Ability Levels
Skiing
FIRST TIME SKIER
Level 1: “I’ve never skied.”
GREEN ZONE SKIERS
Level 2: “I can slide, slightly change direction, and come to a stop.” – Easiest green terrain
Level 3: “I can link turns together and stop where I want to on the easiest green terrain. My turns are usually all the same size.” – Green terrain
Level 4: “I am linking turns together smoothly on all green terrain. I can make narrow and wide turns” – All green and easiest blue terrain
BLUE ZONE SKIERS
Level 5: “I am skiing mostly parallel in a couple different turn sizes and shapes on most blue terrain. I am beginning to use my poles and can hockey stop in both directions.” -All green terrain and most blue terrain
Level 6: “I am skiing parallel and confidently on all groomed blue terrain. I am exploring un-groomed trails and the easiest bumps. I usually
make the same turn sizes and shapes on un-groomed trails.” –All groomed blues, easy blue bumps, easy groomed blacks
Level 7: “I am able to smoothly link parallel turns together with a pole plant on all blue and black terrain. I am exploring un-groomed black terrain, including bumps. I can connect different turn sizes and shapes seamlessly for the different challenges.” – All blue terrain and most black terrain
BLACK/EXPERT ZONE SKIERS
Level 8: “I am making different turns sizes and shapes, including rhythmic short turns and large carved turns, on all blue and black terrain (groomed or un-groomed). I feel comfortable exploring harder blacks and easier double black terrain.” – All black and easy double black terrain
Level 9: “I can ski the entire mountain and am working on skiing faster, smoother, difficult lines, and learning different strategies in the hardest
terrain and snow conditions.” – Entire mountain, all conditions
Snowboard
FIRST TIME SNOWBOARDER
Level 1: “I’ve never snowboarded.”
GREEN ZONE SNOWBOARDERS
Level 2: “I have experienced sliding, traversing both directions, and stopping.” – Easiest green terrain
Level 3: “I can control my speed while moving across the hill, and can stop with confidence. I am starting to turn in both directions.” – Green
terrain
Level 4: “I can link skidded turns on green terrain.” – All green terrain
BLUE ZONE SNOWBOARDERS
Level 5: “I am confident and can connect different turn sizes and shapes on all green terrain. I make more or less the same size and shape turn
on easy blue terrain.” –All green terrain and easiest blue terrain
Level 6: ““I am riding most blue terrain by connecting various turn sizes and shapes. I am also exploring switch riding, easy bumps, and/or
freestyle.” –All blue terrain
Level 7: “I am able to ride all blue terrain in varied conditions and working on easy black terrain, including bumps, trees, and terrain parks.”
–All blue terrain and groomed black terrain
BLACK/EXPERT ZONE SNOWBOARDERS
Level 8: “I am confident performing dynamic turns on varied terrain and snow conditions, including trees, steeps and powder.” – All black and
easy double blacks terrain
Level 9: “I am confident riding the entire mountain. I am working on a variety of tactics and techniques that will take me to the next level.”
– Entire mountain, all conditions
