These are practical icebreaker questions you can use on the very first chairlift ride to quickly scan your clients’ personalities.
The first chairlift ride of the day is your golden window. It is a quiet, captive environment where you can interview your guests without them even realizing it. By asking the right questions, you can figure out their temperaments and characters before their skis even touch the snow at the top. Here are four questions to use, along with a guide on how to decode their answers:
1. “What are you most excited about doing today?”
- If they say: “I want to go fast!” or “I want to try the terrain park!” Their Profile is Extrovert / Competitor. They crave adrenaline and high status.
- If they say: “I just want to make it down without falling,” or “I want to work on my form.” Their Profile is Anxious / Perfectionist. They value safety, control, and precision.
2. “Have you done any other sports before? Which ones do you like best?”
- If they say: “I play soccer, basketball, and I love racing my friends.” Their Profile is High Energy / Competitive. They are used to team dynamics, speed, and pushing their physical limits.
- If they say: “I do yoga, I play video games,” or if they shrug and say nothing. Their Profile is Shy / Cautious. They may have a lower tolerance for physical discomfort or loud environments. They will need gentle, step-by-step coaching.
3. “Imagine we are standing at the top of a hill that looks a little scary. What is the first thing that goes through your mind?”
- If they say: “Let’s bomb it!” or “I’ll just try to follow you closely!” Their Profile is Impulsive / Trusting. They have low anxiety but might lack a filter for safety. You will need to act as their speed brake.
- If they say: “I will freeze,” or “I’ll worry about hurting my knees.” Their Profile is Anxious / Analytical. They are already calculating risk. You need to focus heavily on building their trust and breaking the mountain down into tiny pieces.
4. “If you get stuck or find a drill really hard today, how do you usually like to handle it?”
- If they say: “Just keep telling me what to fix, I want to get it right!” Their Profile is Perfectionist. They want data and corrections, but watch out for them getting frustrated if they don’t get it immediately.
- If they say: “I might need to take a second to breathe,” or if they look embarrassed. Their Profile is Low Frustration Tolerance / Shy. They need a “safe word” or signal to stop, and they absolutely hate being corrected loudly in front of a crowd.
