What's your level?

[roark]

yeah, I've seen a lot of jeans at AZ gatherings!

 

[bvibert]

yeah, I've seen a lot of jeans at AZ gatherings!

Once my jeans freeze solid they help keep me upright, so I can ski longer on tired legs... :beer:

 

[speden]

Man.......I know quite a few folks on this forum with one of your subtractions in common

yeah, me included

 

[deadheadskier]

 

[mondeo]

I don't like those training scales. Anyone who's been skiing for a while is going to be near the top end. I'd prefer a tougher curve like this:

1 - never ever
2 - wedge skier, silly falls, trouble stopping
3 - parallel skier, greens and blues, limited situational awareness, struggles in crud, soils underwear on moguls
4 - black groomers, gets by in crud, doesn't face plant in ankle high powder
5 - enjoys soft seeded moguls, moderate glades, has multiple pairs of skis and can actually appreciate differences in performance
6 - deep powder, skis the fall line on steep irregular moguls, blows through steep tracked out glades with ease
7 - hikes in the backcountry for turns in sketchy conditions, comfortable hucking off cliffs and attacking steeps
8+ see level boosters

Level boosters (add a half point for each that applies):

+spends large amounts of money on equipment, trips, camps, etc.
+spends time watching ski porn, reading ski forums, and looking for deals
+skis over 20 days a season
+skis on ice and likes it
+park rat, comfortable hitting rails and doing moderate jumps
+racer
+does advanced tricks off jumps
+goes cat or heli skiing on steeps

Level subtractions (deduct a half point for each that applies):

-rents boots
-skis in jeans
-stoner
-doesn't wear a helmet
-old injury that didn't heal right
-likes the Jets

I'm not sure if any of this is serious. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it's not.

The SB scale isn't a scale for the skiing population. It's a scale for the lesson taking population, and looks to be normalized. If you have a 100 people taking lessons, you want to be able to seperate them into groups. On a scale of 1-10, each representing a 10% tier of the skiing population, you'd end up with probably 80% in groups 1 and 2, 15% in 3,4,5, and 5% in the rest. SB's 7 is the upper end of intermediate, probably about the end of the scale where people stop taking lessons on a regular basis, 8 appears to cover those that would take a lesson to get better in a particular area or just a tune up. Need to consider the target of the grading system. I don't know I've met anyone from this board that I'd put below a 7. Most are 8s.

 

[riverc0il]

This is really just the typical 1-10 scale but redesigned so that skiers put down what their actual numbers are relative to the 1-10 scale (i.e. if someone rates themselves a 6 on the Bush scale they probably are really a 6 on the 1-10 scale). Just my observation that if you just tell someone to rate themselves on the standard 1-10 scale, most skiers tend to up themselves 1 or 2 from where they really are. Otherwise, I don't know why Bush needs to reinvent the wheel which could confuse folks used to a 10 point rating system.

 

[2knees]

Swingin.......

big time swinging.

 

[reefer]

Level subtractions (deduct a half point for each that applies):

-rents boots
-skis in jeans
-stoner
-doesn't wear a helmet
-old injury that didn't heal right
-likes the Jets

Man.......I know quite a few folks on this forum with one of your subtractions in common

I wish i could get this many deductions on my tax return.................................

 

[dmc]

I don't fit into a linear scale...

 

[RISkier]

Those descriptions are not consistent with what I've seen posted at other ski schools. At least not at the higher levels.

 

[gpetrics]

being a level one skier is embarrassing in that video!! you only get one ski!

 

[AngryHugo]

my level is somewhere around my blood alcohol level

 

[mondeo]

I'm a tenth level Vice President.

 

[Anklebiter]

I chose 8, but probably at the bottom of the 8's.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'm amused. Over 50% of the AZ crew consider themselves in the top 12.5% of skiers.

 

[wa-loaf]

I'm amused. Over 50% of the AZ crew consider themselves in the top 12.5% of skiers.

I don't think that's surprising.

 

[mondeo]

I'm amused. Over 50% of the AZ crew consider themselves in the top 12.5% of skiers.

I think it goes back to how you read the skill descriptions. If you go purely on a 1-8 scale, 1 being bottom 12.5% and 8 being top 12.5%, then I might put 25%-30% of the people I've skied with from AZ in the top 12.5% - and none in the bottom 25%. The once or twice a year skier isn't really represented here, if you're enthusiastic enough about skiing to comment on it here, your experience level/days per year is going to be skewed towards the high end, leading to a higher than average skill level.

But going by SB's scale, on any given day I'd guess 60% of skiers are in the top 3 categories. Most skiers can do blues with relative ease. You're definately an 8. Carving may not be your thing, but overall skill level more than makes up for that. I'd say if someone's comfortable on an Eastern double black, that would probably put them handily into the 8 group on SB's scale. It's a scale for skis school, not member measuring competitions.

 

[gmcunni]

i read this as a high intermediate - i think most people here are better.

Level Seven Skiers: Level Seven skiers are riding all lifts at Sugarbush. They ski controlled parallel turns and can ski very well on blue trails. Level Seven skiers can control their speed and rhythm on black diamond trails, but they are looking to ski on challenging trails with better comfort and skills. Level Seven skiers can adjust the size and length of their turns, blend skills between skidded turns and carving. They are learning to ski on a variety of different types of snow and terrain conditions.

 

[neil]

Seems a level 7 snowboarder is better than a level 7 skier on their scale.

Based on the description of the skier levels I'd say I'm a 7, but on their rider scales I'm much more of a 6.

 

[deadheadskier]

I think it goes back to how you read the skill descriptions. If you go purely on a 1-8 scale, 1 being bottom 12.5% and 8 being top 12.5%, then I might put 25%-30% of the people I've skied with from AZ in the top 12.5% - and none in the bottom 25%. The once or twice a year skier isn't really represented here, if you're enthusiastic enough about skiing to comment on it here, your experience level/days per year is going to be skewed towards the high end, leading to a higher than average skill level.

But going by SB's scale, on any given day I'd guess 60% of skiers are in the top 3 categories. Most skiers can do blues with relative ease. You're definately an 8. Carving may not be your thing, but overall skill level more than makes up for that. I'd say if someone's comfortable on an Eastern double black, that would probably put them handily into the 8 group on SB's scale. It's a scale for skis school, not member measuring competitions.

I guess I just have different views on what an 8 should be than Sugarbush.

I think a top level skier should be able to do everything well. bumps, steeps, powder, trees, icy conditions, carving, gates, the park.