Powder Ability

Getting to know your resort ability, aggressiveness, and powder ability helps us to get to know what you are looking for on your vacation, set up your equipment, and if you are not coming as a group who we might group with you.

RESORT ABILITY

Let us know what your average day at a ski resort looks like.

Novice: I can go a day without falling, on the bunny hill. Skier ability to link strong snowplow turns or wide stance parallel. Snowboarder ability to link turns in both directions. Feel comfortable on green runs and occasionally venture onto blue runs.

Intermediate: There is not a run I won’t try, but I prefer the blues. Skier able to ski parallel turns with pole plant. Snowboard ability to turn without side sliding. Can descend blue runs comfortably and attempt occasional black diamond. Starting to explore more varied terrain.

Advanced: I like challenging and varied terrain and can handle black diamond. Skier able to ski strong parallel turns with a pole plant on all blue runs and black runs. Snowboard able to make strong carving turns on all blue and black runs.Capable of, short turns, adapting to varied terrain including off-piste, moguls, powder and more complex terrain.

Expert: I don’t get out of bed for anything less than black diamond. Enjoy the challenge of skiing in control in all conditions and terrain. Basically a pro.

SKIER TYPE FOR AGGRESSIVENESS (FOR SALOMON SKI BINDING DIN SET UP)

What Type of Skier are you?
Determining your skier type is your responsibility!
Your skier type, height, weight, age and ski boot sole length are used by the shop to determine the visual indicator settings of your ski bindings.
Be sure to provide accurate information, as any error may increase your risk of injury. Consult these descriptions to select your classification.

Type 1: “Cautious skiing at LOWER visual indicator settings”

• Prefer slow to moderate speeds.
• Prefer gentle to moderate terrain.
• Receive lower than average visual indicator settings. This may Increase the risk of inadvertent binding release in order to increase the likelihood of release in a fall.
• Type 1 settings apply to “entry-level skiers uncertain of their classification.

Type 2: “Moderate skiing at AVERAGE visual indicator settings”

• Prefer a variety of speeds.
• Prefer varied terrain.
• Type 2 skiers are skiers who do not meet all the descriptions of Type 1 or Type 3 skier types.

Type 3: “Aggressive skiing at HIGHER visual indicator settings”

• Prefer fast speeds.
• Prefer steep terrain.
• Receive higher than average visual indicator settings. This may reduce the likelihood of release in a fall in order to decrease the risk of inadvertent binding release.

If from experience, you have been dissatisfied with visual indicator settings resulting from your selected skier type classification, you may wish to consider: (a) changing your skier type classification; (b) selecting different skier type classifications for toe and heel components; (c) selecting skier Types -1 (“for skiers who desire visual indicator settings lower than settings for a Type 1 skier”) or 3+ (“for skiers who desire visual indicator settings higher than settings for a Type 3 skier”).

POWDER ABILITY RATINGS

Your ability in powder might be different than your resort ability depending on how much exposure you have had to powder snow and mountainous terrain.

Novice Powder: I have no Powder Snow experience, but I know it something that I want to learn, and that heli-skiing/boarding is an awesome opportunity to learn. I am looking for instruction and support to hit my powder skiing dreams.

Intermediate Powder: I have some exposure to varied mountainous terrain and conditions. I can (or feel confident) that I can link turns on low to moderate angled terrain in backcountry (ungroomed snow) in most conditions. I can navigate well-spaced trees in good conditions. Steeper terrain and trees will be a challenge for me. I am looking for a couple of pointers so I can become consistent and efficient in powder skiing/boarding, and more comfortable in a broader set of backcountry terrain.

Advanced Powder: I have regularly skied/boarded mountainous terrain and have experience and confidence in powder snow. I can consistently link turns on moderate to steep slopes in the backcountry in most conditions. I can link turns in steep terrain and trees in most conditions.

Expert Powder: I am experienced, totally confident and capable of skiing/boarding any backcountry terrain in any conditions.