Understanding the Ski Level System

Find a Ski School uses a structured 9-level progression system for both skiing and snowboarding. This system helps students track their progress from complete beginner to advanced rider, and gives instructors a standardised framework for assessment.

The Three Tiers

The levels are organised into three tiers, each representing a stage of your skiing or snowboarding journey:

Bronze Tier (Levels 1-3) - Beginner

These levels cover the fundamentals. You will learn how to put on your equipment, move on flat terrain, stop safely, and make your first turns on gentle slopes.

Level 1 - First Steps: Getting comfortable with your equipment, walking on snow, and basic sliding
Level 2 - First Turns: Learning to snowplough (skiing) or heel-side/toe-side turns (snowboarding) on gentle terrain
Level 3 - Linking Turns: Confidently linking turns and controlling speed on green/easy blue runs

Silver Tier (Levels 4-6) - Intermediate

At this stage, you are building confidence on a variety of terrain and conditions. You will refine your technique and start tackling steeper slopes.

Level 4 - Building Confidence: Parallel turns (skiing) or linked turns with more speed control (snowboarding)
Level 5 - Varied Terrain: Handling blue and easy red runs, introduction to moguls and variable snow
Level 6 - Technical Development: Carving turns, short turns, and comfortable on most marked runs

Gold Tier (Levels 7-9) - Advanced

These levels are for experienced skiers and snowboarders looking to master challenging terrain and conditions.

Level 7 - All-Mountain: Confident on all marked runs including blacks, comfortable in all snow conditions
Level 8 - Expert Terrain: Off-piste basics, steep couloirs, and advanced carving at speed
Level 9 - Master: Expert-level performance in all conditions, including off-piste, park, and competition-style riding

How Manoeuvres Work

Each level contains a set of specific manoeuvres that you need to demonstrate to your instructor. These are practical skills - things like "perform a controlled snowplough stop" or "link five parallel turns on a red run."

Your instructor will tick off each manoeuvre as you demonstrate it during your lessons. Once all manoeuvres for a level are completed, your instructor can sign off the level, and you will be able to download a certificate.

Viewing Your Progress

You can view your level progress at any time by visiting the Level Progress page (/levels). This shows:

Your current level for skiing and snowboarding
Which manoeuvres you have completed
Which manoeuvres are still pending
Any certificates you have earned

Getting Started

Your instructor will assess your current ability and place you at the appropriate level. There is no need to start at Level 1 if you already have experience - your instructor will find the right starting point for you.

Understanding the Ski Level System