Skiing Abilities Graded into Levels

While of course there is a continuous spectrum of abilities, just watch the winter Olympics to see that there are different levels even of excellence. The Professional Ski Instructors of America have spoken of nine levels of recreational skier. Nevertheless we attempt to describe different levels and these are very broad categories, in order to be able to describe the ski resorts themselves and to describe ski instruction that one may require to improve. The enjoyment one derives from a ski holiday is greatly improved the better one can ski.

Beginner Skier

Our general classification of a beginner skier is one who is not yet able to make confident linked turns with their skis parallel. We will say more about turns on the page about instruction but a skier who has to get his skis into a wedge to make a turn is still in the category  of beginner.

In recent years, primarily as a result of the introduction of shaped skis, new methods of instruction have evolved and for several reasons these new instruction methods no longer teach their pupils by the traditional "snow plow" method. So the above definition of a beginner may not be accurate in the case of every individual - there are now also beginners who learn to ski parallel from the beginning but making linked turns with speed under control categorises the transition from beginner to early intermediate.

In general, recreational skiers can make confident linked turns by the third day of skiing and can then advance to some blue runs (green in France) and then red pistes. There are obviously exceptions to this generalisation and we have seen some skiers who are making parallel turns at the end of their first lesson and linking these by the end of the first day. Others though take longer and we venture to offer some explanation in the chapter on instruction.

Early Intermediate

We classify someone who has made the transition to linked parallel turns with speed under control as an early intermediate. This skier will have progressed to skiing on blue pistes. As we have said for the majority of people this takes about 3 days of their holiday.

We cover the early intermediate skier in more detail in our chapter on instruction. However, from here it is a question of practise and gaining confidence in one's new found skills. The group generally covering "intermediate skier" ranging from early intermediate to advanced intermediate covers a very large spectrum of skills.

Advanced Intermediate

The large spectrum of skills very often described as "intermediate" has at its upper end the advanced intermediate. At this level skier can ski all black slopes including bumps and steeps, not necessarily smoothly or with grace and elegance but they can get down them with control. There are also certain off piste opportunities that are not beyond an advanced intermediate skier.

The transition from advanced intermediate to expert is not a clear line but we categorise the transition as being when the steeps, bumps and off piste are skied in a continuous rhythm of linked turns performed with grace and elegance with the skis moving under a stable upper body marks the difference and not necessarily the slope they can ski or how fast they ski.

Expert

An expert is what it says and in skiing terms this is the skier one sees coming down the slope at a constant speed with perfect rhythm, feet moving under a calm and stable upper body, with the tail of the skis following the points to make beautifully arced turns no matter the terrain.

Of course, as in all categories, there are different levels of "expert skier" but to us the distinction between the advanced and confident intermediate and an expert is clear to see just by watching them no matter whether they are skiing on an easy "blue" or a steep off piste powder bowl.

Many confident advanced intermediates can ski anywhere and may (and often do, witness the many high speed skiers skiing beyond their levels of control on so many crowded pistes) consider themselves expert but to us their technique is not quite correct and as a result they lack the control of their speed or the versatility to really let themselves go and yet be able to "handle" the unexpected.

So often we have observed these pseudo experts as part of a group of young male skiers where  most of the group really are expert skiers and the other buddies are trying to keep up or impress. On a crowded piste these skiers can be very dangerous and too often they are seemingly not aware of their responsibility to give way to the skier below.

BACK