I guess a day on the slopes starts in the lift queue. The Canadians almost always have a genuine smile for you, offer tissues and other refinements and really do their very best to console you when you are frustratingly just minutes away from some of the best snow on the planet. In Austria the welcome to the slopes is often far more simple and understated, a little less fanfare although you do get doughnuts in the lift queue in February. Even if they don’t nod in approval there is always that feeling of endorsement from the mountain workers, a bit like a handshake from a lower league NZ rugby player.

The scenery of the two countries may be equalled but rarely beaten. The Canadian Rockies are on par with the Dolomites whilst standing at the top lift station of the Pitztal Glacier, Austria is staggering. Whistler has the astonishing Black Tusk geographic phenomenon to gaze over whilst a ski back into the resort of Lech am Arlberg through fresh snow is hard to beat.

Snow often means height and whilst that maybe true in Europe, Canada is so far north that almost all areas are cold enough to get low temperatures and glaciers at heights we can only dream of in Europe. The Pacific throws up endless winter storms that just dump over Canada no matter what the height, most of the time. Even Vancouver Island has great skiing and this is a narrow island off the coast of British Columbia. More central areas and the Rockies are famed for their frigid temperatures. Austria does have ski resorts as low as 700m – the reason, if there is a slope they want to ski it. They also have resorts that top out at close to 3500m, whilst the Arlberg resorts of Lech, Zurs, Stuben and St Anton have formidable snow accumulation records.

Skiing – go to anywhere in or west of the Canadian Rockies and more often than not you are going to be met with superb powder snow, great lift systems and excellent facilities. Cameras do not lie in Canada, this place gets so much snow it is astonishing. Canadians are skiers and snowboarders – it is more than a holiday when you see Canadians on the slopes – it is a ritual. Austrians mix an arrogance born of years of competitive dominance with an all-encompassing appreciation that you are engaged in something that is almost sacred to them. Austrians might smile knowingly at faulty ski or snowboard technique but their willingness to encourage is almost universal. Heli skiing = Canada; some of the best snow on the planet is accessible in the easiest and most exclusive of ways. For many reasons heli skiing is highly restricted in the European Alps – but not in the Austrian Arlberg: combine the best snow record in Austria, with some of the best terrain, in certainly some of the best scenery and villages and add a chopper – bingo!

And to end the day it has to be a locals’ bar. Canada generally tends to offer a more laid back atmosphere whilst Austria often explodes into celebration. Both countries rightly foster group appreciation of the magnificence of a day in the mountains though. Wet snow or Albertan powder, views into Italy or as far as the end of your ski, the appreciation of the day is the same. You skied or snowboarded and that is the key in both Canada or Austria – you did something that goes to the core of each national identity and for that you are made to feel special. Feeling special on a holiday is why I take them. Just don’t forget to drop Gretzky or Klammer into the conversation, you may just be offered citizenship – take it!

Ah, but what about Hokkaido, Japan…………

Not convinced, then listen to the latest message from the great guys at Banff: