How exciting! Your friend or loved one just asked if you'd show them the ropes on the slope this winter and you said yes. If the person in question happens to just be a local buddy who's just never gotten around to learning, then you may only be facing one manageable day of playing teacher. But if we're talking a friend who's planned to fly in from out of town—perhaps with a virgin pair of boots they just eagerly bought in tow in your ski bag —for the inaugural ski trip of their life, you've got your work cut out for you.
I know firsthand how difficult it is to teach a friend or loved one to ski—you see, I’ve been both the student and the teacher in that situation within the past seven years. When I moved out to Colorado from the East Coast, I didn’t even really understand what skiing was—I’d never seen anyone do it, I’d never watched a ski movie, I had no friends that skied. My boyfriend at the time became so frustrated with my lack of progress that he handed me off to my friend. She was new to skiing herself and thankfully had the patience to get me down a green on a powder day without a freak out.