How good do you need to be for BASI Snowboard Level 2?

This is the question I get asked more than any other: “How good do I need to be to pass Level 2?”

The problem is most people judge it the wrong way. They look at someone smashing down a steep run fast and assume that’s the standard. Speed isn’t the standard…. and freestyle skill doesn’t automatically equal technical ability (sometimes they do, sometimes they really don’t).

BASI courses are assessed in two main areas:

• Technique (how you ride and how well you can demonstrate)
• Teaching (how you communicate, structure a lesson, keep people safe, and improve them)

So yes — you need to be able to ride, yes, have some style, yes, have basic freestyle ability. But you also need to be able to show the movement, explain it, and repeat it consistently. It’s a decent all round riding technique and knowledge that’s needed.

Let’s break it down properly.

BASI Level 2: where it gets serious

Between Level 1 and Level 2 there’s a big jump. Level 2 is for instructors working in the mountains, and the standard reflects that.

It’s not about being a hero rider. It’s about being competent, controlled, and consistent on real mountain terrain — and being able to teach beginners and intermediate riders properly and safely in an environment that they can seriously hurt themselves if you don’t do your job properly. 

What you need to be able to do (benchmarks)

For Level 2 technique, you should be comfortable with:

• Strong, controlled riding on steeper terrain (minimum red depending on grading)
• 100% Carved turns on piste (not just “less skiddy”)
• Variable snow (chopped-up snow, crud, fresh snow, icy patches — it’s the mountains)
• Riding this uneven terrain with control (not just hanging on)
• Switch riding at a higher standard (including switch carving progressions) think Level 1 standard in your switch direction. 
• 180’s : Like the level 1 but more of them are needed. You should be comfortable with at least 3 separate 180’s. Off the toes, off the heels and a switch 180 too. This is the minimum skill set you should have. 
• Clean confidant Ollie and Nollie and nose and tail press

Basic park skills:

• 50-50 on a box – pop on and pop off
• Straight air over a blue graded kicker – think 3 to 5 metres from take-off to landing. A grab is optional but not a requirement.  

Again: it’s not a freestyle exam — but it is a professional riding standard. BASI wants to know you can handle the environment you’ll work in and demonstrate skills safely.

The Level 2 weak points I see the most

1. Carving isn’t actually carving - people say “I can carve” when they mean “I can turn without skidding too much.” Level 2 requires clear and clean edge use, clean line, and controlled carving of various turn shapes
2. Steep slopes expose old bad habits - back foot pushing, rushing the turn, breaking at the waist, throwing the shoulders. Steeper terrain doesn’t create problems — it reveals them.
3. Variable snow panic - the board gets deflected, you get bounced around, speed changes - you speed up and slow down and end up falling every other turn.  Level 2 riders need active legs, good absorption, and calm control and the skill to be able make strong flowing turns on this terrain. 
4. Switch carving is undertrained - most riders “can ride switch” to a basic level. But the Level 2 requires you to develop this to the “level 1” standard. So basic carving skills are needed in your switch direction. Don’t worry its not red and black slopes. Its green slope switch carving. 
5. Freestyle – people tell me they aren’t a freestyler or I’m too old for freestyle. BASI don’t need you to be the next Shaun White (he was a pretty good snowboarder) but a basic freestyle ability shows that you are a more versatile rider and this makes you more valuable employee to a mountain school. Train in this area prior to doing the exam. People tend to try and use the exam to get to the freestyle level and you won’t have the time. Be ready for this part prior to the exam.  
6. Teaching better riders is harder than people think - Level 1 teaching is mostly beginner progression…a couple of hours here and then onto the next group.  While Level 2 is essentially the same type of teaching on a mountain, the one difference is you are spending more time with people (eg a full week). This means your students will get better under your tuition and will want more feedback, more progressions.  Your teaching needs to be ready for this — and this is where you must show real analysis, more adaptation and structured feedback. You can’t just throw drills (exercises) at people and hope. 

The big truth: you don’t need to be the best rider on the course

This is the part that calms people down. You do not need to be the fastest, the most aggressive, or the most stylish.

You need to be:

• consistent
• controlled
• able to demonstrate
• able to teach
• be safe and professional

BASI courses are respected worldwide…..because the course is not a guaranteed pass. If you’re missing parts, you may need to re-take an element and do part of the course again.  
That’s not a failure — that’s how professional standards work.

So… when should you book?

Here’s the simplest way I can put it - book a Level 2 when:

• you can carve properly
• you’re comfortable on steeper terrain and in variable “off piste” choppy snow
• you can ride switch with real control
• you’ve trained the basic freestyle requirements.
• you’re ready for a step up in teaching and professionalism AND have a minimum of 100 hours of shadowing or actual teaching – BASI say 70 minimum… I say more!

If you’re not there yet, that’s not the end of the story — it’s the start of your training plan.

How we help at Snowboard Coach (Arinsal, Andorra & Niseko, Japan)

At Snowboard Coach and Snowsports Coach we run BASI Ski and Snowboard Level 1 and Level 2 exams both in Arinsal, Andorra and in Niseko, Japan. 

We’ve been involved in snowsports for nearly 35 years and training and examining instructors for nearly 25 of those. 

The company was created and is run by Ash Newnes, the longest serving snowboard BASI trainer, so you’re not guessing what’s required — you’re being trained towards the standard.

We also offer:

• Weekly training options towards Level 1 in Arinsal, Andorra
• Season training towards Level 2 in Arinsal, Andorra AND Niseko in Japan
• Season training for Level 3 (for those already qualified at Level 2) in Niseko, Japan only.

If you’re thinking about taking the step, the smartest thing you can do is stop hoping you’re ready and start training with purpose.

You can also check out our BASI Snowboard Level 1 guide.