How do you define skill level?

I see lots of posts on the forum about good places for intermediates etc... But how do you define intermediate? When do you stop being a beginner and at what point are you an expert?

I know its a silly question, but I know an awful lot of people who claim to be experts and have trouble getting down a black piste. I can ski pretty much everything on the mountain on-piste, but have a lot to learn in terms of off-piste and would consider myself somewhere between beginner and intermediate.

How do you rate yourself?

Is there an objective way of defining skill level?

Objective? No. Short of something being timed every ski assessment of skill is subjective.

Pablo Escobar wrote:Objective? No. Short of something being timed every ski assessment of skill is subjective.

Timed is only objective in terms of racing!It actually does not say too much in terms skill level unless it is over a technical course and varied course. (in my opinion! ;-))

ir12daveor wrote:

Pablo Escobar wrote:Objective? No. Short of something being timed every ski assessment of skill is subjective.

Timed is only objective in terms of racing!It actually does not say too much in terms skill level unless it is over a technical course and varied course. (in my opinion! ;-))

So to answer your own question, there isn't an objective way of defining 'skill' ;)

Pablo Escobar wrote:

ir12daveor wrote:

Pablo Escobar wrote:Objective? No. Short of something being timed every ski assessment of skill is subjective.

Timed is only objective in terms of racing!It actually does not say too much in terms skill level unless it is over a technical course and varied course. (in my opinion! ;-))

So to answer your own question, there isn't an objective way of defining 'skill' ;)

In that case how do you answer a thread like this one?

http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/7212.page

BTW, I'm just playing devils advocate here to see what people come up with.

You ski, you fall lots you have just begun, you ski faster and fall lots you have still just begun but have a bit of confidence

You ski faster with confidence and snigger at the beginners falling over... just about intermediate. No sniggering then intermediate!

Ski fast, in control down something steep or anywhere with a big confident smile then you have achieved the next level! if you think you are an Expert.......... ask bode Miller or Didier Cuche lol

Not entirely true Pablo. BASI describe tests such as "Eight continuous linked carved turns on a minimum 25 degree slope", along with other types of test.

Would agree though, that beyond that, races, and speed traps are the only other obvious comparisons.

Nobodys answer is really the same because everyone has a different idea of what an intermediate is and what resort they have visited would the person asking the question. Even if the answers were the same they would perhaps be due to different reasons, no one can really be sure.

I'd hazard a guess at greens-->blues (tending towards greens) being most suitable for people looking for beginner resorts. Blues-->Reds for 'Intermediates' (whatever they are) and reds-->blacks for 'advanced' skiers.

Usually, if someone isn't a beginner, posting a preference for run type would get them a better response. Ie. "likes cruisey motorway blues''.