What Level Snowboarder Are You?

Often, one of the first questions you will be asked when booking a snowboard lesson is, "What level snowboarder are you?". A lot of people cannot tell you directly their level, but tend to describe the run/trails and/or the frequency they snowboard each season.

Around the world and as happens in Japan, most snowboard schools use a similar classification system for describing your snowboarding ability and grouping snowboarders into one of several categories normally referred to as beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert. NOASC is no different. Although at NOASC, unlike most other snowboard 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 snowboarding ability and help you to choose the right NOASC snowboard lesson.

• Level 0 - You have never snowboarded before
• Level 1 - You have snowboarded once before, fell-over lots, forgotten how to turn and stop.
• Level 2 - You have snowboarded before and you can do basic single turns. Can side slip on both heel-side and toe-side edges with both feet in your bindings.
• Level 3 - You can link large radius (sweeping) turns together and stop on gentle beginner slopes. You can ride the beginner lift.
• Level 4 - You can confidently link turns together in both directions and control your speed on green and some red (coded as blue in US, Aus., N.Z.) runs/trails. Occasionally, head off-piste.
• Level 5 - You can snowboard confidently on all green runs and most red runs. Starting to enjoy a little off-piste snowboarding in a variety of snow conditions. Not confident on bumpy run/trails.
• Level 6 - You can perform linked turns on all red runs (incl. similar off-piste runs) of varying sizes, with good speed control. Sometimes, black runs under good conditions. You are beginning to carve your turns. Enjoying off-piste powder and open tree runs.
• Level 7 - You are confident making various types of turns, on and off-piste (in the open trees) on all red runs, and most black runs. You are seeking more challenging terrain inside and outside of the ski resort boundaries. Your carving your turns on all red run/trails and confident on bump runs.
• Level 8 - You can carve, link dynamic turns, on all terrain, in all snow conditions. Riding the trees is not a problem. Regularly snowboarding outside the ski resort on half-day backcountry lessons.
• 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 and in the backcountry.
• Level 10 - You snowboard all terrain, in all conditions, confidently. You regularly snowboard in the backcountry. You wish to explore multi-day touring.

For a more detailed explanation of our snowboarding levels, please click here. NOTE: Access to the backcountry from the ski resort is through gates.

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.

Things to bring when going Rafting:

Spring (April - June) ， Autumn (September - October)
	Even though you will be wearing semi dry suits over your clothes, it is advised that you wear clothes you don't mind if they get wet. For example, track suit top and bottoms, a fleece top and bottoms, and thermals. We recommend clothes that are non-restricitve and allow free movement of your limbs.
	We also advise that you do not wear cotton made clothes, as they absorb moisture and fail to insulate the body when they become wet.
Summer (July - August)
	NOASC recommends you wear clothes you won't mind if they get wet, such as an old tee shirt and shorts, your swimmers, etc. On hot days your swimmers, with a polyester tee shirt, along with our life jackets over the top provides ample protection against the weather. Make sure you don't forget your sunscreen.
	With regards to footwear, please wear sport sandals, some old runners, etc. Make sure your sport sandals have a supporting ankle strap to help prevent you loosing them if you happen to fall into the river.
	For clients who do not possess the above foot wear NOASC will provide rental wet boots (size 22cm to 32cm) free of charge.
	For clients with feet size under 22cm long, please provide your own foot wear, or contact NOASC for advice.
All Seasons (Including winter)
	Most persons participating in river activities get wet. We highly recommend that you bring with you a towel, a dry change of clothes, and some money to purchase your NOASC Adventure tour photos at the end of your tour.
	Please leave all valuables, accessories (watches, necklaces, bracelets, etc.) at home, as these items are not allowed to be brought on tour.
	For persons who wear glasses, or contact lenses, we ask you to consider not wearing these items whilst on tour. To help prevent possible damage or lose of these items on tour, we strongly advise you to wear swimming goggles, use sport straps to help secure your glasses to your head, and/or consider using disposable contact lenses when participating in a NOASC adventure activity.
	Tours are generally not affected by rain. In the case NOASC cancels a tour on the day of the tour, we will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible.
NOASC Tour Conditions
	To help prevent accidents, injuries to oneself and other persons on tour, persons that are under influence of alcohol, pregnant, suffer from an injury that may be adversely affected by one’s participation, may be refused participation. Please contact our staff if you have any questions about this matter.
	All participants must read and sign an “Assumption of risk and Wavier of liability” form prior to participating on a NOASC tour. Persons under the age of 18 years will require a parent or guardian to sign also.
	Although, basic insurance is included in the tour price, we recommend persons to have their own adequate insurance. For non-Japanese residents, we strongly recommend that you have adequate travel insurance coverage prior to participation.

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.