No fear's a bastard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t870ed4qR9g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSzzyMveTTM
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs122...._6279521_n.jpg
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs142....6_615329_n.jpg
yeah, he doesn't have as far to fall as your wife!
My daughter at 16 started skiing well without lessons the first day. I think all the rollerblading she did 10 years prior helped a lot.