re: How difficult is it to learn to snow ski?

Highly dependent on the person, and really the younger you start the easier it is

It took me about 45 minutes to feel comfortable going off on my own, was able to do some blue slopes day 1. Others it can take several days (a whole trip), some can go for years and never get truly comfortable (I call them women)

Also I would suggest shorter skis, easier to control, slower speed, you will be fighting against them less than the longer ones