Centennial Park offers a variety of Specialized Programs including Freestyle, Racing, Adult Only and Instructor Preparation Programs. Private lessons are also available. Additional drop-in private lessons will be offered based on instructor availability, please contact the Snow School Office at 416-394-8753.
There are two packages for most programs; No Rental and With Rental. No Rental is designed for participants who have their own equipment (skis, boots, poles, helmet OR snowboard, boots, helmet). With Rental is designed for participants who wish to rent equipment. With Rental includes full equipment rental as required for your program including helmets.
| Skier Level | Age | Current Ability | Content & Rules |
| Penguin | 3 yrs | Never skied before or limited time on snow. | PARENT REQUIRED ON FOOT – Ski equipment for parents is NOT required. Proper winter footwear required for adult. |
| Panda | 4-5 yrs | Never skied before or limited time on snow. | PARENT REQUIRED ON FOOT - Proper winter footwear required for adult. Parent may be required to be on ski equipment depending on how quickly child progresses (Helmet required if on skis). |
| Zebra | 4-5 yrs | Able to use carpet lift with parents assistance. Able to snowplow on easy terrain in control. | PARENT REQUIRED ON SKI EQUIPMENT WITH HELMET - Parent will assist during the lesson on ski equipment and must be able to safely assist the child –Parent must know how to ski already - instruction will be for children only. |
| Tiger | 4-5 yrs | Able to use carpet and t-bar without assistance. Able to ski parallel on easy terrain. | PARENT NOT REQUIRED – Child attends this program independently. |
| Monkey Snbd. | 4-5 yrs | Never snowboarded before or limited time on snow | PARENT REQUIRED ON FOOT – Proper winter footwear required for adult. |
Each child in this program must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.(Only one guardian per child allowed) Parent rental equipment is available. Please contact the Snow School office to make arrangements. Successful participants of Parent & Tot "Tiger" program should register into Step 3 based on instructors final assessment.Child must meet age requirements.
| Ski Ratio | Snowboard Ratio | |
| Tiger(4-5 yrs) | 4:1 | N/A |
| Monkey (5 yrs) | N/A | 4:1 |
| Penguins (3 yrs), Panda & Zebra (4-5 yrs) | 5:1 | N/A |
| 6-8 year olds | 8:1 | 6:1 |
| 9-14 year olds | 8:1 | 6:1 |
| 15 yrs+ | 8:1 | 6:1 |
| Racing/Specialized | 10:1 | 8:1 |
| Freestyle | 8:1 | 6:1 |
Program ratios may be altered as necessary. Group lesson ratios are subject to change at the discretion of the program supervisor. We will ensure lesson quality and progression and will attempt, where possible, to manage group lessons to the set ratios.
| Step | Age | Current Ability |
| Step 1 | 6-8 yrs | First experience |
| Step 2 | 6-8 yrs | Can execute straight run and a snowplow stop. |
| Step 3 | 6-8 yrs | Is able to execute some snowplow turns and to increase speed. |
| Step 4 | 6-8 yrs | Is able to perform series of linked snowplow turns. |
| Step 5 | 6-8 yrs | Is able to bring skis together between turns, use of ski poles. |
| Step | Age | Current Ability |
| Step 1-2 | 9 yrs+ | None or limited previous experience |
| Step 3 | 9 yrs+ | Is able to execute snowplow turns and to increase speed. |
| Step 4 | 9 yrs+ | Is able to execute series of rhythmical snowplow turns with balance on outside ski. Introduction to use of ski poles. |
| Step 5 | 9 yrs+ | Is able to bring skis together during turns. |
| Step 6 | 9 yrs+ | Is able to perform basic parallel turns. |
| Step 7 | 9 yrs+ | Accomplished parallel skier seeking technical improvement and confidence. |
| Step 8 | 9 yrs+ | Advance skier with strong technical interest. |
Successful participants of Step 6 should attend our Introduction to Racing program or Instructor Prep program.
| Step | Age | Current Ability |
| Step 1 | 6-8 yrs | First time snowborder |
| Step 2 | 6-8 yrs | Snowboarded a few times, has balance on a snowboard and/or completed STEP 1, able to use carpet lift without snowboard on. |
| Step 3 | 6-8 yrs | Able to complete a traverse with a stop–ready to start turns. |
| Step 4 | 6-8 yrs | Able to link 2-3 turns, able to use carpet lift without snowboard on. |
| Step | Age | Current Ability |
| Step 1-2 | 9 yrs+ | First time snowborder or may have tried a few times. |
| Step 3 | 9 yrs+ | Able to complete a traverse with a stop–ready to start turns. |
| Step 4 | 9 yrs+ | Able to link 4-6 consistent turns, able to use carpet lift with snowboard on. |
| Step 5 | 9 yrs+ | Able to link novice turns with flexion/extension. |
| Step 6-7 | 9 yrs+ | Able to do basic carve turns, confident doing fluid novice turns with flexion/extension. |
Successful participants in Step 5 are advised to enrol in our Snowboard Instructor Prep program.