Registration & Ability Levels

Escarpment and snow

Things to Know Before You Register:

  1. Know the ability of the participant. Be realistic on the level of what you or your child can comfortably ski or snowboard at. This makes sure it’s the best learning experience for both student and snow school instructor to ensure the lessons are as tailored to the development of your lesson participants as possible! You can check your ability in the Abilities Chart below.
  2. Please ensure that you select the correct level for your ability. Students who enroll in programs that are too difficult or too easy for their actual skill ability will need to be moved to appropriate programs. If space is available, this move will be made and any difference in price will be charged. If space is unavailable, the student may need to be unenrolled. A refund will be provided, less a $50 administration fee. 
  3. Select Your Lesson Program. Match the ability of you or your child to the type of program that will best suit your goal and schedule. You can check out our Snow School Programs here.
  4. All Snow School Programs require the purchase of a valid Season Pass or lift ticket. 
  5. Please note that if the program or time you would like to sign up for most is not available, you now have the option to sign up for a Wish List. You will receive a confirmation e-mail, however, this does not guarantee you a spot in the program. Should more spots become available, you will be contacted by our Visitor Services team.

Glen Eden Abilities Chart

BEGINNER

Level 0 Never snowboarded before

NOVICE

Level 1 Very limited experience
Can skate on flat terrain with 1 foot strapped in
Maintains a solid neutral position on heel edge
Can glide in a balanced position
Able to use toe or heel to stop while sliding
Able to stand up on own after falling
Able to control speed on heel edge with both feet strapped in

NOVICE

Level 2 Can stop and turn on green runs
Able to change direction and traverse on heel edge
Able to control speed on toe edge with both feet strapped in
Able to change direction and traverse on toe edge
Maintains a solid neutral position on heel and toe edge
Confidently loads and unloads surface lifts

INTERMEDIATE

Level 3 Can stop and turn on blue runs and can use chairlift with assistance
Can smoothly switch edges in the fall line
Can use turn shape to better control speed
Can connect turns on green terrain
Load/unload chairlifts safely
Able to stand up independently
Rides in control on green and blue terrain

INTERMEDIATE

Level 4 Greater confidence but still challenge on steeper terrain and can use chairlift with minor assistance
Able to control speed while turning
Turning effort is from hips, knees and ankles with upper body following
Demonstrate up and down movement using knees and ankles
Maintains a solid neutral position while turning
Ride with increased speed on blue and uneven terrain

ADVANCED

Level 5 Confident on most terrain but still refining skills
Uses lower joints to add grip in the fall line
Ollie and nollie and landing well balanced on both feet
Able to maintain control while turning on ice and steeper terrain
Turning effort is from hips, knees and ankles with upper body following
Introduced to switch riding on green terrain
Introduced to carved traverse on green terrain
Introduced to small terrain park features

ADVANCED

Level 6 Confident on all terrain in most conditions and mastering skills
Able to show independent leg movement while traversing uneven terrain
Ride with increased speed and narrower turn shape on blue and black terrain
Can the differentiate between sliding and carve turns
Able to carve basic turns on green terrain
Introduced to switch riding on blue terrain
Introduced to medium terrain park features

ADVANCED

Level 7 Confident on all terrain, in all conditions, and comfortable with a variety of turn shapes and speeds
Able to adjust balance along edge to vary turn shape
Able to edge early in turns, increasing efficiency
Able to do short radius turns on black terrain
Able to bend the board and redirect some energy into the next turn
Able to vary carved turn shape on blue terrain
Maintains a solid neutral position in uneven terrain
Introduced to large terrain park features

ADVANCED

Level 8 Progressing towards the ability level of your instructor or coach
Able to bend the board and redirect all energy into next turn
Able to ride bumps with increased speed
Can ride switch at increasing speeds on all terrain
Rides with fluidity in all conditions
Able to vary carved turn shape on black terrain
Able to ride at high speeds in all conditions

BEGINNER

Level 0 Never skied before

NOVICE

Level 1 Very limited experience
Can stop in a wedge under own power
Able to climb uphill by side stepping
Straight run on a gentle slope
Able to stand up on own after falling (assisted for Kinder Ski)
Rides surface lifts with assistance

NOVICE

Level 2 Can stop and turn on green runs
Able to glide in a wedge & change direction
Connect turns on green terrain
Able to control speed while turning
Confidently loads and unloads surface lifts by themselves
Able to climb up gentle incline using a skating technique

INTERMEDIATE

Level 3 Can stop and turn on blue runs and can use chairlift with assistance
Load/unload chairlifts safely
Rides in control on green and blue terrain
Stays balanced using ankles, knees and hips to stay centered
Can stop quickly using edges for more grip without losing balance
Able to adjust size of wedge to control speed in turns

INTERMEDIATE

Level 4 Greater confidence but still challenge on steeper terrain and can use chairlift with minor assistance
Ride with increased speed safely on blue and uneven terrain
Able to show independent leg movement while riding uneven terrain
Can stop quickly in a wedge on blue terrain
Can perform a hockey stop on easier terrain
Able to balance on my outside ski so they match near the end of the turn
Beginning  to steer using legs independently of my upper body

ADVANCED

Level 5 Confident on most terrain but still refining skills
Ability to balance on outside ski and create angulation for grip
Can control themselves on more challenging terrain using edges and turn shape
Can link shorter turns in the fall line on blue terrain
Demonstrates skidded parallel turns on black terrain
Links complete parallel turns on blue terrain
Can adjust efforts to handle terrain and speed

ADVANCED

Level 6 Confident on all terrain in most conditions and mastering skills
Manages speed with confidence on all terrain
Able to ski parallel on all terrain regardless of turn shape
Uses confidence on all terrain in most conditions and mastering skill separation to establish grip
Adjusts effort when terrain and conditions change during a run
Can copy rhythm of a skier they are following

ADVANCED

Level 7 Confident on all terrain, in all conditions, and comfortable with a variety of turn shapes and speeds
Can ski with confidence at speed in all conditions safely
Can ski in bumps and/or challenging conditions at intermediate speeds
Can use design of skis to help adjust turn shape and speed
Maintains speed by adjusting the amount of edge relative to terrain
Developing rhythm during consistent turn shapes

ADVANCED

Level 8 Progressing towards the ability level of your instructor or coach
Turns lower body appropriate to turn shape
Can create energy from turn to turn
Maintains separation so they can angulate to generate desired amounts of grip
Able to correct balance automatically using a blend of joints
Can ski in bumps and/or challenging conditions rhythmically at advanced speeds