Ever considered teaching skiing or riding?

I often hear people complaining that skiing and riding are just too expensive.

Some say they want to ski more but can’t afford it. Others say that they are losing interest in sliding down the same mountain all the time but can’t afford to go elsewhere. Or that it’s hard to get motivated to get to the mountains regularly.

If you’re in any of these situations, have you ever considered becoming a ski or snowboard instructor as a solution to your problem? OK, I can hear you saying: “Whoa?!? Me? An instructor!?! Don’t you have to be, like, really, really good?”

Relax.

If you can ski or snowboard well enough to make it comfortably down blue-square intermediate trails, you probably have the basic skills you need to make a start in instructing. More important are your own goals, your attitude, and your people skills.

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This is the way! As this instructor at Whaleback Mountain demonstrates, it takes patience and people skills as much as technical riding ability to become a snowboarding instructor. Tim Jones photo

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You can be taught the skiing or riding skills you need to teach others, but only if you have the patience, the enthusiasm, and the desire to teach others to love a sport that you already love.

Yes, you’ll have to commit some time, but the rewards are great. You’re almost guaranteed to spend more time on snow. You won’t have to pay for lift tickets where you instruct, and your family usually qualifies for a discount as well. Other areas will often give discounts to visiting instructors. Local ski shops will give you a discount on gear.

You might even make a few bucks -- though that’s doubtful at the start. But the biggest reward you’ll ever get is the smile on the face of a student when they make it all the way down the teaching slope without falling and realize they are ready to try it from the top of the mountain.

Oh, and you’ll become a better skier or rider in the process. The best way to learn to improve your own on-slope technique is to learn to break down and analyze what you have to do to turn skis or a snowboard more effectively in a variety of condition. As you prepare to teach, you learn yourself.

Many ski areas offer clinics for instructors and potential instructors. So, next time you're at your favorite hill, ask around.

More slope time for less money, more and better skiing or riding for yourself and for others. That’s what you get from instructing.

What are you waiting for?

This week's tip: Staying warm

We all remember those days (and sometimes weeks) when the weather turns unseasonably cold - and the winds turn nasty.

Here are the basics of keeping warm next time you face such weather:

• Start with warm, clean dry boots, socks and underwear. Add as many insulating layers as you need. Top off with windproof jacket and pants.
   
• A helmet is warmer than any hat. Protect your face with a windproof neoprene face mask and goggles. Don’t show any skin anywhere.
   
• Mittens are warmer than gloves. The warmest have a separate liner glove worn inside an insulated mitten. Add hand warmers if you need to.
   
• Neoprene boot covers ( bootglove.com , www.danzat.com ) make a huge difference. The Danzats offer more coverage but aren’t as durable as the Boot Gloves.
   
• Stay fueled and hydrated (skiing in cold weather is a great excuse to indulge in high-calorie treats!)