STEP LEVELS
The Snow Stars Levels give your child an indication of where they stand in terms of their development. Click below to find out what Step Level your child falls under!
SKIING
Objective: Changing direction in a wedge without a ski tip apparatus.
Abilities: Able to control speed on green runs; able to perform a snow plow stop.
SNOWBOARDING
Objective: Changing direction in a wedge without a ski tip apparatus.
Abilities: Able to control speed on green runs; able to perform a snow plow stop.
SKIING
Objective: Snow plow turns on intermediate terrain (River Styx) without assistance.
Abilities: Able to perform different radius snow plow turns on green terrain (Upper Paradise); varies speed according to terrain.
SNOWBOARDING
Objective: Beginner
Abilities: Side slipping on both edges with direction control on green terrain; able to bend joints to stay in a balanced position; able to get up off the snow; able to side slip on heels and toes; able to side slip pendulum on both edges; able to change both directions when prompted; able to adjust speed based on slope pitch (e.g., faster on flatter terrain).
SKIING
Objective: Able to balance on the outside ski and carve the bottom part of the turn on flatter terrain (Upper Paradise) while using a snow plow.
Abilities: Able to create skidded linked snow plow turns on steeper terrain (Paradise); varies speed according to terrain; on flatter terrain comfortably skis at an increased speed (Meadows).
SNOWBOARDING
Objective: Beginner
Abilities: Beginner turns on a green terrain unassisted; able to load and unload the chairlift; able to move the board down the fall line; able to initiate a turn down the fall line by transferring weight to the lead leg; able to pivot to engage the new edge; able to centre weight over both feet back into a sideslip; able to adjust speed using side slipping based on slope pitch (e.g. faster on flatter terrain).
SKIING
Objective: Able to balance on the outside ski and create a carved turn while showing a small plow on intermediate terrain (Limbo).
Abilities: Able to perform different radius snow plow turns on intermediate/blue terrain; varies speed according to terrain; on flatter terrain comfortably skis at an increased speed (Upper Paradise).
SNOWBOARDING
Objective: Intermediate
Abilities: Novice turns on green terrain; beginning to lengthen leg (top of turn) and shorten (bottom of the turn) by bending joints; able to maintain balanced body position over varied terrain; able to link beginner turns unassisted on blue terrain; able to traverse on edge on green terrain; beginning to steer using the upper body; able to adjust speed based using the size of a turn on slope pitch (e.g. faster on flatter terrain).
SKIING
Objective: Able to balance on outside ski and create a carved turn while skis become parallel in second part of turn on blue/intermediate terrain (Limbo).
Abilities: Able to ski in control at a reasonable speed on advanced intermediate terrain (Limbo, Achilles); on expert terrain (Inferno/Stairway) can comfortably control speed and make linked turns; on flatter terrain is able to show more bending of lower joints laterally.
SNOWBOARDING
Objective: Intermediate
Abilities: Carved traverse and novice turns on blue terrain; hopping in traverse (off two feet) experimenting with switch riding; able to maintain a balanced body position on steeper terrain; able to maintain a pure edge through a traverse; able to use the lower body to initiate turns; able to maintain turn size; gain comfort at higher speeds.
SKIING
Objective: Able to balance on outside ski while skis are parallel throughout turn on intermediate/blue terrain (Limbo).
Abilities: Controls speed on advanced terrain (Achilles/Inferno); able to maintain turn shape on stepper terrain (Inferno); shows more bending of lower joints on intermediate/blue terrain.
SNOWBOARDING
Objective: Intermediate
Abilities: Carved turns on green terrain and linking novice turns on advanced terrain; able to ride S freestyle terrain; increased edge control; absorb bumps by flexing the lower body able to ollie and nollie; able to link turns on advanced terrain; able to complete flat 180’s and 360’s; maintains an edge throughout the turn; able to control speed on steeper terrain; knows terrain park safety and etiquette; can pop off small jumps; can 50-50 on a small flat box.
SKIING
Objective: Able to execute linked performance turns while adapting to varying terrain.
Abilities: Controls speed by varying turn shape according to terrain; able to ski expert terrain confidently (Waterfall); varies stance width according to speed, terrain and radius; consistently able to create round turns on varied terrain.
SNOWBOARDING
Objective: Advanced
Abilities: Carved turns on blue terrain and beginning to use advanced sliding turns on black terrain; able to ride M freestyle terrain; can hop to change edges; able to consistently keep upper body stable while turning lower body; can turn fluidly in bumpy terrain; comfortable riding switch on green terrain; able to edge at the top of the turn (1:00 and 11:00); uses knees and feet to turn the snowboard; able to consistently control speed on steeper terrain using a shorter radius (e.g., to not speed up); able to maintain a consistent speed over varied terrain; confident with straight airs off of small to medium sized jumps; experimenting with grabs, ollies and nollies off of bumps or rollers; boardslides on a box.
SKIING
Objective: Able to execute linked rhythmical turns at high speed.
Abilities: Controls speed on slightly bumpy terrain; able to ski shorter radius turns on expert terrain confidently e.g. Waterfall; varies stance width according to speed terrain and radius.
SNOWBOARDING
Objective: Advanced
Abilities: Able to ride all terrain in all conditions and carve on all terrain; beginning to ride L and XL features and perform maneuvers on S and M features; ability to anticipate changes in terrain; can show performance by manipulating the fore/aft and lateral pressure on the board; can switch between sliding and carved turns; comfortable riding switch on advanced terrain; can mix up turn types; controls the release of the board at the end of the turn and directs the board using the knees and feet into the next turn; can read the terrain and adjust their riding to keep a consistent speed; can grab board in all four quarters; increasing height of a jump by ollie or by popping; spinning 180’s/360’s off of small to medium jumps; can rotate on a boxnose/tail presses on a box or rail.
SKIING
Objective: Able to execute linked rhythmical turns while adapting to bumpy terrain.
Abilities: Controls speed on steeper, bumpy terrain; able to ski shorter radius turns on expert terrain confidently e.g. Waterfall; varies stance width according to speed, terrain and radius; consistently able to create round turns on expert terrain at increased speed.