If a parent asks that their child ski with a more skilled friend, what is a recommended approach?

• A. Keep them together in a group with the higher-level child mentoring the other
• B. Suggest skiing in our group and making new friends so all levels are addressed; consider a semi-private lesson; if still together, the higher-level student would need to ski with a lower-level for safety
• C. Force the higher-skilled child to slow down to match the lower one
• D. Cancel future sessions

Answer: (B)

When teaching kids, the priority is safety and effective learning by matching instruction to each child’s ability. If a parent wants their child to ski with a more skilled friend, the best approach is to have them in a group with peers at similar skill levels and use options that support both kids’ needs. Suggest skiing in our group and making new friends so all levels are addressed, and consider a semi-private lesson to allow some individualized coaching while still benefiting from group dynamics. If they end up staying together, the higher-skilled student should be paired with someone at a lower level for safety, ensuring pacing, spacing, and instruction stay within the lower child’s comfort zone while the more skilled child receives appropriate guidance. This setup keeps instruction safe, manageable for the slower learner, and appropriately challenging for the more advanced skater.