Hints and Tips

How To Teach Your Mates To Ski Or Snowboard

Teaching your mates to ski or snowboard? We've got 10 easy steps to help you out make sure they progress fast and can ride with you!

Jen Houltham

Firstly, thank you for signing up another future snow addict to your ski/ board posse. We know just getting your friend/ boyfriend/ girlfriend/ third-cousin-twice-removed to give skiing or snowboarding a go is a huge achievement, so thanks in advance for corrupting them this far...

Now we're done with the thank yous, it's time to get a little bit less serious. If you're thinking of taking on the actual teaching of said friend/ relative/ significant other, then we've got some handy steps for you to follow below this educational video:

  1. Don't teach your mates to ski or snowboard. Just don't do it.

  2. Remind them that you were a beginner once, and it was easy for you.

  3. Block out any memories of when it wasn't easy for you.

  4. If your complicated explanations are confusing them, just use bigger words.

  5. Ignore any and all complaints, including "You haven't taught me that yet", "It's cold" and "I can't get back up".

  6. Refer back to point #1, then:

  7. Book them in for a group or private lesson with a qualified ski or snowboard instructor.

  8. Go have a few glorious runs without them.

  9. Come back to find them still in one piece and a whole lot more confident.

  10. Grab a cheeky beverage at Vista Bar, The Lounge or Base Bar to celebrate!

Repeat steps 7-10 as many times as your friend needs to get them skiing/snowboarding the whole mountain with confidence.

We're all about saving friendships and relationships here at Cardrona and Treble Cone – we'll see you at the Lesson Meeting Area sometime soon!

A skier carves on fresh cord on a bluebird day.

Beyond Boundaries

Cardrona

Have it all at Cardrona Alpine Resort

Explore Cardrona
A man snowboards down a steep run at Treble Cone.

Elevate your Adventure

Treble Cone

Legendary off-piste terrain with some of NZ’s longest groomed runs

Explore Treble Cone