Student Levels & Development Options

In New Zealand, most schools operate on a four or six level system. Within SBINZ, we use six written descriptors, rather than numbers. These are:

Beginner Snowboarders

As a newer instructor, the most common level of student that you will teach is beginners. Beginner lessons make up the vast majority of teaching in almost every snowboard school. A beginner student will have zero or limited experience on a snowboard. It may be their first time on snow or they may have snowboarded a day or two previously.

First-Timers

Some first-time snowboarders will be feeling a lack of confidence and will need time to adjust to the new environment. Their movements are likely to be jerky and uncoordinated. First-timers should be taught in safe, learner-specific areas on the mountain.

Learning Beginner Turns

Beginner students with some previous snowboarding experience are likely to be more confident on one edge than the other, typically the heel edge. They may have attempted turning from one edge to the other, but they may not have begun to link these turns together. Students of this level should be starting to explore green trails and be learning to ride chairlifts.

Whilst some people may progress through the beginner fundamentals of snowboarding in just one day, many people take two or three days to learn these basics as some of the movements are fairly unnatural to some people.

Intermediate Snowboarders

Intermediate students typically have had a few days of snowboarding at the minimum; however, they may have been snowboarding for a number of years.

Exploring Intermediate Turns

A lower-level intermediate will be beginning to develop rhythm and control on green and blue terrain, and potentially be utilising a variety of turn shapes, sizes and increasing their speed and performance. Their movements will be starting to blend but their diversity of skills may still be limited. Confidence levels will vary depending on the student and the conditions.

Exploring Carving / Freeriding / Freestyle

A strong intermediate snowboarder will be more stable at speed and be confident riding on groomed blue terrain. They will be experimenting with some freestyle, basic carving skills or exploring some easy off-piste terrain. Most people will require a number of weeks’ snowboarding to progress through this phase. The skills taught at this level are diverse and people generally need multiple periods on the snow, over time, to allow them to develop the necessary movement patterns.

Advanced Snowboarders

A student of this level will usually have been snowboarding for a number of years and have riding experience from different resorts.

Mastering Advanced Turns

Advanced students will be exploring varied terrain, and performing various freestyle and carving skills. They will be comfortable riding at speed and have the ability to ride most terrain on the mountain. At this stage they will require a more diverse range of turn types to help them deal with the varied situations they are encountering and develop within advanced carving, freeriding and freestyle.

Advanced Carving / Freeriding / Freestyle

Strong advanced snowboarders, with the ability to mix up their turn types, will generally be looking to diversify their riding by learning new skills or refining the movements they already have. This phase of snowboarding is never-ending. Refining and improving one’s riding skills at this level should be a continuous and ongoing process.