assessing ability levels
The levels below correspond to the guidelines of Swiss Snow League & Swiss Snow Academy (if your child has skied with a Swiss ski school before, you might have received a booklet from them indicating the level. Please note that each level has four marks which must be achieved to move on to the next level.
The ski school is strict about achieving these levels before moving children into higher groups. It is possible for children to have been given too high levels from other ski schools or to have lost their confidence over the summer. The instructors will make the ultimate decision as to which child goes into which group. For this reason, children will be grouped according to their current ability and not initial parent assessments or prior levels achieved according to the booklets. We will try to ensure that friends who are at the same level are put into the same group.
skiing
| Absolute Beginner |
Participant has never skied before.
Blue Prince (Beginner)
Participant will learn all about equipment, climbing uphill by side stepping and herringbone (scissor) stepping, gliding and braking with the snow plough, skiing with skis parallel with steps and tricks, turning snow plough turns (wedge turns).
Blue King (Int. Beginner)
Participant will learn safe use of lifts, traversing and tricks, side-slipping, skiing with skis parallel over easy bumps and jumps, snow plough turns (wedge christie) on an easy blue slope.
Blue Star (Adv. Beginner)
Participant will learn behavior on slopes (FIS rules), turning in a miniature slalom jungle and in a set course, skiing over bumps and dips, skiing backwards (switch) with skis in a V-shape with change of directino, snow plough turns (wedge christie) on a versatile blue run.
Red Prince (Beg. Intermediate)
Participant will learn warming up, braking with skis parallel, turning steps on an easy slope, waltzing, skidded parallel turns.
Red King (Intermediate)
Participant will learn behavior in snow park, short turns on an easy slope, skating step on the flat terrain, basic air (small kicker), parallel turns with various radii.
Red Star (Adv. Intermediate)
Participant will learn parallel turns through a corridor of slalom gates and in a set course, skidded parallel turns backwards (switch), single ski turns on an easy slope, short turns on an intermediate slope, plus experience nature, forest and the environment.
Swiss Snow Academy (Ski Freestyle)
Participant will learn to parallel turn switch, straight air with grab (at least 2 different jumps), air trick spins (180° or 360°), slope tricks 180° and Swedish 180°, rotation on box or rail, freestyle in pipe basic run, quarterpipe or ski cross.
Swiss Snow Academy (Ski Race)
Participant will learn to race parallel turns, race short turns, turn variations, tuck jumps, training giant slalom/slalom.
Swiss Snow Academy (Ski Freeride)
Participant will learn to do powder kickers, jump over natural obstacles, do creative off-piste runs, parallel turns off-piste with variations of radius, tracks in snow/powder 8, short turns in moguls, all about safety.
snowboarding
Absolute Beginner
Participant has never snowboarded before.
Blue Prince (Beginner)
Participant is used to the snowboard; can glide, slip and stop; has practised using the t-bar; can make skidded turns.
Blue King (Int. Beginner)
Participant will learn warming up, turns using rotation techniques, waltzing, wheelie, jumping with both feet in the air on a slope.
Blue Star (Adv. Beginner)
Participant will learn behavior in snowpark, riding switch, speed check, 50/50 on an easy box, hitting small jumps.
Red Prince (Beg. Intermediate)
Participant will learn small freestyle glossary, turns using stretching and bending techniques, powerslide, ollie/n’ollie on the slope, 180° on the slope.
Red King (Intermediate)
Participant will learn carved turns, slide on the slope, ollie/n’ollie 180° on the slope, basic air and experience nature, forest and the environment.
Red Star (Adv. Intermediate)
Participant will learn riding off-piste, frontside noseturn, backside board slide on a box, straight air.
Swiss Snow Academy (Snowboard Slope)
Participant will learn to do short turns, carving switch basic turn, backside noseturn, slope trick combos, 360°s, riding over bumps and gates.
Swiss Snow Academy (Snowboard Freestyle)
Child will learn shifty air, grad air, spin air, board slide, box trick, basic run/straight run.
Swiss Snow Academy (Snowboard Freeride)
Participant will learn powder spray tricks, powder tricks, turn adapted to terrain, turns riding moguls, powder kickers/jumps over natural obstacles, all about safety.