Club-Snowsports Proficiency Stages

For reasons of consistency in risk management, BBC Club-Snowsports has adopted the six stage proficiency scale employed by Hemel Hempstead Ski Centre. We have added a 'Stage 0' (zero), for "Complete Beginners". When booking places at Open Ski sessions, and tuition is being requested, the booking form will ask the Group Leader to provide a basic assessment of each individual's abilities on snow. The stages are described for skiers and boarders, as follows:

Skiers
Stage 0Complete beginner - No previous experience
Stage 1Can make a Snowplough (triangle) and descend in control
Stage 2Can make direction changes using the Snowplough whilst descending
Stage 3Can ski, linking Snowplough turns
Stage 4Turns are beginning to blend a combination of Snowplough and Parallel phases
Stage 5Can ski independently down the Main Slope, controlling line and speed using linked turns
Stage 6Can confidently ski Parallel from the top of the Main Slope

Boarders
Stage 0Complete beginner - No previous experience
Stage 1Can heel and toe, and edge side-slip without assistance
Stage 2Can make a heel & toe, edge, diagonal side-slip, to left & right, without assistance
Stage 3Can consistently make basic turns, in control
Stage 4Can use the Button lift without assistance and link turns by travelling diagonally between the turns
Stage 5Can perform controlled, linked turns, stop when required and understand how to snowboard on steeper terrain
Stage 6Can vary turn shape and size to match the terrain whilst maintaining constant control