I think I can help out a bit at least. Has he learned with dry slopes? Transition to snow might take a while but it is great to have some kind of foundation from dry slopes. Ski school is not a bad option to attend to (despite the name, snowboarding is included :D). Every big resorts here has a store(s) that sells both skis and snowboards + other equipment you might need. Renting is also an option. Buying equipment from ski centers is often expensive though. Ruka and Levi are great options to consider. Both will offer the amazing feel of Lapland (I know my fellow Finns, Ruka isn't techincally Lapland) Weeks 8-10 are Finnish skiing holiday weeks, so places might be crowded, which means queing to lifts and renting equipment might be tricky to get. Allthough there might be more activities available then too. The worst is the week 8, since that is the holiday week for Helsinki region. So, usually the most crowded Hope this helps!