It is very important to know your ski level in order to safely navigate the slopes. The ski level, whether yours or your childrens, determine your ease and technical abilities. It allows you to decide where you can ski and what points to work on to perfect your abilities. In this article, discover a complete guide to the ski levels for adults and kids!
What are the different ski levels?
Ski level: what are we talking about?
A ski level, also known as a ski grade or ski rank, refers to a degree of proficiency in the practice of skiing. Among adults, there are 4 ski levels:
- Beginner Level: for someone who has never skied and who is comfortable in the snowplow position on slopes with a gentle incline.
- Intermediate Level: for an intermediate skier who knows their equipment and can glide and turn with parallel skis without losing their balance.
- Advanced Level: for a skier comfortable on different types of runs, who masters side-slipping and high speed.
- Expert Level: for a skier comfortable on all types of terrain (piste and off-piste), with mastery of bumps, dips, and very steep slopes.
THE FIRST SKI LEVELS AT the CLUB PIOU PIOU
The first ski levels are aimed at children: they acquire their first skills at the Club Piou Piou. This is a play area of the ESF (French Ski School), dedicated to children between 3 and 5 years old. The little ones are introduced to skiing and tested at the end of their lessons.
Here are the 4 levels:
- Piou Piou Level: knows how to move alone on the snow (on foot or on skis) and can put on and take off skis by oneself.
- Blanchot Level: know how to move on flat snowy terrain and slide on a gentle slope.
- Sifflote Level: learn the snowplow position to control speed and use ski lifts.
- Garolou Level: know how to put on and take off skis and make snowplow turns.
SKI LEARNING LEVELS
When children have passed the previous levels through group or private lessons, they can move on to the following ski levels: the Ourson and Flocon grades. They learn to master their first ski descents. Here, there is no test! The ski instructor validates the passage of each level.
The evaluated skills are:
- Ourson Level (from 4 years old): master one’s skis, know how to move on various types of almost flat terrain, control speed, glide on parallel skis, stop and make a snowplow turn, follow a course indicated by poles and perform wide turns.
- Flocon Level: this involves reinforcing all the acquired skills, but also improving balance. The child must be able to skid, ski over small bumps, and glide on parallel skis on a straight slope. They need to complete 7 to 8 turns in the snowplow position and then bring the skis back to parallel in the descent.
ADVANCED LEVELS
Young skiers can then perfect their technique with the following 3 ski levels, graded by the number of stars. They will then be ready for green, blue, and red slopes!
The ski lessons lead to the grades below:
- 1st Star Level: the skiers take continuous turns by skidding slightly while taking into account their environment and adapting their trajectory. They stop using the snowplow to perform technical turns, learn to skid and keep their skis parallel.
- 2nd Star Level: the young skiers become increasingly comfortable and can ski on dips and bumps, perfect their technique, and learn the skating step.
- 3rd Star Level: here they discover greater thrills! This level of skiing consists of learning to make turns while keeping their skis parallel, mastering their balance in straight runs, gaining speed, and braking by skidding.
AND TO PREPARE FOR COMPETITION?
Once a skier has learned to evolve with technique, safety and confidence on varied terrain, they can look into the ski levels that prepare them for competition (timed races, half pipe, freestyle courses, giant slalom, etc.). They then discover alpine skiing in all its forms:
- Bronze Star Level: ability to ski on all ski slopes (classic, steep, bumpy, slalom) and perform moguls turns with poles.
- Silver Star Level: start of ski competitions, timed performances, with less skidding for more precision and their first jump figures.
Gold Star Level: this is the highest level of skiing for children. They must be able to glide down demanding and technical slopes without any diffic et techniques.
