Classic Technique
Level 1 Classic (Beginner)
- I am working on correctly putting on and taking off my skis and poles.
- I am more comfortable moving down the trail with poles than without poles.
- I use my poles more for stability than as an additional source of propulsion.
- I prefer to keep both skis on the snow at the same time.
- I am unsure how to slow down or to stop.
- I have never confidently executed a snowplow.
Level 1+ Classic (Beginner +)
- I can put on my skis and poles correctly and take then off with ease.
- I can stride without poles on flats and small uphills.
- I have been introduced to both diagonal striding and double pole techniques.
- I can bring myself to a complete stop using a snowplow.
- I can execute individual snowplow turns to the left or right.
- I am beginning to connect multiple snowplow turns in succession.
Level 2- Classic (Intermediate -)
- I can stride confidently without poles on flats and sustained gradual uphills (green/easy/beginner trails).
- I use both diagonal stride and double pole regularly throughout my ski.
- I am not familiar with kick-double pole.
- I can bring myself to a complete stop quickly using a snowplow.
- I can link snowplow turns and navigate natural curves in the trail.
Level 2 Classic (Intermediate)
- I can diagonal stride confidently without poles on all (blue/intermediate/moderate trails) but find my skis slipping occasionally.
- I sometimes hear my rear ski slapping down on the snow behind me.
- I have been introduced to and/or attempted the kick-double pole technique.
- I can stop on a downhill using a snowplow and am also practicing my hockey stop.
- I can execute step turns on flat or gradual downhill corners.
Level 2+ Classic (Intermediate +)
- I can diagonal stride without poles on most terrain.
- I can diagonal stride, double pole, and kick-double pole, but need a reminder of when to use which technique.
- I can stop using a snowplow or hockey stop.
- I can use skate turns to maintain momentum on most downhill corners.
- I have attempted parallel turns but do not regularly choose to use them.
Level 3 Classic (Advanced)
- I can diagonal stride almost any terrain confidently without poles (including sustained, steeper uphills) and can run, herringbone, or half herringbone efficiently with poles to maintain speed and momentum on steeper inclines.
- I can identify appropriate technique for different speed and terrain.
- I am fine tuning smooth transitions between double pole, kick-double pole, diagonal stride, and herringbone to maintain momentum as the terrain changes.
- I can double pole up hill.
- I can stop smoothly using a snowplow or hockey stop.
- I can perform a wedge turn, step turn, or parallel turn on almost any downhill.
Skate Technique
Level 1 Skate (Beginner)
- I am working on correctly putting on and taking off my skis and poles.
- I rely largely on my poles to create forward movement and to propel myself down the trail.
- I use my poles for balance.
- I am not sure WHEN to use my poles relative to my skis.
- I prefer to keep both skis on the snow at the same time.
- I have never successfully executed a snowplow.
- I can use a snowplow to slow my speed on straight, gradual downhills but have difficulty stopping quickly.
Level 1+ Skate (Beginner +)
- I can put on my skis and poles correctly and take then off with ease.
- I can skate without poles for short periods on flat terrain.
- I can ski using one of the three poling techniques (V1, V2, and V2 Alternate).
- I can bring myself to a complete stop using a snowplow.
- I can execute individual snowplow turns to the left or right.
- I am beginning to connect multiple snowplow turns in succession.
Level 2- Skate (Intermediate -)
- I can ski flat terrain and gradual uphills without poles (green/easy/beginner trails).
- I can ski using two or three of the three poling techniques (V1, V2, and V2 alternate).
- I can bring myself to a complete stop quickly using a snowplow.
- I can link snowplow turns and navigate natural curves in the trail.
Level 2 Skate (Intermediate)
- I can ski flat terrain and moderate uphills without poles (blue/intermediate/moderate trails).
- I have attempted all three poling techniques (V1, V2, and V2 Alternate) but need clarification on the differences between them.
- I can stop on a downhill using a snowplow and am also practicing my hockey stop.
- I can execute skate turns on flat or gradual downhill corners.
Level 2+ Skate (Intermediate +)
- I can confidently ski flats and moderate uphills without poles and am attempting some steeper hills without poles (black/advanced/most difficult trails).
- I can use all three poling techniques (V1, V2, and V2 Alternate) and have a clear understanding of which is which and when to use them.
- I am most comfortable using V1 on one side or the other (left or right).
- I can stop using a snowplow or hockey stop.
- I can use skate turns to maintain momentum on most downhill corners.
- I have attempted parallel turns but do not regularly choose to use them.
Level 3 Skate (Advanced)
- I can ski almost any terrain without poles (including sustained or steeper uphills).
- I can identify the appropriate technique for different speed and terrain.
- I can execute both V1 and V2-Alternate on both (left and right) sides.
- I can transition seamlessly between techniques (V1, V2, and V2-Alternate) including right side V1 to left side V1.
- I can stop smoothly using a snowplow or hockey stop.
- I can perform a wedge turn, skate turn, or parallel turn on almost any downhill.