What's My Skill Level?

The level descriptions we use here at Sugarbush are a guide that enables the Ski & Ride School to better accommodate guests’ needs. If you have specific goals, please share them with the Ski & Ride School staff so they may better accommodate you needs. Lesson levels are as follows:

Level One:

Skiers & Riders: “Never-Ever” – first time skiers and riders.

Level Two:

Skiers: Can stop using a wedge (a/k/a “snowplow”).

Riders: Can skid on both toe-side and heel-side and can traverse.

Level Three:

Skiers: Can make turns using a wedge.

Riders: Can turn in both directions.

Level Four:

Skiers: Can link wedge turns, working on different turn shapes and sizes.

Riders: Can link turns, working on different turn shapes and sizes.

Level Five:

Skiers: Using turn shape to control speed, beginning to match skis in open-stance parallel.

Riders: Using turn shape to control speed, beginning freestyle maneuvers.

Level Six:

Skiers: Matching skis earlier in turns and using little wedge, more refined ability to control speed and direction, and venturing to easy off-piste terrain.

Riders: Linking shaped turns on most groomed terrain, venturing into terrain parks and off-piste.

Level Seven:

Skiers: Parallel on all but the steepest groomed terrain, skiing off-piste, including bumps and trees.

Riders: Confident on all but the steepest groomed terrain, riding off-piste, and beginning to do tricks in the terrain park.

Level Eight:

Skiers: Making dynamic parallel turns, skiing fall-line moguls and consistently skiing on all terrain types including the terrain park and NASTAR.

Riders:  Making dynamic turns, riding on all terrain and in all snow conditions, and performing tricks in the terrain park.

Level Nine:

Skiers & Riders: Confident, in balance and in control using refined technique in all conditions, on all terrain, all of the time. Principal technical focus is tactical and skill blending activities.