Swiss Snow League
From the Snowgarden to the Black League: the national level system of Swiss Snowsports shows every child their next step – regardless of age.
Grouped by ability, not by age
The Swiss Snow League is Swiss Snowsports' nationwide level system for children and young people in snowsports. Rather than grouping children by year of birth, placement is based on their actual ability – a seven-year-old with plenty of experience can therefore be at a higher level than another child of the same age who is just starting out.
In Arosa we use this system for all children’s group lessons, both for skiing and for snowboarding. Every level has clear learning objectives, its own badge and a fixed meeting point. Every child receives the Swiss Snow League booklet free of charge; the badges can be purchased.
- Four main stages with nine levels in total: Snowgarden, Blue, Red, Black
- Grouping on the first day of the lesson by the instructor
- Applies equally to ski and snowboard lessons
- Booklet free of charge for every child, badges available for purchase
From Snowgarden to Black Academy
Four main stages with nine levels in total – each level with its own learning content for skiing and snowboarding and a fixed meeting point.
Snowgarden
The first level for the youngest and least experienced children: first attempts at gliding and stopping in the Kinderland with magic carpet and figures.
- Information about the story of Snowli
- Getting to know skis and snow
- Walking and climbing (turning around)
- Skiing the fall line with parallel skis and braking
- First change of direction out of the fall line
- Information about the equipment
- One-foot riding on the flat
- Fullbase riding in easy terrain
- Skidded riding in the fall line
- From fullbase to skidded riding in easy terrain
Blue Prince/Princess
The entry point to the Blue League: gliding and braking in a snowplough, first snowplough turns and safe handling of the equipment.
- Information about the equipment
- Climbing with side steps and herringbone
- Gliding and braking in a snowplough
- Skiing with parallel skis including step turns and tricks
- Snowplough turns
- Information about behaviour on the slopes (FIS rules)
- Skidded riding in a traverse
- From skidded to fullbase riding
- Riding the practice lift
- Skidded turns
Blue King/Queen
The middle of the Blue League: using lifts independently, side-slipping and first snowplough turns on easy blue slopes.
- Information about using lifts safely
- Traversing and tricks
- Side-slipping
- Riding easy bumps and jumps with parallel skis
- Snowplough turns on an easy blue slope
- Information about warming up
- Rotational turns
- Waltz
- Wheelie
- Two-footed take-off on the slope
Blue Star
The final stage of the Blue League: snowplough turns on varied blue slopes, bumps and dips as well as the FIS rules.
- Information about behaviour on the slopes (FIS rules)
- Turning through a mini gate course and parcours
- Riding bumps and dips
- Switch skiing in a V position with a change of direction
- Snowplough turns on a varied blue slope
- Information about behaviour in the snowpark
- Switch turns
- Speed check
- Fifty-fifty over an easy box
- Jumps over small kickers
Red Prince/Princess
The entry point to the Red League: parallel ski position, skidded parallel turns and warming up before skiing.
- Information about warming up
- Braking with parallel skis
- Step turns on an easy slope
- Waltz
- Parallel turns (skidded)
- A short freestyle glossary
- Extension and flexion turns
- Powerslide
- Ollie/nollie on the slope
- 180° on the slope
Red King/Queen
The middle of the Red League: short turns, parallel turns with varying radii and the first jumps in the snowpark.
- Information about behaviour in the snowpark
- Short turns on an easy slope
- Skating steps on the flat
- Basic air (small kicker)
- Parallel turns with varying radii
- Information about nature, forest and landscape
- Carved turns
- Slide on the slope
- Ollie/nollie 180° on the slope
- Basic air
Red Star
The final stage of the Red League: short turns on intermediate slopes, gate corridors and first runs in ungroomed terrain.
- Information about nature, forest and landscape
- Parallel turns in a gate corridor and parcours
- Parallel turn “switch” (skidded)
- One-legged turns on an easy slope
- Short turns on an intermediate slope
- Information about the Swiss Snow Academy
- Riding in ungroomed terrain
- Frontside nose turn
- Backside boardslide over a box
- Straight air
Black Prince/Princess
Expert level: dynamic, safe skiing and riding on varied slopes – varying speed, radius and rhythm.
- Dynamic, safe skiing and riding on varied slopes
- Varying speed, radius and rhythm
- Parallel turns in ungroomed snow
- Easy jumps with a trick
- Dynamic, safe skiing and riding on varied slopes
- Varying speed, radius and rhythm
- Riding in ungroomed snow
- Tricks on the slope and in the park
Black Academy
The Swiss Snow Academy as the highest level: racing, freestyle and freeride for the most ambitious kids and teens.
- Safe and controlled skiing and riding on and off piste
- Quick and accurate turns between the gates (ski race)
- Stylish jumps and tricks in the snowpark (ski freestyle)
- Ski freeride in open terrain
- Safe and controlled skiing and riding on and off piste
- Snowboard slope
- Snowboard freestyle
- Snowboard freeride
Learning content according to the Swiss Snow League by Swiss Snowsports. The final grouping is made by our snowsports instructors on site on the first day of the course.
The levels in motion
In two films of our own, shot in Arosa, we show what is learned at each level – one for skiing, one for snowboarding. Ideal for assessing the right level together with your child before booking.
Ski: From the Snowgarden through the Blue and Red League to the Black League – with footage for every learning goal.© Skischule Arosa
Snowboard: The same levels, shown on the board – from the first slides to freeriding.© Skischule Arosa
Two locations, one system
The levels are each assigned to one of two fixed meeting areas – for skiing and snowboarding alike.
Skischulzentrum Innerarosa
Meeting point for Snowgarden and all three Blue League levels, for both ski and snowboard courses. The children's area is also located here.
Tschuggen meeting area
Meeting point for the three Red League levels and the two Black League levels, likewise for skiing and snowboarding. From here the groups head to the more demanding slopes.
Connection with lesson grouping
Because grouping is by level rather than age, children also change meeting point as their ability progresses – from the Skischulzentrum Innerarosa to the Tschuggen Sammelplatz.
Booklet and badges
Every child receives the Swiss Snow League booklet free of charge. Each level also has its own badge that can be purchased – a lovely proof of the progress made.
As soon as a child has achieved the learning objectives of a level, they can move up to the next level of the Swiss Snow League. Every child receives the Swiss Snow League booklet free of charge; progress is recorded in it. The matching badge is a popular souvenir and can be purchased from us.
You can find out more about the booklet and badges directly from your child’s snowsports instructor or from us at the ski school centre.
| Level | Marking | Meeting point |
|---|---|---|
| Snowgarden | ⬢ | Innerarosa |
| Blue Prince/Princess | ◆ | Innerarosa |
| Blue King/Queen | ◆ | Innerarosa |
| Blue Star | ◆ | Innerarosa |
| Red Prince/Princess | ◆ | Tschuggen |
| Red King/Queen | ◆ | Tschuggen |
| Red Star | ◆ | Tschuggen |
| Black Prince/Princess | ◈ | Tschuggen |
| Black Academy | ◈ | Tschuggen |
Lessons using this level system
Ski group lesson
For children aged 4 to 17, grouped according to exactly this level system.
Children's snowboarding
From age 7, also grouped according to the Swiss Snow League.
Meeting points
All meeting areas by level at a glance.
Frequently asked questions about the Swiss Snow League
What is the Swiss Snow League?
The Swiss Snow League is the national level system of Swiss Snowsports, which places children in suitable learning groups regardless of their age – nine levels from the Snowgarden up to the Black League.
What levels are there?
Nine levels: Snowgarden for the very first steps, then the Blue League (Blue Prince/Princess, Blue King/Queen, Blue Star), the Red League (Red Prince/Princess, Red King/Queen, Red Star) and finally the Black League (Black Prince/Princess, Black Academy) for the most advanced children.
How is my child's level determined?
On the first day of the lesson, our snowsports instructors assess each child's ability and assign them to the appropriate group. Anyone who already has a Swiss Snow League booklet should bring it along.
What do the niveau-tag colours Blue, Red and Black mean?
Blue stands for the basic levels in the Innerarosa area, red for the advanced level at Tschuggen and black for the highest levels of the Black League – Black Prince/Princess and Black Academy, likewise at Tschuggen. The colours correspond to the meeting points and slope areas where each level is taught.
Where do the individual levels meet?
Snowgarden and all three Blue levels meet at the Innerarosa Ski School Centre. The three Red levels and the two Black levels meet at the Tschuggen assembly point.
Are the booklet and badges included in the course price?
Every child receives the Swiss Snow League booklet free of charge. The badges for the individual levels are not free; they can be purchased from us.