Skiing · General · Learning
Progress in skiing follows a similar order all over the world: moving and stopping on flat ground, snowplough turns, moving to parallel, intermediate: different gradients and snow and advanced: carving and dynamic turns. PSIA, the American ski instructors' association, defines this with four milestone turns (wedge, wedge christie, basic parallel, dynamic parallel), the French ski school ESF with stars, and Canada's CSIA with Exploration, Adventure and Performance groups. The checklist below is compiled from these systems; if you can do every item comfortably, you are ready to move on to the next stage.
Written by: Outdoor AcademyTechnical review: Mustafa Kaya · 27 October 2026Published: 5 min readKIS-020
Every country's ski schools describe progress with different names, but the order is similar:
| System | How does it define it? |
|---|---|
| PSIA (USA) | Three skier zones (beginner/novice, intermediate, advanced) and four milestone turns: wedge, wedge christie, basic parallel, dynamic parallel |
| ESF (France) | For children Ourson, Flocon, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Star and the Bronze, Silver and Gold Star; for adults Débutant and Classe 1–4 |
| CSIA (Canada) | Exploration, Adventure and Performance groups, each with bronze, silver and gold steps |
| Swiss Snow League (Switzerland) | A new structure from the 2026/27 season: Kids Village, Blue League, Red League and Academy; anyone who reaches the goals of one level moves up to the next |
The 1–9 skier levels you often hear about in the USA belong to PSIA's old teaching system from the 1990s; today PSIA works with three zones and milestone turns. In Switzerland, too, the old name "Black League" is no longer used from the 2026/27 season.
The ESF's first level for children, Ourson, sets similar goals: putting your skis on and taking them off by yourself, your first lifts, and gliding straight and stopping with a snowplough turn. Guides: how to start skiing, walking and gliding on flat ground, the correct basic stance.
Guides: snowplough technique, using the lifts, piste colours, FIS rules for conduct.
Guides: moving from snowplough to parallel skiing, side-slipping and edge control, using your poles.
Guides: short, medium and long turns, skiing in changing snow conditions, skiing steep slopes, mogul technique.
Guides: carving technique, the dynamic parallel turn, edge change and pressure management, slalom and giant slalom technique.
What comes next: If you are interested in going off-piste, you need training and equipment first; see our guide moving into freeride. For skiing in powder, read our guide on powder technique.
Moving up a stage on the checklist gives an activity holiday a concrete goal. On Doğadayız basic course packages, the first stages are practised with an instructor; accommodation, ski pass and equipment are included in all winter packages. Comparing with your friends how many items you have ticked by the end of the holiday is also a fun way to round off a social adventure holiday. You can find out which resort suits your level in our guide choosing a destination for your first ski holiday, and the programmes on our winter activity holidays page.
Doğadayız Packages
Winter activity holidays with accommodation, ski pass and equipment included, shared with a group.
Doğadayız social adventure holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
With the skills checklist: moving and stopping on flat ground, snowplough turns, moving to parallel, adapting to different gradients and snow, carving and dynamic turns. If you can do the items in a stage comfortably, again and again, you are ready for the next stage. An instructor can also determine your level within a few turns.
The French ski school ESF uses the levels Ourson, Flocon, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Star, followed by the Bronze, Silver and Gold Star for children. For adults there are the levels Débutant and Classe 1–4. Ourson aims at snowplough turns and stopping, the 2nd Star at about 10 parallel turns on an intermediate slope, and Classe 3 at carved arcs.
Some schools still use it, but the system belongs to PSIA's old teaching system from the 1990s. Today PSIA works with three skier zones (beginner/novice, intermediate, advanced) and four milestone turns.
BeginnerLearningSkiing · KIS-001
You start skiing with a beginner lesson with an instructor, rental equipment and easy (beginner) slopes. On day one you put on your skis, glide on flat ground, learn to stop with the snowplough and ride the magic carpet; on day two you come down an easy slope under control with snowplough turns. For an adult who has never skied, this stage usually takes 2 days.
Read the guide →AdvancedTechniqueSkiing · KIS-014
The dynamic parallel turn is the last of PSIA's four milestone turns (wedge, wedge christie, basic parallel, dynamic parallel). What sets it apart from the basic parallel is that the turn happens with the legs turning beneath a quiet upper body, and that the edge angle comes not from tipping the whole body but from angulation that starts in the lower leg. In PSIA's description of a good dynamic turn, both skis stay on the snow, both lower legs have a similar forward angle, a slight counter relationship between the body and the skis is visible in the transition, and the legs flex and extend independently. The two most common mistakes are tipping the whole body (banking) and turning with the whole body.
Read the guide →BeginnerDestinationsWinter Sports · KIS-129
The best resort for your first ski holiday is not the biggest one but the one that suits a beginner best. Look at eight criteria: (1) a beginner area with a magic carpet, (2) the share of easy runs and access to them, (3) altitude and reliable snow, (4) travel time, (5) the hotel's distance from the slopes, (6) crowds, (7) off-slope experiences and social life, (8) budget and visa. In Türkiye, Erciyes stands out for first-timers with its large beginner areas and training area; once you can ski, the forest runs of Sarıkamış or, abroad, Bansko make a good next step. Once you have chosen the resort, a winter activity holiday that combines lessons, equipment and ski pass in a single package makes your first experience easier.
Read the guide →
