Elle laughs, giving his arm a gentle push. "It is not going to go terribly," she says. "Okay, just remember that falling is part of learning. And the snow is super soft. It's not like you're gonna roll down the hill or off a cliff, you just might get... a little tangled in the skis. Come on, over here."

She picks up the pace for the last few feet to the bench, setting her skis at her feet before plopping down and patting the seat beside her.