Let us help you make your decision...

When deciding on the best course for you, consider:
1) What do you want to get out of the course?
2) How long do you want to spend on a course?
3) What is your current skiing / snowboarding level?

Which phrase applies to you the most?

I want to become an
instructor

I want my skiing/riding to
significantly improve

I want to do a
Winter season

I'm looking for a holiday
with a difference

Ability levels on our courses

The chart below shows a rough outline of the MINIMUM standard you need to be to come on any of our courses. There is no maximum standard; many of our clients have already done several seasons before they join our courses. Every season we have the satisfaction of witnessing not only timid novices transform into tidy advanced skiers and snowboarders, while already confident experts rid their bad habits and push themselves further than they have previously done.

The table below is a guide only; everyone improves at different rates due to instruction, fitness and natural ability. We are often able to customise a package to suit your needs such as organising for you to arrive a few weeks before the start of the course to bring you up to standard. If you have any queries or are worried that your ability might not be suitable for one of our courses please give us a call.

Minimum ability & fitness required

Course	Minimum Experience	Minimum Ability Please look below to read our Experience Level guide	Fitness
11 week Banff	1 week	Thristy for more	Fairly fit
11 week Fernie	3 weeks	Rising Star	Fairly fit
11 week Red Mtn	5 weeks	Intrepid Explorer	Fit
12 week N. Zealand	5 weeks	Interpid Explorer	Fit
5 week instructor	3 weeks	Rising Star	Fairly fit
3 week instructor	5 weeks	Intrepid Explorer	Fit
2/3 week camps	3 weeks	Rising Star	Fairly fit
1 week camp	10 weeks	Intrepid Explorer	Fit
2 week Snow Safari	5 weeks	Intrepid Explorer	Fairly fit
6 week Off-Piste	5 weeks	Intrepid Explorer	Fit
Level 2	CSIA Level 1	CSIA Level 1	Fit

Guide to ski experience levels (scroll down if you're a snowboarder)

Thirsty for More	1. Skiing is a new hobby of yours but you’re hooked and want to learn more. 2. You are more than comfortable with snow plough turns and are progressing into parallel turns, but at times you find it difficult to turn when you want to. 3. At the start of the turn you use a little snowplough to begin the direction change and then finish with parallel skis. 4. You are prepared to ski outside your comfort zone (within reason) in order to ski steeper terrain and develop your skills. 5. You have skied easier blue runs but steep blues and black runs are still intimidating.
Rising Star	1. You are becoming more confident on your skis and can turn when you want to and if you need to. 2. You are skiing increasingly steeper terrain (steeper blue runs, some easy blacks or the equivalent European Reds) 3. The snowplough at the start of your turn is only evident when the terrain is particularly difficult or steep, but in easier terrain you are almost always parallel. 4. You are beginning to understand the concept of carving and are starting to ski at speed with both skis running on an edge. 5. You are happy to explore easier off-piste and un-groomed terrain.
Intrepid Explorer	1. You are a confident skier who enjoys skiing a variety of terrain (including powder), but needs coaching to iron out bad habits. 2. You enjoy skiing black runs and fast on groomed runs. 3. You can adapt your turns to suit the terrain and vary between steered shorter turns and longer carved turns. 4. You are willing to push your skiing in moguls and trees but need practice and coaching to really feel comfortable. 5. Steep un-groomed black runs and challenging off-piste cause bad habits to return.
The Mountain Tamer	1. You have been skiing for years and are comfortable when asked to ski almost any terrain. 2. You can make adjustments in your skiing to allow for changing conditions whilst moving e.g. when skiing from groomed to un-groomed or from a shallow pitch to a steeper pitch. 3. You have experience skiing trees, moguls, powder, choppy snow, ice and any other condition the mountain can throw up, even if you cannot always ski it with style. 4. You feel like you can ski anything but would like to be able to refine your technique and improve your control. 5. You can carve at speed down black runs.

Guide to snowboard experience levels

Thirsty for More	1. Snowboarding is a new hobby of yours but you are hooked and want to learn more. 2. You can link turns on green runs (a linked turn is changing from one edge to the opposite edge). 3. You have a preferred edge you like being on and will side slip when the terrain gets too hard. 4. You have ridden down easier blue runs but steep blues and blacks are still intimidating. 5. You are reluctant to point your board down the hill.
Rising Star	1. Your confidence on a board is growing and you can change edges as and when you need too. 2. You are exploring steeper terrain (blues and easier blacks or equivalent European reds) and making an effort not to side slip through difficult sections, but at times you have to revert to side slipping. 3. You are prepared and comfortable when pointing your board down the hill on easier blue terrain. 4. You have felt the sensation of ‘carving’ and being on an edge at speed. 5. You are happy too explore easier off-piste and un-groomed terrain. 6. You have toyed with riding switch but it is pretty uncomfortable.
Intrepid Explorer	1. You are a confident snowboarder who enjoys riding a variety of terrain (including powder) but needs coaching to iron out bad habits. 2. You enjoy snowboarding on black runs and going fast on groomed terrain. 3. You can vary the size of your turn to suit the terrain. 4. Riding switch is becoming more comfortable and you willingly try it on a regular basis. 5. You are willing to push your riding in trees, moguls and steeps but need coaching and practice to become really comfortable. 6. Steep blacks and difficult off-piste cause bad habits to return.
The Mountain Tamer	1. You have been snowboarding for years and are comfortable when asked to ride almost any terrain. 2. You can make adjustments in your snowboarding to allow for changing conditions whilst moving e.g. when riding from groomed to un-groomed or from a shallow pitch to a steeper pitch. 3. You have experience snowboarding trees, moguls, powder, choppy snow, ice and any other condition the mountain can throw up, even if you cannot always ride it with style. 4. You feel like you can ride anything but would like to be able to refine your technique and improve your control. 5. You can carve at speed down steep blues and some blacks 6. Riding switch is second nature to you.