Where is the World’s Best Skiing and Snowboarding?
Vancouver or Whistler? Jackson Hole or Vail? Got a favourite destination for a ski or snowboard holiday? Tell us where to experience the world's best skiing and snowboarding.
If only we could follow the snow around the globe the way national ski teams do. While most of us can’t realistically aspire to ski the downhill or the snowboard cross in the Winter Games, we would all enjoy a near-endless season of deep powder and flawless weather. Whether your idea of the perfect ski run is carving through gentle glades or schussing a double-black diamond slope, we’d love to hear about your personal favourites.
Let’s create a life list here and now.
By pooling our shared knowledge, we can put together a list of some of the world’s best ski runs. It will give all of us new ideas for great skiing destinations. And one day . . . who knows? Maybe we’ll get to follow the snow after all. When we do, we’ll have our list of mountains to guide us.
Whatever your best ski experiences are, tell us about them. We’d like to know what you like about your favourite mountain, whether it’s the snow, the terrain, the view or the early-morning silence at the top of the mountain before you begin your first run.
Read about upcoming articles that will take you behind the scenes at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler to experience the atmosphere of the Winter Games.
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Hands down Vail, Co best mountain in North America
We love Vail—http://www.fourseasons.com/vail/
Hands down, Crested Butte, CO. We have been going for over 15 years. I have been to most CO mountains and if you love to ski, this is your town- http://www.skicb.com . I almost hate to tell you because it is that sleepy wonderful town that makes it so great.
Thank you for the insider tip Kathy!
Great feedback – thank you!
Interesting divide between EU and US, I love Whistler and have skiied there a lot going back to when there was just a gondola at Creekside. Two winters ago my son and I stayed at the Four Seasons and were not disappointed. However —- I can only rate Whistler Blackcombe number four in my list of the best ski resorts. My priorities are great food, on piste and off piste terrain, scenery, and service. Accordingly it should come as no surprise that I rate Zermatt as the clear, no contest, number one. Chamonix, and Verbier follow. After Whstler come Lech/Zurs/St.Anton, Davos/klosters, the Dolomiite/Marmolada compllex, Kitzbuhl, Val d’Isere, Gstaad, Skt. Moritz etc. etc. etc. The best resorts in the US are Jackson and Vail but they lack in the off-piste, service/food/ and scenery departments and are, frankly, not even in the same league as the top European resorts. After awhile one groomed run can seem much like all the others. In fact, for skiing in the US, I actually like the Stowe experience the best. Back here in Canada, go to Revelstoke with some good friends.
My favorite skiing area is Soelden in Austria – the new European HOME BASE for the UNITED STATES Ski team!
Because of the magnificent Glacier the season starts already in October and the snow is fantastic until the beginning of May. There are some great events like the unique “mountain theatre” Hannibal (see it on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPdn_EAe3ik ) which is a spectacle on the glacier performed by artist and the Red Bull team – this is a MUST SEE!!!! This year I am looking forward to see the DJ David Guetta performing in the natural environment of the Soelden Glacier background! A once in a lift time show!
When I travel to snowboard, I like to go to the place with the best snowboarding experience. Cheap hotels, local food and a soft bed and most importantly snow that is steep and deep. What does it for me is Silverton, Colorado. No frills, just thrills.
obviously no one has been to japan
i went to niseko, japan. that was awsome.. stayed there for three weeks.. great time boarding. food was okay. pricey but loved it and will go again
Aspen gets my vote! Great snow, four mountains to choose, different terrain, something for everyone. Great town and awesome apres ski, even if family members don’t ski they still can have a great time! Though I have to say the best ski hotel I’ve stayed is FS Jackson Hole, true ski in/out, fabulous service, perfect!
“Les 3 Vallées” in the French Alps, by far promises the most amazing heavenly skiing experience on earth. Actually, there are valleys and mountains to choose from on many different altitudes. Courchevel, among all my favourite, stretches through 3 levels. Courchevel, Meribel, Mottaret, Val Thorens, La Tania, St. Martin de Belleville, St. Marcel and other resorts and villages are connected to eachother with a multitude of pists. “le plus grand domaine skiable au monde!”
The Dolomites in northern Italy has to be the most spectacular alpine destination I’ve ever visited; spectacular mountains, long runs, AMAZING food and valleys dotted with the most picturesque villages imaginable. Perfection!
the “3 vallées” in the north alps in France like Courchevel,Meribel or Val d’Isère.
Such a great skiing time !!
I have skiied the West and the East and Sugarbush area in Waitsfield , VT is amazing. Vermont is just so fun! The Warren store, Ben and Jerry’s, Green Mountain coffee….
Big Sky, Montana. Nice locals, great snow, no crowds, tons of skiable terrain for all levels of ability… and all within two adjacent ski resorts.
Whistler/Blackcomb,something for everyone,two mountains now joined by a $50 million dollar Gondola,very relaxed atmosphere,no jackets and ties needed at dinner (st Moritz) no cramming 100 people in a Gondola(Zermatt ) and good snowfall,and if its wet stay high with the new Gondola.Its hard to beat
No contest. Aspen, Co.
Four mountains to choose from. Lots of snow. Sunny days. After spending 55 years here, I still love it the BEST.
If you are planning a ski trip in the USA, then I would highly recommend Vail, Colorado. Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek give you every kind of slope you want to ski. From expert to beginner. It has a fantastic ski school that children absolutely love. Vail is very family oriented so if you’re looking for the “singles” party, I would not recommend it. I have skied Vail for 30 years and have watched a good mountain turn into one of the most awesome mountains in the US.
Whistler. Spend more time on the trails and less time on the lifts. The variety of terrain enables a family of differing abilities to ski together by taking different routes and still meeting up somewhere on the run. Also, fine dining at 6,000′ at Steeps.
Jackson Hole, WY. Wonderful and varied terrain. Big powder. No crowds. And a fabulous Four Seasons at the base that can’t be beat. It’s my favorite annual stop…
Alta, Utah. Great snow, no snowboarders, Collins Grill at midslope. Just down the road is Snowbird, and if you can’t get up Little Cottonwood Canyon, you can always make it over to Park City. Never been disappointed!
I think that snowboarding adds to the experience. I both ski and snowboard but prefer snowboarding because of the challenge. The stereotype that snowboarders are obnoxious or degrading is stupid, and I hate the fact that resorts and people allow this to cloud their minds. I am in agreement with you, however, that Utah is amazing and offers some of the best mounatins and snow.
I’ve enjoyed the Alps as well as some of the others mentioned – but – Telluride, Colorado is my favorite! The terrain is intense – the lift lines are not crowded – and – the atmosphere is mountain casual with just enough sophistication. Love this place!!!!!!
Jackson Hole- Great mountain, mellow vibe, not crowded, serious terrain. Four Seasons is slopeside and has a great patio with Adirondack chairs and gas fireplace.
Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan – consistent powder, great village, welcoming locals with great hospitality. Has four rconnected resorts with a wide range of terrain, plus amazing back country and many other quality resorts within day trip range.
I my opinion it depends on what you want. The Alps have atmosphere and apres but a poor snow record over last decade and are very expensive. Whistler, Jackson Hole, Fernie, Altitude etc. offer snow,service, back-country but are more sedate/family-orientated. North Japan has the best snow and great back country but is behind in infrastructure and very sedate. Where ever you go, just enjoy!
The best ski holiday is in Lech am Arlberg, Austria. Excellent snow, amazing runs, good weather and perfect for deep snow skiing wherever you go!
Unfortunately I haven´t been skiing that much in the United S. other than ones back in 86 in New Mexico. A great experience, but my favourite must be the Zermatt/Cervinia skislopes. Excellent housing both villages, exceptional skiing opportunities, fantastic views, wonderful food, especially lunch in the mountains on the Zermatt side, good afterski, and wonderful restaurants for dining. NO cars in Zermatt! If have been a quite a few places in the Alps, nothing beats Zermatt!
The best snow,ambiance,accamadation,hotels and people are at the Arlberg in Lech-Oberlech Austria
We have just returned from a three week ski holiday in Poland. the ski capital in Poland is Zakopane. there are over 100 ski slopes to choose from in the 15km radius. Our favourite was a 2km blue slope in Male Ciche.
Poland is a beautiful ski experience!
The Alps are without contest the best, the drop is the highest, the planes the widest, the infra the most developed, the villages the most picturesque, the food the tastiest, the afterski the most varied. You can argue between France, Switzerland, Austria depending on how you prioritise the above. Verbier, Val d’Isere, Zermatt and St Anton, Lech each have their advantages. Now the USD is cheap, so if your main criteria is price and you cannot afford the best, then you probably prefer North America.
Big Sky and Moonlight Basin, Montana. There is no such thing as a lift line nor is there any pretense. Just beautiful, huge skiing with friendly people, a variety of terrain, unbelievable views and 400 inches of snow a year. The only thing it might be missing is a Four Seasons. So how about it?
My vote is for Mammoth, CA. I love Whistler, except for the occasional cement dumps (wet snow). Jackson Hole, Tahoe, Utah, Colorado all great, but there is something special about Mammoth. All kinds of terrain, sun, huge snow falls and a great base area. It is a pain to a$$ to get to, but it can use a Four Seasons Resort.
Sun Valley ID…. Remote enough it is never crowded. The mountain challenges skiers of every skill level and there is a separate mountain/ski school for beginners. Their mountain and base operations aspire to Four Seasons’ standards and principles of quality, service and culture. It would make a great Four Seasons resort some day!!!
Whistler/Blackcomb hands down. I’m an advanced boarder and I love the wide open spaces, choice and difficulty of terrain. I often travel with people who are not that good, and they always appreciate the terrain. Plus you can get to the mountain in 30 minutes, via helicopter.
I agree with Cory about Whistler. But being from the East, I don’t get to Whistler that often so I ski the East. Stowe’s Front Four trails on Mt. Mansfield can challenge Whistler’s toughest, believe it or not! A must try if you venture to the NorthEast.
hands down, absolutely Whistler for it’s wide range of trail types, ski school, awsome snow, low altitude, friendly staff and most important the number of ski trails and back country. Whistler rocks!