Where to go skiing and snowboarding
Where’s the snow?
Whether you are a skier or a snowboarder there is plenty of choice around on places to visit over the next few months.
Our table below shows the average snowfall at different resorts and here the information is available, the number of skiable acres. 
| With skiing and snowboarding you have a lot of great options with either short flights to the European ski resorts on long haul to enjoy all that America and Canada can offer.
A lot of the time, where you go for your snow will depend on how much time (and money) you have. If you’ve got the time to fly out to America or Canada, the huge resorts out there provide a great service and often have great snowfall. If you’re on a budget or are only looking for a short skiing trip, then France, Switzerland, Austria and even Italy can offer options which might be right for you.
Whistler in Canada is often highly rated due to the vast acreage of skiing available and a good regular snowfall. In the last couple of winters, the snowfall has been incredible and the skiing here suits everyone from novice to extreme off-piste skiing. Whistler is also a really good family destination with great hotels, places to eat and party. Other options in Canada include Banff, Lake Louise and Fernie, which is a a good-value resort in British Columbia which offers extensive skiing on uncrowded slopes. Like Whistler, it is good for families, but aimed towards more serious skiers. Compare currency rates on Canadian Dollars.
Breckenridge in Colorado turned 50 in 2011 and snow has been good there for many years. It suits both novices and more seasoned skiers alike. There is less extreme terrain than some resorts, but enough to keep most experts happy. Aspen is the Chelsea of the ski slopes. It is the ‘designer’ ski resort but for your hard earned coin, you get some of the best all round ski areas in North America with solid snow pretty much guaranteed. Compare currency rates on US Dollars.
Tignes offers possibly the most extensive glacier skiing in France. It is linked to the well know, snow-sure Val d’Isère and together offer a huge amount of lifts and hundreds of kilometres of pistes. The two resorts are a contrast to each other. Val d’Isère is very traditional, whereas Tignes is purpose-built. Both resorts cater for skiers and snowboarders at all levels. St Anton plays host to much of Austria’s best best skiing. It has a great snow record and accommodation at levels to suit all pockets. It features two famous ski schools and you may need them as St Anton is particularly suited to strong intermediates and experts. Not one for novices. Gstaad in Switzerland is a world famous resort and the rival to St Moritz. Gstaad is understated and offers more traditional chalet style buildings and skiing with a local area pass covers half a dozen areas which you can reach by mountain trains and cable cars. Although not the prettiest place in the world in terms of architecture, Cervinia in Italy looks up at the south face of the Matterhorn. Its strength is altitude, which means it offers some of the most reliable snow cover in Europe, with long blue and red runs. It’s well suited to beginners, intermediates and families. More advanced skiers may lean towards to the Zermatt side of the joint ski area. |
| Note: this write-up and above graph are simply a guide based on widely available information, average snowfall and average information. Flight times are from London airports. |
