and ungroomed snow with ease
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Can modify your technique and tactics from a growing quiver of options,
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Can link dynamic carved turns with consistent rhythm on blue groomed terrain.