Things to Know Before You Register:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- All Snow School Programs require the purchase of a valid Season Pass or lift ticket.
- 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 |