Ability Levels

ABILITY STANDARDS FOR SKI & SNOWBOARD COURSES: HOW GOOD DO I HAVE TO BE?

At ALLTRACKS, we want to welcome as many people as possible onto our ski & snowboard courses. However, there is a minimum ability required to join each particular course. The intention of this is not to exclude, but to recognise that ski and snowboard training is most effective and enjoyable when in a group with others of a similar standard.

Thankfully, the continuing popularity of our courses means we usually have numerous training groups so you should ski or board with people of a similar ability. We offer the best trainee-to-coach ratio in the industry, limiting coaching to six guests per instructor.

Whilst our camps are not suitable for beginners, this doesn’t mean you have to be an expert. Many of our courses are suitable for intermediates looking to develop technique and finesse, and we welcome the chance to help you ski or snowboard with style across the whole mountain.

That said, if you are a strong skier or snowboarder please understand that our coaching can take you to an even higher level. In well over a decade, we’ve never had a guest who was too good to benefit from what we offer. Our coaching team is arguably the strongest around and will develop your technique to an extremely high standard if you’re ready for it.

A major motivation for a relatively large number of our guests is to get to grips with powder. Some people arrive skiing really well on piste, but have little or no experience in deep powder. Most of our options take this into account – you’ll be surprised by how quickly you improve in these conditions and really begin to enjoy off-piste skiing or snowboarding.

 

THE ALLTRACKS ABILITY GUIDE

Every course we offer has an appropriate ability level requirement, based on our ability level guidelines explained below.

Be aware that these standards are a guide. If you’d like to discuss the requirements of any course in more detail, contact us today and we’ll answer your questions with pleasure.

 

ALLTRACKS LEVEL 1

ON-PISTE

– As a skier, you can link parallel turns on European red / Canadian blue runs at a consistent pace.

– As a snowboarder, you can link toe and heel turns down European red / Canadian blue runs at a consistent pace.

– You struggle with confidence and technique in adverse conditions like ice, moguls and mixed snow.

– You would like to explore more terrain.

– You’re fit enough to ride European red / Canadian blue runs with limited stops throughout the day.

OFF-PISTE

– No experience is necessary in off-piste conditions.

ALLTRACKS LEVEL 2

ON-PISTE

– As a skier, you can link parallel turns on European red / Canadian blue runs at a reasonable, consistent pace with confidence.

– As a snowboarder, you can link toe and heel turns on European red / Canadian blue runs at a reasonable, consistent pace with confidence.

– You’re confident enough to tackle black runs in good conditions.

– You have experience in a range of snow conditions, but may still struggle with confidence and technique in adverse conditions.

– You tend to traverse across the slope before turning in moguls and challenging terrain.

– You’re fit enough to ride European red / Canadian blue runs from top to bottom with limited stops throughout the day.

OFF-PISTE

– You’re keen to try going off groomed runs, but linking turns in deep or varied snow may still be beyond you.

– You’re fit enough to attempt skiing or snowboarding off-piste.

ALLTRACKS LEVEL 2.5

ON-PISTE

– As a skier, you can link parallel turns confidently on moderate black runs.

– You’re able to vary turn radius according to terrain.

– You’re happy and confident enough to tackle all most all resort runs at major resorts with the possible exception of the most severe runs, but may still lose confidence and technique in the most difficult situations

– You’re fit enough to ride the majority of pistes in a major resort top to bottom throughout the day with limited stops.

OFF-PISTE

– You may still require technique improvement to control speed and accuracy in off-piste conditions.

– You can ski in mixed snow conditions, but may struggle to link turns accurately in heavy, deep snow.

– You want to ski more and more off-piste and are motivated to improve.

– You’re fit enough to ski or snowboard in mixed conditions and to hike up the occasional climb for around 15 minutes to reach new terrain.

SKI TOURING

– No ski touring experience is necessary (and only relevant if your course includes ski touring or split boarding).

– You have a good level of cardiovascular fitness. For example, you should be able to run at least 8km on road comfortably and probably exercise regularly each week.

ALLTRACKS LEVEL 3

ON-PISTE

– As a skier, you can link parallel turns confidently on moderate black runs.

– As a snowboarder, you can link toe and heel turns confidently on moderate black slopes but may not enjoy moguls (what snowboarder does?).

– You’re able to vary turn radius according to terrain.

– You’re happy and confident enough to tackle most resort runs with the exception of the most severe double black diamond runs, but may still lose confidence and technique in challenging conditions.

– You’re fit enough to ride the majority of pistes in a major resort top to bottom throughout the day with limited stops.

OFF-PISTE

– You can safely link about ten continuous turns in deep powder snow on moderate off-piste runs.

– You may still require technique improvement to control speed and accuracy in off-piste conditions.

– You want to ride more and more off-piste and are motivated to improve.

– You’re fit enough to ski or snowboard in mixed conditions and to hike up the occasional climb for around 15 minutes to reach new terrain.

SKI TOURING

– No ski touring experience is necessary (and only relevant if your course includes ski touring or split boarding).

– You have a good level of cardiovascular fitness. For example, you should be able to run at least 8km on road comfortably and probably exercise regularly each week.

ALLTRACKS LEVEL 4

ON-PISTE

– As a skier, you can link parallel turns confidently on all black runs including double black diamonds.

– As a snowboarder, you can link toe and heel turns confidently on all black runs including double black diamonds.

– You can ride the fall line of all runs including moguls at a good pace in all conditions, and can handle ice on steep slopes.

– You’re able to vary turn radius according to the terrain.

OFF-PISTE

– You can ride at a good pace regardless of snow conditions.

– You can control speed, direction and turn shape in deep snow.

– You’re very fit, able to go fast all day and enjoy hiking to find new terrain.

SKI TOURING

– You’re familiar with ski touring or split boarding techniques and able to do kick turns on steeper gradients (only relevant if your course includes ski touring or split boarding).

– You’re fit enough to enjoy a day in the mountains with up to four hours of uphill ski touring or split boarding.

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