Choose Your Level

WHAT LEVEL SKIER ARE YOU?

It’s good to have a general idea of your ski level; where you are and where you want to be. You can then book an appropriate course that matches both your ski level and your aspirations.

As long as you have a general idea that is fine. On most weeks we will have a few different courses running for different levels. Just call the office and have a chat and we can direct you to a suitable course.

These levels are used just as an initial guide so we can direct you to an appropriate course. We have the flexibility in the resort to tailor the course accordingly.

WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW MY LEVEL?

Improving skiing is so easy if you are in the right environment. Not too difficult and not too easy, just right. So understanding your level is helpful for you and us to help achieve your skiing goals.

Most of us have been dragged down a slope far too difficult at some point in our skiing. So getting the right level and tackling the right slopes is crucial in developing performance and improving confidence

If you want to chat further about the best course for you, call our office.


Level 1
LITTLE OR NO SKIING EXPERIENCE

Currently we have no courses for this level as most beginners novices tend to book their ski lessons via their tour operator, hotel or chalet. Our current courses start at red runs. We may be able to tailor-make a group or arrange a One to One (private) group. Please contact the office. We would love to help in your development.


Level 2
GREEN & BLUE RUNS

Currently we have no courses for this level as most novices tend to book their ski lessons via their tour operator, hotel or chalet. Our current courses start at red runs. We may be able to tailor-make a group or arrange a One to One (private) group. Please contact the office. We would love to help in your development.


Level 3
BLUE & RED RUNS

Your entry into the Snoworks Ski Courses programme and a whole new world of skiing.  This is where your journey into skiing the whole mountain can start. You may have reached that level which is commonly known as the ‘Intermediate Plateau’.

You can ski all the blues and reds providing the terrain is well pisted, with good visibility and good snow. You begin to struggle when the terrain becomes more variable; ice starts to appear, bumps begin to form, the terrain becomes steep, crowded or narrow and visibility goes.

This is where Snoworks is in a class of its own. You’re moving from what we call the ‘closed’ environment into the ‘open’ environment – From terrain which is constant and predictable to terrain which is varied and unpredictable. This is our speciality at Snoworks.  Join us on a Ski Skills course.

FITNESS/STAMINA/ASPIRATIONS

To join this level course you need to:
• Ski non stop on blues and red runs for a 3 hour period
• Get up unaided in the event of a fall
• Have a reasonable fitness level
• Have aspirations to improve and ski easy black runs

Hot chocolate stops are occasionally included in the event of really bad weather.

UNSURE IF YOU’RE THIS LEVEL?

If you can ski blues and reds then just give it a go. We’ll do everything we can to make sure the week is really successful. If for any reason it’s too much we’ll even use the course fee paid to purchase private lessons in the resort.

USEFUL BLOGS FOR LEVEL 3 SKIERS

Why intermediate skiers should come skiing with Snoworks

Intermediate to competent all-mountain skier


Level 4
RED AND BLACK RUNS

You can ski all reds competently and easy black runs. This is your entry into much of the Snoworks Ski Courses programme and a whole new world of skiing.

You are no doubt keen to take your skiing to a whole new level. You’re ready to begin learning to tackle more difficult blacks, steeper slopes, bumps, ice, ski faster with more control, cope with variable snow and terrain, ski more competently in bad visibility and begin your journey into off-piste .  Join us on an All-Terrain Course.

FITNESS/STAMINA

To join this level course you need to:
• Ski non stop on reds and easy black runs for a 3 hour period on half day courses and all day for full day courses
• Get up unaided in the event of a fall
• Have a reasonable fitness level
• Have aspirations to improve, cope with more difficult black runs and begin your journey into off-piste

UNSURE IF YOU’RE THIS LEVEL?

Choose a week where there are level 3 courses running, you can move between the different groups as required during the week.


Level 4 +
FRONT-SIDE OFF-PISTE

It’s a big jump from skiing easy blacks with no off-piste experience to feeling you are a competent off-piste skier. You may be what we call a “frontside off-piste skier”. It’s where you have some off-piste experience and are confident to ski off-piste between ski lifts within the resort boundaries where the terrain is generally more skied and often has a firm base beneath the new fresh snow.

You can join in all of the All-Terrain & Off-Piste courses along with many of the All-Terrain Safaris. For Backcountry, Backcountry Access and Ski Adventures please check with the office as we begin to tailor some of these courses for this level on specific dates.

FITNESS/STAMINA

To join this level course you need to:
• Ski non stop on black runs and front-side off-piste for a 3 hour period for half day courses, all day for all day courses
• Get up unaided in the event of a fall
• Have a good fitness level
• Have aspirations to improve, cope with more difficult black runs, bumps, steeper terrain, variable snow and off-piste

UNSURE IF YOU’RE THIS LEVEL?

Choose a week where level 4 courses are also running, you can move between the different groups as required.


Level 5
BACK-SIDE OFF-PISTE

You can confidently ski blacks whatever the conditions, bumps, cope with ice and steeper slopes and happily ski in bad visibility. You also have the experience, confidence and ability to ski off-piste away from the resort boundaries and ski lifts. What we call ‘backside off-piste’. ‘Backside’ the snow is often deeper and less skied with no firm base below the surface. You can ski untracked snow well away from the resort boundaries.

You’re now looking for exciting new experiences and to go to places you would not go by yourself with skiers of a similar ability under expert guidance. At the same time you’d like to learn new skills and to develop your skiing to cope with steeper and deeper off-piste, maybe more demanding bumps and conditions when they become tricky.

Welcome to advanced all-mountain skiing with Snoworks. Ski more, learn more, experience more and enjoy your skiing more then ever before.  You are at the level where you can join the whole Snoworks programme. All-Terrain,  Off-PisteAll-Terrain SafariBackcountryBackcountry Access and Ski Adventures.

FITNESS/STAMINA

To join this level course you need to:
• Ski non stop on black runs and back-side off-piste for a 3 hour period for half day courses, all day for all day courses
• Get up unaided in the event of a fall
• Have a good fitness level
• Have aspirations to improve
If you are booking a Backcountry, Backcountry Access,  or Adventure course you need to have a high fitness level to ski off-piste Backside all day (except for breaks for lunch).

UNSURE IF YOU’RE THIS LEVEL?

Choose a week where All-Terrain or Off-Piste Courses for Frontside off-piste skiers are also running, you can move between the different level groups as required.


Level 6
STEEP & DEEP

You’ve arrived at a level where you can competently ski everywhere on and off-piste whatever the conditions, steepness of the slope, size of the bumps and depth of the powder. You’re very confident skiing ice, skiing in bad visibility and happy to ski off-piste well away from the resort boundaries.

You probably like to make the most of your time skiing, searching out the best snow, the best terrain and skiing with people equally as competent as yourself, we can provide you with exceptional skiing experiences with other skiers of a similar level under expert guidance and instruction.  As an ‘expert’ skier you may also be interested in our PRO COURSES

FITNESS/STAMINA

A high level of fitness is required. You probably work out, swim lanes, run, cycle or hill walk regularly throughout the year. You’re going to be skiing steep slopes, bumps and deep snow for half days or full days depending on the course.

UNSURE IF YOU’RE THIS LEVEL?

Not a problem. There are always other courses at level 5 running alongside that you can drop into of necessary.


Level 7  EXTREME

You are a competent all-mountain skier with a high fitness level to ski hard and fast all day everyday. You can ski everywhere on the mountain on and off-piste whatever the depth and texture of the snow, whatever the steepness of the terrain and whatever the size of the bumps.

We recognise the better you get, the harder it is to find people to ski with and share those experiences. So on certain weeks throughout the season we’ve dedicated ski courses to extremely high level skiers with high fitness levels. Contact the office to see which dates are the most suitable.  As an ‘expert’ skier you may also be interested in our PRO COURSES


OTHER INFO

  • SKIING OFF-PISTE – we recommend that you ski off-piste with qualified guides and instructors
  • HELMETS – we recommend you wear a helmet

OVER ESTIMATING OR UNDER ESTIMATING YOUR LEVEL

If you over estimate or under estimate your level, on most weeks we have groups of different levels so there will be another group you can move into. From day 1 we encourage people to be able to move groups as necessary to maximise the learning experience and your enjoyment.

At the ‘easy blue and red run’ level if you over estimate your level and find the group is too demanding and we have no alternative groups for you to move into we will arrange alternative instruction in the resort. We will make sure you get the best available instruction for your level using the course fee you have paid. The instruction will be equivalent to the course fee paid for your Snoworks course but not necessarily the equivalent duration as it may end up being private instruction. You will learn lots, improve your skiing, have fun and still be on holiday with all your friends.  See our terms and conditions