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 SKIER SKILL
LEVELS 1-9
by Bill Jones, Ski Instructor
Certified
Professional Ski Instructor (Registration #110478)
"Oh, no," said the skier to the instructor at the ski
school meeting place, "I'm not here to take a lesson. I brought my friend over for you to teach. I learned yesterday!" The myriad ways to classify skiers
One wonders whether the skiing industry could have made skill level classification
more confusing if it had tried! The Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA)
has spoken of 9 recreational skier levels based on skills, but many of its member
schools use descriptive terms that correlate imperfectly with these. PSIA uses 3
certification levels to classify its instructor-members. One ski magazine uses a
system that attempts to relate skiing skills to lifestyle and attitude, with 10
levels (for instance, "Are you a confident banker, then you should ski like..").
Ski shops confront skiers with 3 skill levels when bindings are being adjusted and
skis selected see "For
chart of settings for release bindings: exits" for this system).
Here we present a PSIA system, blending the "classic" wedge progression approach
to learning to ski by initially using stem (i.e., wedge or snowplow ski positions.)
with another system called "direct to parallel". Most ski schools are now using
elements of both these approaches in their teaching, but you may find an emphasis
on either, which may be due to conditions of the day or of the student(s).
Too, sometimes descriptive terms are used for the levels instead of numbers,
like "first timer", "advanced beginner", "intermediate", "advanced", and
"expert". And sometimes the level is based on the maneuvers you can do, like
"wedge", "wedge turn", "wedge christie", "parallel", and "dynamic". Or the level
may be based on the types of snow you can ski, like "learning slope",
"groomers", "bumps", "powder", "steeps", and so on.
skill level 0? (1 is the PSIA minimum)
You'll want to get in a class at your same level and on a slope on which
you can learn. You'll not learn as much or at all if you are under- or over-challenged.
Although a professional instructor can help you decide what level to take, you will
find it useful to know what standards and reasons he or she will follow in getting
you properly classified. (Of course in a private lesson, your instructor will adapt
his or her
teaching to your level and needs.) Some resorts will use descriptive terms instead
of the number ratings, such as beginner, advanced- beginner, intermediate, parallel
breakthrough, advanced, mountain master, expert, or 101, 201, etc. If you take a
private lesson, you'll still want to know about skill levels so you can select an
instructor who is able and/or certified to teach your skill level (see
"Why Take a Ski Lesson from a Professional" and
"How to Pick a Ski Instructor").
skill level 10? (9 is the PSIA maximum)
PSIA skill levels for alpine skiers
SKI SCHOOLS arrange skiers into skill levels to help get students into the most
productive learning situations. In the United States, these levels usually follow
those defined by the Professional Ski Instructors of America. Level 1 is a first-time
skier (never skied before, can't stop or turn) and level 9 is the highest, expert,
level (and is a higher skill level than is required for instructors teaching most
classes).
There are tremendous differences in the finesse of actions skiers can perform
at these various levels. Yet the physical factors dealt with at each level are the
same. These factors are the human body with its individual characteristics, varying
snow types, differing ski-slope angles, fast or slow speeds, equipment differences,
and more. And so modern ski instruction uses consistent progressions of the same
basic skills to master higher levels as one moves up the learning ladder.
Commonly the first several skill levels (say levels 1 through 4) are accomplished
in one session each of 2 to 3 hours (8 to 12 hours of lessons). Some beginners may
be able to move through a level faster, and some will need to either retake a level
or practice its maneuvers before moving up. Because skiing can be a lifetime sport,
it is better to build an adequate foundation than to leave fundamentals unlearned
or to have to relearn the better way to do a particular maneuver after learning
it wrong--it's always easier to learn it right the first time. It might at first
seem that instructors are trying to sell more lessons by having you move up
the ladder one rung at a time or even to repeat a rung, but probably they will end
up selling fewer lessons because folks will have a chance to get it right early
on and thus avoid later fixes.
Progress is personal; it depends on factors such as other sports experiences,
conditioning and functionality of one's body parts, attitudes, and equipment. Learning
to ski is not a competitive activity.
Note in the levels outlined below, ski turns may follow the lines of the letter
C (a single turn one way) or a backwards C (a single turn the other
way), the letter S (linked turns each way, or Cs or Ss
that are incomplete and/or have straight stretches before or after. Skiers
speak of the parallel position of skis and of parallel turns. While parallel lines
in mathematics always run straight, "parallel" lines in skiing may turn, just as
"parallel" railroad tracks may. Note, too, that "parallel" in skiing means not only
that each ski in the pair is aligned the same direction, but also that the bases
are tilted at the same angle.
Skiers should aspire to at least skill level 6, that of solid parallel skiing,
which will allow them to explore most of most ski areas with confidence and efficiency.
As stated by the Professional Ski Instructors of America, "The parallel turn is
your key measure to unlock the mountains' pleasures and treasures." While it is
common for new skiers to progress up through level 4 or 5 with one lesson per level,
higher skill levels usually require repeated lessons at the same level, more so
if there is a time lapse between the sessions. If you can make the choice, take
your initial lessons over a short time interval rather than over a whole season
or more.
Again, ski schools may use a wedge approach to learning or direct-to-parallel. Both
are valid. The choice may depend on terrain available and slope traffic any
given day. Combining the two approaches is another way, and in the level
descriptions below we include the skills learned in each of these ways to learn
even though your instructor may introduce movements at different times than
shown depending on which method is emphasized. The direct-to-parallel method
involves more tipping of both skis while the wedge method involves more turning
of the skis with the feet and legs.
●Level
1 Aspirations: (You have never skied before; perhaps you only want to try
the sport out or you may already be committed to learn it.) Learn about equipment,
how to walk and slide with skis parallel, climb using ski edges, turn while standing
in place (bullfighter turn), turn while sliding by stepping, tip skis to turn, turn
using the gliding wedge (snowplow, skis are in a V with the point in front),
stop gradually using the braking wedge, how to fall and how to get up, and ride
a surface and/or chair lift. Learn basic ski skills: twisting the legs, tilting
the skis, and managing the amount and distribution of pressure on the skis. (Level
1 is the hardest ski lesson you'll ever take; it will give you the alphabet to "read"
the "book" of skiing and you will learn the most in any lesson you will ever take;
you might not complete all the elements above but if you can adequately turn and
stop on the learning hill, you should be able to go on to level 2 ; look forward
to level 2 for more fun.) Ski on practice slopes ("palest" green).
●Level
2 Aspirations: Groove in what was learned in Level 1. Add elements not
covered earlier. Then, with foot tilting, turn the skis up the hill to slow and
stop, then down the hill to make a complete turn. Also learn more about foot steering
to change direction, improve gliding wedge turns and link them in S's, vary turn
shapes, ski slightly faster speeds, improve balance, traverse. Ski on steeper
parts of practice slopes ("pale" green).
●Level
3 Aspirations: Still starting turns by tipping the skis or in the gliding
wedge, either maintain the skis parallel or steer them (as in a wedge christie)
with the feet to parallel by the turn's finish, with skidding; ski a bit faster
speeds than in level 2 so that speed that comes with steeper slopes can be managed.
Move to easier green (easiest) slopes.
●Level
4 Aspirations: Still starting turns either by tipping skis while parallel
or using the gliding wedge, with the feet maintain or steer skis (making an intermediate
wedge christie) to parallel in mid-turn ; sideslip; do skidded parallel turns to
a stop (hockey stop); ski faster speeds. Move to steeper green slopes, longer
runs.
●■Level
5 Aspirations: Still starting turns either by tipping skis while parallel
or using the gliding wedge, with the feet maintain the skis parallel or steer skis
(making an advanced wedge christie) to parallel before mid-turn; optionally
begin using ski-pole touches; explore easier blue terrain; experience uneven slopes
and easier ungroomed snow conditions; ski still faster speeds; explore more of
the mountain and begin to experience the full pleasures and joys of skiing. Ski
steeper green slopes, more difficult parts of green slopes and easy blue slopes.
■Level
6 Aspirations: Stay in the parallel position throughout turns, tipping
and steering skis with feet to produce turns; begin learning pure edged turns and
pure steered turns; use ski poles in varied ways, experience shallower powder and
smaller bumps, adjust skiing speed at will regardless of slope angle or snow type,
vary turn shape, optionally run gates. By level 6, start analyzing what you hear
about skiing equipment and technique so you know it makes sense to you and "try
it before you buy it". Your personal goals and body attributes may indicate special
choices from the buffet available. Ski more difficult blue slopes.
■♦Level
7 Aspirations: Expand skills into powder and bumps and ungroomed snow.
Link short-radius turns. Isolate the skills of turning by pivoting the skis versus
turning by tilting them, run gates, ski advanced terrain. Start making tactical
choices to apply mechanics to situations of snow texture and terrain. Ski blue
and black slopes.
♦Level 8 Aspirations:
Apply tactical variations to turns for effect in varying conditions or for intent,
let tilting the ski become the main tool for turning you instead of you twisting
the ski with your foot, except in special situations like bumps or quick stops.
Explore alternate turn entries--converging, parallel step, diverging, inside ski,
one ski. Ski on black slopes and possibly double-black (extreme) slopes.
♦♦Level 9 Aspirations:
Ski bumps with short or long-radius turns, ski deep powder, ski steeps, run gates;
use the carved turn as your principal turning method but apply tactical choices
accurately for conditions or intent; get into organized skiing as a racer, race
official, instructor, or patrolman. Ski all slopes in all conditions is the ultimate
goal, recognizing that Olympic racers and extreme skiers are in another zone of
level 9.
This "Skier Skill Levels" page last modified
03/18/2010: \SkiMyBest\skilevel.htm. Copyright © 2010 William R Jones.
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