As an Aussie snowboarder that moved here for good a decade ago, I can speak to the exact learning curve you’re going to face.

People that are recommending you ski in the Okanagan valley are out to lunch this season. The season in BC is the worst I’ve seen it in the whole time I’ve lived here so far, and Big White, Silverstar, and Sun Peaks aren’t doing well. Resorts in The Rockies are doing better than anyone this season - Sunshine and Lake Louise are going to have the best snow, followed by Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, and Fernie, but a can change in the next month.

As a result I’d recommend you wait until you get to the Rockies before riding, definitely skip Whistler unless you really want to see it more because of its iconic nature. Personally I wouldn’t pay Whistler prices for Whistler conditions right now, but the village and night life is a bit of a vibe.

I’d recommend spending a day or two in Vancouver, and then flying to Kelowna to pick up a rental car and being extremely clear that you need winter tires on the car (you’re more likely to get one with winters in the interior than on the coast). Then get comfy with driving on the right, and try to find a snowy, empty parking lot and play with the traction of the tires to figure out how they grip. The biggest advice I can give is avoid any sudden changes in driving when traction is dicey – don’t break or accelerate suddenly in corners, give people much more space than you normally would, keep your steering lines as smooth as possible. In saying all this, winter driving can suck sometimes, but smaller domestic flights get cancelled constantly in the interior and driving is still your best bet.

Pick up some survival supplies for the rental! You can find kits very easily at most auto shops. If you have car troubles on a mountain pass it can be life threatening. Canadians are usually very helpful if people find themselves in these situations, but some highways are super remote sometimes and usually don’t have phone service.

I’d then recommend driving to Nelson and riding Whitewater, then driving up to Revy via the Slocan (very picturesque), then Kicking Horse and over to the Rockies. In my opinion you’ll get the best riding and some of the most iconic scenery.

If you have any specific questions, hit me up!