Ability Levels

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s always room to improve skills, build confidence or get to know the mountains better.  We have single-day, multi-day or winter-long programs for every type of skier and snowboarder. Our professional ski instructors will help get you started or take your skiing and riding to the next level.

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Adults' Ski Ability Levels

Level 1 - Never Ever

• You have never ever skied before.
• You want to start at the very beginning.

 

Level 2 - Once or Twice

• You have been out once or twice before but you still consider yourself a beginner.
• You are learning how to link wedged turns and control speed.
• You are still learning on the magic carpet.

 

Level 3 - Plaza

• You are doing linked, basic wedge turns on the magic carpet
• You are building your confidence by controlling both your speed and changing direction and are ready to use the beginner chair lift
• You are learning better balance and to link your turns smoothly.

 

Level 4 - Green

• You have built your confidence in changing direction and make linked wedge turns.
• You feel ready to go up the mountain and explore green terrain.
• You are in a wedge, but at times in your turn, your skis go parallel.

 

Level 5 - Blue

• You are comfortable skiing on our green runs; you have built your confidence in looking ahead and making various turn shapes.
• You want to build your confidence as you explore blue runs.
• Time to work on turn shape and rhythm when linking turns with your skis parallel.

 

Level 6 - Black

• You want to learn how to keep a rhythm on bumps and black terrain and to find some flow.
• You want to build your confidence as you explore black runs.
• Time to work on feeling the separation of your upper and lower body while linking your turns, using your pole plant for timing your start.

 

Level 7 - Double Black

• You look for a challenge whenever you head out on the mountain.
• You can ski varying terrain with confidence and can control your speed and turn shape on black runs and various terrain.
• You want to tackle steeps, bumps, glades – the more snow the better!

 

 

Adults' Snowboard Ability Levels

Level 1 - Never Ever

• You have never ever snowboarded before.
• You want to start at the very beginning.

 

Level 2 - Once or Twice

• You have been out once or twice before but you still consider yourself a beginner.
• You are learning to control both speed and direction on both toe and heel edge.
• You are gaining comfort pointing your board down the hill and returning to a stop.

 

Level 3 - Happy Valley/Plaza

• You are learning independent heel and toe turns on carpet up to plaza chair.
• You are working on getting your turns down consistently on plaza green runs.
• You are working on flowing from your heels to your toes and feeling smooth on plaza green runs.

 

Level 4 - Green

• You are ready to take your riding to the top of the mountain.
• You are gaining confidence making heel and toe turns on gentle greens.
• You sometimes use one edge when it gets steep.

 

Level 5 - Blue

• You want to build your confidence as you explore blue runs.
• You are starting to explore steeps, bumps, switch and freestyle.
• You always use your hips and knees to turn the snowboard and maintain alignment with upper and lower body.

 

Level 6 - Black

• You consistently edge your board at the start of your turn on groomed terrain.
• You are able to ride basic bumps but look to gain more confidence and flow in un-groomed, off piste terrain, and trees.
• You can do basic freestyle and are looking at taking those skills to the terrain park.

 

Level 7 - Double Black

• You want to control your speed and turn shape on black runs and a variety of terrain.
• You are looking at refining your skills as an advanced snowboarder and increasing performance.
• You are comfortable in the terrain park and are looking at expanding your bag of tricks and terrain features.