Find your Off-Piste Level

Skiing or snowboarding off-piste is the ultimate adventure and a goal for many snowsports enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking for an intro session to dip your toes in the powder or want a local guide to take you on a backcountry adventure, we can help.

Find your off-piste ski or snowboard level with our handy guide to help you select the right lesson or adventure for your ability. The levels describe what level you are currently at and what you can already do, not what you will be learning in the lessons. These off-piste levels help us ensure that we select the perfect instructor for your lesson, so you can develop new off-piste skills and build confidence.

Then, once you’ve determined your level, find out what off-piste group lessons and off-piste private lessons we have on offer.

skier carrying skies drawing

Off-Piste Level 1

You’ve not skied off-piste or may have ventured outside of the piste markers, but more often than not, this doesn’t go to plan. You’re primarily working on linking turns in variable conditions.

Snow plow skiier drawing

Off-Piste Level 2

You’ve got a little experience skiing off-piste, often at the side of or between runs. You can link turns in variable or light-powder snow. Most of your off-piste skiing has been on easy slopes no steeper than a blue.

Snow plow skiier drawing blue

Off-Piste Level 3

You can confidently ski off-piste on steeper slopes. You’ve several weeks of off-piste experience and a basic understanding of avalanche safety and rescue. You’re confident in variable snow, link turns with a consistent speed and turn shape in good conditions. 

Parrell skiier drawing

Off-Piste Level 4

You’re confident skiing or snowboarding off-piste in all conditions and terrain, including steep and narrow couloirs. In almost all situations, you ski fluidly and actively seek challenging terrain and snow conditions. 

Off-Piste Level 1

You’ve not skied off-piste or may have ventured outside of the piste markers, but more often than not, this doesn’t go to plan. You’re primarily working on linking turns in variable conditions. Equivalent to Ski Club GB’s ‘Ski Club Red’.

Total Skiing/Snowboarding Experience: Min. 5 weeks

Off-Piste Experience: 0-3 weeks

Our recommendations for you:

Off-Piste Level 2

You’ve a little experience skiing off-piste, often at the side of or between runs. You can link turns in variable or light-powder snow. Most of your off-piste skiing has been on easy slopes no steeper than a blue. Equivalent to Ski Club GB’s ski club Silver.

Total Skiing/Snowboarding Experience: Min. 10 weeks

Off-Piste Experience: Min. 3 weeks with a guide

Our recommendations for you:

Off-Piste Level 3

You can confidently ski off-piste on steeper slopes (Red Gradient). You’ve several weeks of off-piste experience and a basic understanding of avalanche safety and rescue. You’re confident in variable snow, link turns with a consistent speed and turn shape in good conditions. You’ve some experience skiing in challenging conditions like sun crust and wind-affected snow. Equivalent to Ski Club GB’s ski club purple.

Total Skiing/Snowboarding Experience: Min. 15 weeks.

Off-Piste Experience: More than 6 weeks

Our recommendations for you:

Expert parrell skiier drawingOff-Piste Level 4

You’re confident skiing or snowboarding off-piste in all conditions and terrain, including steep and narrow couloirs. In almost all situations, you ski fluidly and actively seek challenging terrain and snow conditions. You thoroughly understand off-piste safety procedures and have practiced regularly with avalanche safety equipment. Equivalent to Ski Club GB’s ski club gold.

Total Skiing/Snowboarding Experience: Min. 10 weeks

Off-Piste Experience: Min. 3 weeks with a guide

Our recommendations for you:

Adult Ski Level FAQs

We do our best to ensure that this doesn’t happen during the booking process. If your instructor feels that you are in the wrong group, however, we will do our best to move you into a more suitable level.

No. We are really proud of our diverse, fun and friendly international team. Boasting some of the best instructors from around the world. Hailing from England to Edinburgh, Austria to Australia, and everything in between. All of our instructors speak good English, and most importantly, they have extensive experience teaching in English. Many of our instructors are native English speakers but that’s not the only important factor we consider when we recruit our instructor team. Our instructors are carefully selected for their teaching ability, people skills, and passion for the sport, as well as their fluency in English. We think this makes our team a well-rounded bunch and it means that we also have other language skills should you require them.

  • During peak weeks our adult groups have 2 – 8 people.
  • During non-peak weeks, all our French resorts have 2 -6 per group.
  • In Verbier, our groups have 2 -5 per group and in Villars 2 – 4 per group.

Depending on which resort you’re heading to, requirements will vary. Refer to the ski school pages for resort-specific recommendations.

Alternatively, we’re always here to help. Get in touch for more info about lift passes in your resort, and for your specific lesson.

Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer to join a group for part of the week. It’s important each pupil is in the group for the entire week so that everyone progresses at a similar rate.

We are always sorry if you cannot make the lessons that you have booked, but if you do not attend the lesson on the day we cannot give a refund for the missed lesson or reschedule. We are happy to provide a letter for your insurance company in this instance. If you miss a day of a group lesson, it’s fine to come back the next day but know that you may find yourself behind the rest of the group and may need to be moved down a level if appropriate.

Yes, we always use avalanche kit when skiing or snowboarding off-piste. If you do not have your own, pleased contact us and we’ll bring kit for you to use.

Only the high-end groups like Backcountry Adventure or Advanced Off-Piste Adventure or will need touring kit. But that will be communicated ahead of time, so if you haven’t been told to bring snowshoes or ski touring kit don’t panic! If you have booked a private, please tell your instructor what you would like to do, so equally they can come prepared on the right equipment.

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Need help with your booking?
Give us a call, we’re here for you.

UK office: +44 1462 674 000
Lines open: Monday – Friday 9:00 – 17:00 UK