Hi mates,

It's about time to get the ski gears and head to mountains.

I have a rather silly question: How do you know if you are a beginner skier or intermediate? Are there any particular skills designated to specific level?

Well, you'll eventually being asked this question when you try to rent the ski equipments, or looking for ski lessons.

If you don't know the answer to the question- then you are a beginner.

I think the main difference is being able to get down a red run without using the 'snowplough'.

ah..you beat me to it. i was going to say the exact same thing.

If you can easily go into parallel turns and get down a red run / get up a chairlift or T bar without too much of a wobble you are probably intermediate.

If you are still on snowplough turns and kids of 5 are whizzing past you making you feel nervous, you should opt for the beginners class.

I can go down red slopes okay. I can do parallel turn too, but occasionally fall.

So, does that put me to intermediate level, despite I'd only learned to ski from absolute nothing (8 days in total) last winter.

okay... maybe I'm just a confused and not confident enough, but some people skied for many winters and still call themselves beginners

I could do parallel turns after a week's skiing so you could probably fit into an intermediate group quite comfortably. If not, you can always change down a class if you don't feel too confident.

Apparently (so I have been taught) falling over is part of skiing so you will have to get used to it. My husband used to work as a ski instructor and if you fall at the speed he goes you lose goggles, hat, gloves, wallet, skis and its usually a priceless photo opportunity. Rare, but spectacular...

Reminds me of JP Morgan's famous answer to the question was "What does it cost to own a yacht?". "If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it".

The best thing is to underestimate your abilities- it is safer.

Mentally you feel alot better being able to get down a run (yeah!) without falling every turn (or every other) and in a group situation you feel great when you are put up a level.

Otherwise, go private- it costs more, but the individual attention is well worth it.

Be careful when going with Native Swiss, they'll all tell you that they're not so good (which I take to be intermediate), only to have them fly down the slopes at breakneck speed.

Apparently good here is olympic level, anything underneath is intermediate.

Aside from that, when we applied for a group instructor and he asked us our level, he said, 1-2 weeks training is beginner, after that you're intermediate.

If you spend more time on your skis then on your a**, you're doing fine