Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Our ski lessons are offered in FOUR fantastic levels so you can drop in with a group that’s tailored to your skill level.

• Level 1 (first time skiing)
• Level 2 (beginner zone)
• Level 3 (low intermediate)
• Level 4 (high intermediate)

Benefits to signing up for the right level ski lesson include:

• The content of the lesson will be catered to your current abilities
• You’ll be learning in a group with skiers of a similar level
• You’ll be taught by an instructor best suited to teach your level

Take a few moments to read through this handy breakdown to ensure you have chosen your level correctly. You’ll be set up for a great ski lesson at Sugar Bowl.

Level 1: I’m a First Time Skier

Green Circle Runs

Q: Have you ever skied before?

No? You are a Level 1 skier. Pretty simple, there is no need to read further until you return for more lessons on your path to becoming a lifetime skier/rider.

Yes? If you have skied before in the past few years, and you already know how to make a wedge turn, consider exploring Level 2 lessons instead.

More about Level 1

Booking a Level 1 lesson with one of our certified ski instructors will get you started in the right direction. The progress you can make with an hour of ski instruction can replace many days of figuring it out on your own. You’ll cover how ski equipment functions and learn foundational skills like turning and stopping. A Learn to Ski Package is the best way to get started and includes rentals, a lesson, and a lift ticket.

Level 2: I’ve skied before and I’m all about the wedge turn

Green Circle Runs

Q: Can you stop and change direction using a wedge?

Q: Do you use a wedge at any time during a turn?

Q: Do you prefer skiing green runs? 

Q: Can you ride a chairlift?

If the skier above sounds like you, Level 2 is a great next lesson for you. If you are already transitioning to parallel turns, move ahead to Level 3.

More about Level 2

Mastering the wedge turn (otherwise known as the “pizza”) is a great first step towards learning to ski. You’ll be able to stop, turn, and generally get to where you need to go on the mountain. As your control and balance improves, you’ll be ready to start learning “parallel turns” and gain the skills to ski more advanced terrain in Level 3

Level 3: I can comfortably ski or ride green runs and want to move to blue runs.

Green Circle + Blue Square Runs

Q: Can you comfortably link parallel turns on green runs?

Q: Are you starting to work up to skiing some easy blue runs?

Q: Can you ski with poles?

If you have transitioned from wedge turns to parallel turns and you are starting to move from green terrain to blue terrain, keep progressing with a Level 3 lesson.

More about Level 3

If you’re skiing with parallel turns some or most of the time, you’ve made it into Level 3. You should feel confident on green circle runs and want to start mixing in some easier blue square terrain. It’s okay if your happy place is still green runs, but hopefully you are starting to feel that if you took your time, you would be confident controlling your skis on more advanced terrain. 

Level 4: I can comfortably manage speed with the shape of turns on blue runs.

Blue Runs+

Q: Can you comfortably link a parallel turn on blue runs

Q: Are you starting to work up to skiing some easy black runs?

Q: Can you make dynamic turns skiing in parallel the whole time?

If you are confident making parallel turns on blue runs, Level 4 can provide helpful insight into taking your skiing to the next level.

More about Level 4

Don’t settle once you’ve transitioned to an intermediate. Sure, you may be able to ski the groomers comfortably, but can you do it with style? Skiing is a lifelong pursuit and Level 4 will help you fine tune your skills, break out of bad habits, and have you on your way to becoming an expert skier progressing to more black diamond terrain.