Site Under Construction. thanks for your patience          

Scroll down to find the levels 1 through 9 described and rate yourself!

Trail markings from North America

n beginner slopes, flats

n easy beginner slopes

n harder beginner slopes

¢ easy blues

¢ harder blues, most conditions

¿ easy blacks

¿ harder blacks, all conditions

¿¿ easy double blacks, best conditions

¿¿ all double blacks, all conditions

You are probably wondering why you haven't seen these classifications at the ski area. 

Truth is, they are not there.  Except for :

n beginner slopes

¢ blue slopes

¿ black slopes

¿¿ double black slopes

However, if you have ever been in a lesson, you'll often hear these terms.   "You are ready for an easy blue."

Well, how would you know the difference? You wouldn't. That is, until you ski on them. You will realize that not all greens, nor blues, nor blacks are created equal.  The signs at most areas don't indicate an easy blue from a difficult one that was nearly rated as a black.  To find out, you can either ask  local or Ski With Kelly.  

wink wink nudge nudge

Level 1  n  

You are ready to take the plunge. 

Level 2   n

Congratulations!  You are either back for your second time or you have had a few hours of skiing behind you.  You are sliding now and still working on being in balance.  You may have experienced changing direction and/or stopping, but it doesn’t always happen on command.  Sound Familiar?

You are ready to learn how to get more control turning and you will soon be going to the Fanny Hill chairlift in Snowmass or Venus chairlift in Las Leñas.  

Level 3   nn      

 You can turn and stop now most of the time on an easy green slope. You may be using a wedge or parallel. You are ready to learn how to improve yours turns to move onto to harder greens.

 Level 4   n n ¢ 

You have mastered all the green slopes and you are looking at those blue slopes wondering how much harder are they anyway.  You are ready to give the easiest ones a try.

 Level 5   n n ¢ ¢

 You are skiing on green and easy blues. You would like to learn better control on the steeper blues, and the easy blues when they are not perfectly groomed.

 Level 6   n n ¢ ¢ ¿  

You are skiing all greens and blues and are ready to try an easy groomed black. You might even want to try some easy moguls. If you haven’t already been introduced to pole planting, now might be a good time.

 Level 7   n n ¢ ¢ ¿  ¿

 You can ski the greens, blues and blacks. You may want to improve any of these: carving, moguls, powder, short radius, pole plants, or easy trees.

 Level 8   n n ¢ ¢ ¿ ¿   ¿¿  

You can ski most of the mountain.  You might like to improve on anything from the Level 7 list. You may be ready for deeper powder, difficult crud, or starting to adventure onto the double blacks in good conditions.

 Level 9   n n ¢ ¢ ¿  ¿   ¿¿   ¿¿

You ski everywhere!  You are having a blast all over the mountain.  You also know that there are some areas that might still be holding you back. You’d like to be able to move quicker for the trees and steeper slopes. You’d also like to be smoother, more fluid and efficient, less tired after those difficult bump, steeps or tree runs.  You’ve long since discovered that one of the greatest pleasures of skiing is you can always improve.

Level 10 n n ¢ ¢ ¿  ¿   ¿¿   ¿¿       

You rip!  Come apply for a job! @snowmass @las lenas