Skiing

Skiing is fantastic fun and pretty easy to learn. You can learn the basics in one day or so and with a few more, you’ll be ready to venture onto the Mountains!

Skiing is fantastic fun and pretty easy to learn. You can learn the basics in one day or so and with a few more, you’ll be ready to venture onto the Mountains!

The Snowlife Awards provides a progressive pathway to get you confidently moving on your skis. Participants will learn essential skiing techniques — including sliding, snowplough, plough turning, and plough parallel — while skiing in a guided group on alpine green and blue slopes within a designated, groomed ski area. In addition to practical skills, the course enhances your understanding of the alpine mountain environment, covering piste navigation, safety protocols, emergency procedures, and essential equipment requirements.

Beginner – Suitable for those who have never skied before.

Snowlife 1 Star Award – Focuses on the basics of skiing, including putting skis on and off, climbing sideways up a gentle hill, and skiing down nursery slopes while controlling speed using a snowplough. Stopping safely is also introduced.

Snowlife 2 Star Award – Develops control of both speed and direction using a snowplough. Introduces big and small turns and techniques for avoiding other skiers. Basic ski lift use, such as poma or t-bar lifts, is also covered.

Snowlife 3 Star Award – Introduces plough-parallel turns, starting in a snowplough and finishing with skis parallel. Skiers learn to make linked turns on green and easy blue runs while increasing their confidence and speed.

Snowlife 4 Star Award – Focuses on improving plough-parallel turns, with skis becoming parallel earlier in the turn, sometimes before the fall line. Turns become smoother and more S-shaped, and skiers gain confidence on all blue runs.

Snowlife 5 Star Award – Emphasises consistent parallel turns on all blue and easy red runs. Both skis turn simultaneously, with ongoing work on balance and posture. Skiers build confidence on a wider range of slopes.

Snowlife 6 Star Award – Introduces the use of a well-coordinated pole plant to enhance balance and timing. Parallel turns become smoother and more rhythmic, with a focus on maintaining flow from one turn to the next.

Snowlife 7 Star Award – Develops confidence on more challenging terrain. Skiers learn to make smooth turns with a well-timed pole plant and adjust the radius of their turns to suit changes in gradient, while maintaining control of speed and line. Steeper slopes are tackled comfortably.

Snowlife 8 Star Award – Focuses on skiing steep and narrow runs with rhythmical, balanced turns and effective pole plants. Skiers learn to stay in the fall line while controlling speed and change direction on easier slopes by rolling from edge to edge, relying solely on the shape and sidecut of the ski. Confidence is built on red and black runs.

Snowlife 9 Star Award – Develops fall line descents in medium-sized bumps, demonstrating good posture and well-timed pole plants. Skiers learn to make linked, rhythmic short and medium radius turns in powder and cut-up terrain, maintaining control of both speed and line.

Duration: 6 day residential course

Location: Bavaria, Germany

Course fee: £500

Eligibility: CFAVs

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for CFAVs.

Course Certification: Successful participants will be awarded the appropriate Snowlife Award.

DofE: This course also meets the requirements of the Gold DofE Residential section.

Please speak to your detachment or contingent commander if you are interested in attending this course.

Volunteer Testimonials

Sgt Kirsten Reid

My highlight was meeting new people and pushing myself, especially coming in not knowing anyone. I loved going back to basics and really tightening up my technique. Next, I’ll come back next year to complete the Ski Leader qualification.
Volunteer Testimonial

2LT Erin Kyle-Davidson

What I enjoyed most was learning to ski from scratch. I’d never even seen skis before this course, so going from nothing to skiing blue slopes across several resorts has been incredibly rewarding.
Volunteer Testimonial

Capt Abigail Robertson

You don’t need any ski experience, just enthusiasm and a willingness to try. CCAT provide almost all the kit, so you just bring yourself. Even if you’re terrible, you’ll have loads of fun and leave with great memories.