Ability Level Guide

FOR SUMMIT LESSONS

Use this guide to help determine what level of skier or snowboarder you are for Summit SnowSports School lessons, programs, and packages.

The skiing and snowboarding ability levels and descriptions above are unique to The Summit at Snoqualmie and our SnowSports School. The levels are not the same as trail ratings and are used to better place students with groups of similar ability levels and the right instructor.

Skier Ability Levels

  • Red level is for true first timers, anyone that hasn't ever previously tried to ski.

  • Yellow skiers are building basic skills & confidence on the magic carpet terrain. A yellow skier has skied before, but is learning how to turn, stop and ride the magic carpet.

  • Green skiers seek adventure on beginner lifts and are developing basics to handle elementary slopes.

    3.  I can stop, turn, & ride the chairlift. I'm refining my turns on easy terrain for more consistency and control. I'm learning to ride the chairlift.

    4.  I'm getting more comfortable with the chairlift. I'm learning to control my wedge turns that finish in a parallel skid on green terrain.

  • Blue skiers explore more terrain (beyond the beginner trails) and are improving skills to have more fun on intermediate slopes.

    5.  I can ski parallel in the middle of the turn.

    6.  I can parallel at the start of the turn and use poles to time my turns.

  • Black skiers challenge themselves to advance and gain the knowledge to be an all-mountain expert.

    7.  I can link parallel turns in the fall line.

    8.  I can carve small, medium and large radius turns in a variety of conditions.

    9.  I can execute dynamic parallel turns in all conditions on any terrain. I can use a variety of turn techniques in any conditions in order to negotiate terrain of any type, including black and double black.

Snowboarder Ability Levels

  • Red level is for true first timers, anyone that hasn't ever previously tried to snowboard.

  • Yellow snowboarders are building basic skills & confidence on the magic carpet terrain. A yellow snowboarder has ridden before, but is learning how to turn, stop and ride the magic carpet.

  • Green snowboarders seek adventure on beginner lifts and are developing basics to handle elementary slopes.

    3.  I can stop, I'm learning how to traverse and make turns. I'm learning to ride the chairlift.

    4.  I can stop, turn, and am getting more comfortable riding the chairlift. I'm refining my turns on green terrain for consistency and control.

  • Blue snowboarders explore more terrain (beyond the beginner trails) and are improving skills to have more fun on intermediate slopes.

    5.  I can link turns using both toe and heel edge with control on green terrain, and I am ready to start on blue terrain.

    6.  I can link turns with control on some blue terrain including some steeper groomed blue slopes. I am learning how to make turns that are both carved and skidded.

  • Black snowboarders challenge themselves to advance and gain the knowledge to be an all-mountain expert..

    7.  I'm comfortable on all blue and easy black terrain. I can vary my turn shape (small, medium and large radius) on all blue and easy black groomed terrain.

    8.  I can link turns with control on ungroomed terrain. I want to exhibit high performance in specific terrain: bumps, steeps, powder.

    9.  I can link small, medium and large radius turns in all conditions and all terrain (black and double black). I can use a variety of turn techniques in any conditions in order to negotiate terrain of any type, including black and double black.

NEED MORE HELP? Whether it is for you, a friend or family member, we understand that assessing your ability level can be difficult and sometimes confusing. If you aren’t comfortable making a decision with the above overview and descriptors, please come to one of our SnowSports meeting areas on snow and we will help determine the right level. We have extensive experience and are ready to help match students to the right lesson.