Ability Levels for Ski & Snowboard Courses
ABILITY LEVELS FOR SKI & SNOWBOARD COURSES
- At ALLTRACKS, we want to welcome as many people as possible onto our ski & snowboard instructor courses & improvement camps. Thankfully our courses have proved popular and this enables us to usually have a number of ability groups, allowing you to ski or ride with people of a similar standard as yourself. The fact that we limit group sizes to an absolute maximum of eight per instructor also helps in this regard. However, you are still skiing or snowboarding in a group and therefore there is always going to be the fastest or slowest, most experienced or least experienced in the group.
- Therefore, we have drawn up this ability chart highlighting the necessary standard you need to be at in order to come and enjoy the course in full. This shows the MINIMUM abilty needed, and if you are a good rider, you can be confident and there will be others at a similar level ready to lead the charge!
- The main motivation for a lot of people on the courses is to improve their skiing or snowboarding in deep snow. Indeed, many people arrive on the courses able to ski or ride really well on piste but have very little experience in riding in powder. Our courses all take this into account, and you will be surprised at how quickly you master it and are able to enjoy the awesome powder.
- Sadly, we cannot accept beginners on any of our courses. It just isn't compatible with the majority of people on the course that can already ski or ride. That said, don't be put off thinking you have to be a very advanced skier or rider to benefit from what ALLTRACKS offers.
- It is also worth mentioning that your motivation to improve is often far more important than past experience and we hope that your skiing or riding will be revolutionised upon completing an ALLTRACKS course.
- If you are at all unsure about what level of skiing or riding you are at, please email or call one of the ALLTRACKS team to discuss. We look forward to hearing form you and answering any questions. The number is +44 (0)1794 388 034.
MINIMUM ABILITY FOR CANADIAN COURSES
- Please note this is the minimum ability needed. We have never have someone too experienced on our courses and if your are already an advanced skier you will improve too.
- You can ski parallel turns or snowboard linked turns in a controlled and confident manner on intermediate on piste slopes (Blue runs in North America/ Red runs in Europe).
- On steep runs or ones with moguls, you may still have to traverse across them before committing to a turn.
- You may still be inexperienced at skiing/riding in deep snow
- You are fit enough to ski/ride all day (albeit with a break for lunch). If you wish to join the optional backcountry modules included in the course, you should have a reasonable level of cardiovascular fitness in order to get the most out of the course.
MINIMUM ABILITY FOR Val d'isere course
- Please note this is the minimum ability needed. If you are more expereinced, the instructors and guides will still be able to improve your technique and knowledge.
- You can ski parallel turns or snowboard linked turns in a controlled and confident manner on almost all runs in a resort including Black.
- Your technique may still suffer on steep or mogul slopes, but you are willing to give them a go and are able to get down most runs (although it may not always be ridden technically well).
- You can ski/ride both short and long radius turns
- You have some experience in deep snow but may still struggle. You should be able make at least 10 turns without falling over, losing control or gaining too much speed.
- No avalanche safety training is expected on arrival.
- You are fit enough to ski all day (albeit with a break for lunch) and should have a reasonable standard of cardiovascular fitness to undertake hikes/tours that form part of the off piste training.
