Maybe I can help with some insight on the ski issue since I used to live in the mountains and hit the slopes a lot. First of all, everything Meri was doing was WRONG and Kody is a moron for letting or encouraging her to do so much (or, not being adament enough to tell her/explain that she wasn't ready yet). You don't hit the lifts until youve done the bunny slopes a zillion times...and you aren't on elevations like she was shown coming down unless you are somewhat proficient at manuevering. Hell, Meri didn't even appear to know "french fries" and "pizza wedge"--basically the common lingo used to learn how to speed up and slow down (she didn't even know how to stop!). At her age, with zero experience, everything Meri was doing was very dangerous--I halfway expected her to fly off into the trees and get hurt even worse. Poorly handled, IMO, if Meri really hasn't hit the slopes before. Then again, Kody thinks strapping christmas trees to vans is more important that breaking up fights between his kids so whatever

*sidenote--it looked like Meri might have been on ski blades (they are technically trick skis--shorter and easier to handle/turn overall)--one way to tell is that they dont pop off when you fall (I cant recall if they released when she fell....?). But, you can also get much shorter skiis and often the rental outfitters will size you based on your experience and height.
**the pole argument is a goody--some instructors feel like they give beginners something to rely upon when they are starting out but in general they arent necessary for beginners who need to learn how NOT to crash before they hit the advanced slopes with precision turns, etc...
***finally, there is a correct way to fall and what Meri did was NOT it.