13 Places to Ski and Snowboard This Winter
1. Val d'Isere, France - Chambery
Located in the Tarentaise Valley in the French Alps, Val d'Isere is one of the most popular ski resorts in Europe, thanks to its village charm, convenient location (easily accessible from Chambery, Lyon and Geneva), and excellent snow reliability. Val d'Isere's well known 'Funpark' (pictured below) is particularly popular amongst snowboard freestylers, dude!
2. Pas de la Casa, Andorra - Toulouse
Located in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, Andorra offers a selection of excellent ski resorts of which Pas de la Casa is the most popular. The country as a whole survives off its tourism industry and welcomes over 10 million visitors a year. Pas de la Casa is especially popular amongst young people (the lively nightlife is something to behold!) and also due to Andorra's status as a Principality which results in very low tax. Pas de la Casa is great on a budget!
3. Park City, Utah - Salt Lake City
Park City Mountain Resort in Utah offers skiing and snowboarding at all ability levels, and is frequently used by US National Ski Team as a practice ground. The slalom and giant slalom runs are not for the faint of heart!
4. Whistler Blackcomb, Canada - Vancouver
Ever wanted to ski at an Olympic resort? Well the popular Whistler Blackcomb resort in Canada was selected as the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. If you're looking for more than just ski slopes, Whistler also offers 'Heli-Skiing' (where a helicopter accompanies your run to capture you on HD video), sleigh rides and the popular 'Peak 2 Peak' ride – a 4.4 kilometre ride between the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
5. St. Moritz, Switzerland - Zurich
Regarded as one of the most exclusive ski towns in the world, St. Moritz in Switzerland offers 350km of ski runs along with an abundance of après-ski activities. The luxurious mountain resort offers expensive boutiques, hot spas and (unusually!) holds the 'Polo World Cup on Snow'; an annual tournament featuring the best polo teams in the world. Horses on snow!
6. Aspen, Colorado - Aspen
Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Aspen is a must-visit for every ski and snowboard enthusiast – it's still the one ski town that every North American resort compares itself to. If celebrity hunting is your thing then Aspen is the place to go; movie stars, musicians and Olympic athletes regularly hit the slopes in Aspen.
7. Chamonix, France - Chamerby
Chamonix remains one of the most popular ski resorts in Europe and it's easy to see why. The resort is located on the north side of the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps which should be on every skier's bucket list! While you're visiting don't miss the opportunity to visit the world famous off-piste ski run of the Vallée Blanche.
8. Kitzbuhel, Austria - Salzburg
Skiing in Austria is hugely popular and Kitzbuhel (or just 'Kitz' as it's known colloquially) is the crown jewel. As well as offering excellent skiing runs for enthusiasts of all abilities, Kitzbuhel also hosts the annual 'Hahnenkamm race' on the infamous 'Streif' course. The Streif is widely regarded as the most demanding course in the world featuring numerous “fall-away” turns and poor visibility – the weather conditions on the mountain often cause fog to compound the course's difficulty.
9. Wanaka, New Zealand - Queenstown
If you're looking for a ski resort that is a little further afield, it's difficult to see past Wanaka in New Zealand. When the snow is beginning to melt in Europe, winter is arriving in the Southern hemisphere and Wanaka has become a hugely popular destination for skiers and snowboarders looking to get their fix during June, July and August.
10. Telluride, Colorado - Denver
Telluride is one of North America's most picturesque resorts, as well as one of the highest – the town sits at over 8,000ft elevation, and ski runs begin at over 12,000ft! If only I wasn't afraid of heights…
11. Banff, Canada - Calgary
Regarded as a fantastic all round resort, Banff offers a friendly and international atmosphere combined with stunning views and a welcoming 'small town' vibe. For those of you looking for a resort with more to do than just ski, Banff offers no shortage of activities and sports for its visitors; dogsledding, hot springs and good old fashioned retail therapy on the famous Banff Avenue.
12. Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy - Innsbruck
Cortina d'Ampezzo is located in the magnificent Dolomite Mountains and offers particularly good skiing for beginners, as well as excellent après-ski following a long day on the slopes! Skiers can pull right up to restaurants like the 5-star Rifugio Capanna Tondi to experience a traditional Italian meal in fine dining style!
13. Niseko, Japan - Sapporo
Skiing and snowboarding are becoming ever more popular in Japan, and the resort at Niseko is regarded as one of the highlights. Thanks to an unusual weather quirk where strong Siberian winds blow constantly towards the Japanese island of Hokkaido, the Niseko resort has consistently fresh and soft powdery snow!
