Color Levels
One of the best things about Blizzard is that members in the can progress at their own pace, at their own ability level. There's no social promotion or "lowest common denominator" to hold you back at Blizzard!
Members who are nine years or older* are classified into a "Color Level" (ability level) based on their skills. Each week, our instructors evaluate members during their regular lesson. If the instructor feels it's time to move to the next color, they hand out a "testing slip." Take the slip to the next scheduled testing session, and you just might pass to the next Color Level!
We also have a group for members who have skied or snowboarded five times or less. We call these members
Rookies. Rookies get full-day lessons for the first week or two until they can load and unload the lift safely, move down the hill under control and ride or ski at the Yellow color level. We'll have you cruising in no time!
Whether you pass every week, once per season, or somewhere in between is up to you. There's no right or wrong pace -- members move at their own speed!
When you pass into a new color level, you receive a matching zipper pull. Put it on your coat and show everyone how much progress you've made! Here's what the colors mean:
 | | Skiing | | | | Snowboarding |
 | | Yellow
Linked turns | |  | | Yellow
Basic skidded turns on green runs
Small jumps (straight air) |
 | | Blue
Linked turns in the fall line | |  | | Blue
Basic skidded turns on blue runs
Flat spin 180s and ollies |
 | | Red
Dynamic turns with pole touch | |  | | Red
Dynamic skidded turns
Air 180s and grabs |
 | | Brown
Beginning carved turns | |  | | Brown
Basic carved turns
Basic halfpipe |
 | | White
Basic parallel turns | |  | | White
Dynamic carved turns
Halfpipe above the rail and steeps |
 | | Low Black: Dynamic parallel turns
Black: Dynamic short-radius turns
Top-Black: Do anything anywhere! | |  | | Black
Do anything anywhere! |
* Mites & SuperMites
Developmentally, 6-8 year olds are generally not focused on individual achievement -- it's all about having fun as a group. We therefore don't use color levels in the Mite or SuperMite programs. Each Mite and SuperMite will receive a purple zipper pull so they feel included. However, skill-based colors do not start until SuperKyds.