check your level
cross-country skiing levels
Good weather conditions only. In case of bad weather, your instructor will adapt the itinerary. Those levels are subjective.
LEVEL 1 :
- Daily physical effort duration (ascent + descent and breaks not included): less than 4 hours (unless the program states otherwise).
- Ascension rhythm: total ascent of 300 meters per hour (one break every hour).
- Ascent: the instructor leads the way and leaves an easy trail behind them, avoiding kick turn zones
- Advice: the instructor gives some useful advice about kick turn zones and cross-country specifications (ski skins...). Give clear indications about the gear at all time.
- Descent: easy itinerary. Grouping is frequent.
- Slope: not more than 30° steep.
LEVEL 2 :
- Daily physical effort duration (ascent + descent and breaks not included): 6 hours or more.
- Ascension rhythm: total ascent of 350 meters per hour. Sustained rhythm during the ascent.
- Advice: the instructor does not always give indications regarding the gear unless it has an impact on the ascent. Participants are already accustomed to cross-country skiing specifications.
- Descent: the instructor defines grouping moments. The instructor leads the way and leaves a trail that every participant can follow even in risky zones. Sustained rhythm with few breaks during groupings.
- Slope: not more than 40°- 45° steep (except brief moments). Narrow passages.
LEVEL 3 :
- Daily physical effort duration (ascent + descent and breaks not included): more than 7 hours.
- Ascension rhythm: total ascent of more than 350 meters per hour. Few breaks
- Ascent: each participant is informed about the passage locations, they must be able to identify them and trace their own trail according to the one defined by the instructor while respecting safety rules.
- Advice: the instructor does not always give indications regarding gear unless it has an impact on the safety of the outing. Participants are well accustomed to cross-country skiing specifications.
- Descent: the instructor defines grouping moments. The instructor leads the way and leaves a trail that every participant can follow even in risky zones. Sustained rhythm with few breaks during groupings.
- At this level, participants must already have experienced this kind of outings. Snow conditions can lead to frozen steep slopes. "Alpine" itineraries mean that technical manoeuvres have been mastered: use of rope during ascent or descent, skiing on steep or frozen slopes, use of crampons...
- Slope: slopes about 40°-45° steep in some area sometimes for 200 meters. Damaged area.
descent skiing levels
Good weather conditions only. In case of bad weather, your instructor will adapt the itinerary. Those levels are subjective.
1. INITIATION LEVEL:
- A good skiing level is already required.
- Slope: not more than 30° steep, passages are not too narrow
- Total ascent: less than 800 meters, low risks of avalanche and injury.
2. BEGINNER LEVEL:
- Slope: 35° steep maximum
- Total ascent: small risks of injury regarding the ascent.
3. INTERMEDIARY LEVEL:
- Slope: 35° steep during most of the time, 40-45° steep narrow passages.
- Steep passages, dense forest and forest trails.
- 4. EXPERIENCED LEVEL:
- Slope: 40 to 45° steep for more than 200 meters.
- Damaged mountain zones, very dense forest trails.
- 5. EXPERT LEVEL:
- Slope: very steep. From 45° steep (more than 300 meters long) to 50° during 100 meters.