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What Level Skier Are You?
Often, one of the first questions you will be asked when booking a ski lesson is, "What level skier are you?". A lot of people cannot tell you directly their level, but tend to describe the run/trails and/or the frequency they skier each season.
Around the world and as happens in Japan, most ski schools use a similar classification system for describing your skiing ability and grouping skiers into one of several categories normally referred to as beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert. NOASC is no different. Although at NOASC, unlike most other ski schools, we continue to instruct and educate you off-piste; beyond the boundaries of the ski resort, into the backcountry.
The following guide will provide you information about how to evaluate your own skiing ability and help you to choose the right NOASC Ski lesson.
Skier Level | Level Name | Description | Skiing Phase | Off-piste Level | Ski Run & Terrain Difficulty |
0 | First Timer | This lesson caters to people whom have never skied before getting use to your equipment, standing, sliding, and moving around on your skis. | Beginner | - | Flat/Beginner Slope |
1 | Beginner | Skiers whom are starting to slide and stop, maybe able to turn a little. | Novice - people whom have never skied to skiers making turns and mastering the green runs on the mountain | - |
Green |
2 | Intermediate Beginner | Skiers whom have confidence doing a snowplough/wedge turn, looking for more advice on how to link their turns and improve their ability to turn. Skiers that haven't skied for a long time, and maybe don't remember how to turn. Great place to refresh your skills. | Novice - see above. | - | Green |
3 | Advanced Beginner | You have confidence linking turns on green runs, getting on and off the beginner lifts, and you are looking to progress to some new and more challenging ski runs. | Novice - see above. | - | Green and sometimes Red runs. |
4 | Beginner Intermediate | You can ski all type of green runs on the lower mountain confidently and are ready to start skiing red (blue overseas) runs using a mixture of snowploughing/wedge turns and beginner parallel turns. Experimenting with the occassional off-piste snow run a little. | Intermediate - this is a wide area and refers to skiers who can link turns, on green or red(blue) runs, or use a parallel turn technique on easy black runs. Gaining confidence in various snow conditions. | First timer Off-piste | Green and Red |
5 | Intermediate | Level 5 is for skiers whom can confidently make turns on red ski runs, and are seeking to improve their parallel turn technique. Enjoying the fresh powder occasionally. | Intermediate - see above. | Beginner Off-Piste Powder | Red |
6 | Advanced Intermediate | You are becoming more and more confident on red runs, on and off-piste, skiing with parallel turns. | Intermediate - see above. | Intermediate Off-Piste | Red and sometimes Black |
7 | Advanced | Skier at this level are confident on red and some black runs, and are varying their skiing line, turn radius, based on snow conditions and the terrain. | Advanced - The area covers skiers who are linking turns on steeper runs, on and off-piste, in a variety of snow conditions. | Lift Access Backcountry | Black and off-piste |
8 | Mountain Explorer | You can ski comfortably, using a variety of turns, on steep terrain, tree runs, and in varying depths of powder. You have basic knowledge and experience in using backcountry equipment. | Advanced - see above. | Novice Backcountry | Black and off-piste |
9 |
Backcountry |
Skiers at this level are comfortable at skiing all terrain in all conditions, on and off-piste, and outside the resort boundaries. You may have completed a Backcountry Avalanche Awareness course. | Expert - Skiers at this phase are competent skiing in all snow conditions in and outside the resort boundaries. They possess the knowledge and skill to ski in the backcountry on half day to multiday tours. | Half Day Backcountry | All Terrain |
10 | Backcountry Explorer | You are seeking to improve your off-piste skiing skills, backcountry skiing technique and safe travel skills. You normally have your own backcountry equipment. | Expert - see above. | Full Day Backcountry | All Terrain |
11 | Backcountry Tourer | Skiers at this level regulary ski in the backcountry and are wishing to learn more about overnight snow camping techniques, advanced touring techniques. | Expert - see above. | Multi-Day/Tourer | All Terrain |
What Level Skier Are You?
Often, one of the first questions you will be asked when booking a ski lesson is, "What level skier are you?". A lot of people cannot tell you directly their level, but tend to describe the run/trails and/or the frequency they skier each season.
Around the world and as happens in Japan, most ski schools use a similar classification system for describing your skiing ability and grouping skiers into one of several categories normally referred to as beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert. NOASC is no different. Although at NOASC, unlike most other ski schools, we continue to instruct and educate you off-piste; beyond the boundaries of the ski resort, into the backcountry.
The following guide will provide you information about how to evaluate your own skiing ability and help you to choose the right NOASC Ski lesson.
- Level 0 - You have never skied before
- Level 1 - You have skied once before, but you cannot stop.
- Level 2 - You have skied before and you can stop on beginner slopes with a wedge (snow plough) stop.
- Level 3 - You can stop and are comfortable turning on beginner green ski runs. You can ride the beginner lifts.
- Level 4 - You are starting to bring your skis together at the end of each turn, and you are comfortable skiing green runs.
- Level 5 - Your skis are parallel earlier in your turns. You ski green and easy red (referred to as blue runs in Australia, North America and New Zealand) ski runs.
- Level 6 - You are improving your parallel turns and skiing mostly red ski runs.
- Level 7 - You are confident making various types of turns, on and off-piste (off the groomed ski runs) with good pole planting on all red runs, and some black runs.
- Level 8 - You can ski with controlled, consistent parallel turns on piste, on red runs, and your are improving on black runs. You are developing your off-piste powder and tree skiing.
- Level 9 - You can make strong, linked and dynamic turns, on and off-piste in a variety of conditions, in and outside the resort boundaries.
- Level 10 - You ski off-piste confidently and outside the resort boundaries regularly. You are a confident powder skier in all terrain.
- Level 11 - You ski all terrain, in all conditions, confidently. You regularly ski in the backcountry.
For a more detailed explanation of our skiing skill levels, please click here.
4 Hour Private Ski Lessons
Want to learn new skills in your own pace? Then the private lesson is right for you! We have one-on-one lessons and semi-private lessons for a small group up to 6 friends of the same ability/level. Enjoy 4 hour lesson tailored to your personal needs, having enough time to learn. Tell us what you want to work on and together we can make it come true! NOTE: Lesson includes any breaks.
Let our qualified and experienced multi-lingual instructors pass on their knowledge of skiing, while showing you the thrills and excitement of skiing. Lesson price includes a V.I.P. pick-up and drop-off service from your accommodation. Very attractive ski rental packages are also available for clients with their own ski equipment. Lift tickets are not including in the price of the lesson.
(Note: NOASC teaches lessons at resorts other than Niseko United Resorts. Contact NOASC for further information and to discuss your lesson resort of choice. Traveling times one-way vary with road conditions, please allow up to approximately 90 minutes for Sapporo regional resorts).
Additional Info
- Price 56,000yen (extra pers. for 3,000yen/pers.)
- Duration 8:30-16:30 (4 hrs including breaks 8:30AM or 12:30PM Onsnow Start) )
- Meeting Time 15mins before lesson time
- Min. Age 4 years plus
- Min. Persons 1 person
- Season Dec. through to April
- Your level? Click here to find your level.
- Book NOW! Click here to book this lesson.
- What to bring? Click here to view.
Senior Instructor 6 Hour Private Ski Lesson
Additional Info
- Price 110,000yen (extra pers. +5,000yen per person))
- Duration 8:30 - 16:30 (any 6 hrs including breaks)
- Meeting Time 15mins before lesson time
- Min. Age 4 years (check with your instructor)
- Min. Persons 1 person
- Season December through to April (best January & February)
- Your level? Click here to find your level.
- Book NOW! Click here to book this lesson.
- What to bring? Click here to view.