It's not that hard. Believe me, I am not that coordinated and I taught myself the basics and then took 3 lessons to learn how to climb/descend. I skied on beginner trails for years, until friends got me out on the big hills. If you have consistent snow, your skills can ramp up fast. I am the same kind of skier as I am rider; I can climb and descend almost anything, but I am not super fast. Not slow, slow or a beginner, but steady. I actually think I have better skiing skills than riding. Not sure why, except that it's closer to the ground to fall!