Swiss Snow League
From the Snowgarden to the Swiss Snow Academy: 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 courses, both skiing and snowboarding. Each level has clear «I can» goals, its own badge and a fixed meeting point. The booklet and badge are included in the course.
- Four main stages: Snowgarden, Blue League, Red League, Swiss Snow Academy
- Grouping on the first day of the lesson by the instructor
- Applies equally to ski and snowboard lessons
- Booklet and badge included in the course
From the Snowgarden to the Swiss Snow Academy
From the first slide in the Snowgarden to the first jump in the park: choose skiing or snowboarding and discover everything your child can already do at each level.
Snowgarden
The first level for the youngest and least experienced children: first steps, gliding and braking in the children’s area with magic carpet and Snowli.
- Walking, climbing, turning around
- Skiing the fall line with parallel skis and braking
- Changes of direction from the fall line
Blue Prince/Princess
The start of the Blue League: climbing independently, gliding and braking in a snowplough and making the first turns.
- Climbing with herringbone and side steps
- Gliding and braking in a snowplough
- Snowplough turns
Blue King/Queen
The middle of the Blue League: traversing the slope, mastering simple bumps and jumps and linking smooth turns.
- Traversing
- Riding over simple bumps and jumps
- Linked snowplough turns
Blue Star
The end of the Blue League: side-slipping, first switch changes of direction and turns with balance tricks.
- Side-slipping
- Switch changes of direction in a V-position
- Snowplough turns with balance tricks
Red Prince/Princess
The start of the Red League: actively absorbing bumps and dips, braking in parallel and linking parallel turns.
- Riding bumps and dips
- Braking with parallel skis
- Parallel turns (skidded)
Red King/Queen
The middle of the Red League: rhythmic short turns, safe jumps and parallel turns with different radii.
- Short turns
- Jumping and landing safely
- Parallel turns with varying radii
Red Star
The end of the Red League: turns in the unfamiliar direction, on one ski and short turns on an intermediate slope.
- Switch snowplough turns
- One-ski turns on the inside and outside ski
- Short turns on an intermediate slope
Academy Rookie
The start of the Swiss Snow Academy: short turns with pole plant, carved turns and calm skiing in ungroomed snow.
- Short turns with pole plant on a difficult slope
- Carved turns on a wide, easy slope
- Parallel turns in ungroomed snow
Swiss Snow Academy
The highest level: you choose your own focus and keep developing your technique on the slopes, in the park and off-piste.
- Freeriding
- Freestyle
- Race
Blue Prince/Princess
The start on the snowboard: walking and gliding with one foot strapped in, riding on a flat base, riding the practice lift independently and the first skidded turns.
- Walking and riding one-footed
- Riding on a flat base
- Riding the practice lift
- From flat-base to skidded riding
- Basic turn, skidded
All details at Swiss Snowsports · Videos: Part 1, Part 2
Blue King/Queen
Linking skidded turns and braking in a controlled way, first turns in switch and first riding on the edge.
- Rotational turn, skidded
- Speed check
- Up-unweighted turn, skidded
- Down-unweighted turn, skidded
- Switch basic turn, skidded
- Carved riding in a traverse
All details at Swiss Snowsports · Videos: Part 1, Part 2
Red Academy
The red level on the snowboard: after the Blue League you choose the focus freestyle or turns together with your snowboard instructor.
- Freestyle
- Turns
Swiss Snow Academy
The highest level: you choose your own focus and keep developing your technique on the slopes, in the park and off-piste.
- Freeriding
- Freestyle
- Turns
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 highest levels – 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 the Snowgarden and the three Blue League levels on skis and for Blue Prince/Princess and Blue King/Queen on the snowboard. The Kinderland is also located here.
Tschuggen meeting area
Meeting point for the Red League and the Swiss Snow Academy on skis and for the Red Academy and Swiss Snow Academy on the snowboard. 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
The Swiss Snow League booklet and the badge for the level reached are included in the course – a lovely proof of the progress made.
As soon as a child has reached the goals of a level, they can move up to the next level of the Swiss Snow League. The Swiss Snow League booklet is included in the course and records the progress made. The matching badge is also included – a popular keepsake.
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 |
| Red Academy (snowboard) | ◆ | Tschuggen |
| Academy Rookie | ◈ | Tschuggen |
| Swiss Snow 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 – from the Snowgarden to the Swiss Snow Academy.
What levels are there?
Nine levels on skis: 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 Swiss Snow Academy (Academy Rookie and Swiss Snow Academy with the focus areas freeride, freestyle and race). Four levels on the snowboard: Blue Prince/Princess and Blue King/Queen, followed by the Red Academy and the Swiss Snow Academy.
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 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 Swiss Snow Academy – Academy Rookie and Swiss Snow 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?
The Snowgarden and the Blue levels meet at the Innerarosa Ski School Centre. The Red levels, the Red Academy and the Academy levels meet at the Tschuggen assembly point.
Are the booklet and badges included in the course price?
Yes. The Swiss Snow League booklet and the badge for the level reached are included in the course.