Aspen
The Snowplaza UK website just didn’t feel right without including the outstanding ski resorts in Colorado and Utah in North America ! Although relatively few British skiers venture as far as North America for their ski holiday, those who do, come back raving! Huge snowfalls, meaning excellent off-piste skiing, quiet ski slopes with efficient ski lift systems and high quality accommodation with standards of service that you rarely find in European ski resorts is what’s on offer on the other side of the pond! Over the next few months, I will publish articles dedicated to the top North American ski resorts but read on to whet your appetite…
America is renowned for its dedication to (or I would even say obsession about) quality and service and this does not stop at the foot of the mountains! If you’re not a fan of the “have a nice day” culture then avoid a ski holiday in the US! Courtesy, unlike in many European ski resorts, is a number one priority in the US and can sometimes even become a little over the top. However, you certainly feel special and spoilt during your ski holiday in the North American ski resorts. Highly efficient, fast ski lift systems mean very few queues and modern, high tech equipment guarantees excellent piste grooming resulting in immaculate ski slopes in all weather conditions.
For those who enjoy skiing in thigh-deep powder in stunning scenery, the North American ski resorts are the place to be. Fresh snowfalls in the US are often measured in meters after one dump and some resorts measure up to 10 meters during the ski season compared to 5 meters in Europe. On top of this, the climate is very dry and the ski resorts are usually further away from the sea making for perfect off-piste conditions. Unlike in European ski resorts, each North American ski resorts has its total ski area boundary marked out by signs or ropes (including the most difficult to access off-piste areas) meaning that wherever you go you can be reassured that the area is avalanche controlled and safety patrolled. The great advantage for adventurous powder hounds is that you go “backcountry” skiing for the day with the knowledge that you are safe (within limits of course) and you don’t have to pay for a guide or buy or hire avalanche safety equipment.
Generally, après-ski in North American ski resorts means a laid-back evening spent in taverns and pubs which serve local beers and cocktails in a lively, ultra-friendly atmosphere – everyone will be your best buddy by the end of the evening! With regards to other activities, it really depends where you go – you’ll find some ski resorts that are so quiet and intimate, they seem like ghost towns in the evenings whereas others are vibrant, offer many extra sporting activities and lively nightlife. The choice is yours!
Going skiing is an effort and everyone knows that a ski holiday is not cheap! Many people are put off skiing in North America by the price and length of the long haul flights and it’s true that, although you can find some good flight deals, you cannot shorten the journey! The solution is to go for 2 weeks and maybe make your ski holiday your main holiday in the year including maybe a short break in one of the wonderful North American cities. Most skiers and snowboarders who have been say that it’s well worth the extra effort. As far as cost is concerned, this will, of course, largely depend on the strength of the Pound at the time you travel. However, once you are in your ski resort, you will notice that overall, the day-to-day costs for ski hire, ski passes, restaurants, etc, compare very favourably to those in equivalent European ski resorts. You'll soon fall under the spell of the unique atmosphere in these ski resorts and maybe you too will be converted!
North American ski resorts really do have something to suit everyone, not just good skiers, boarders and crazy riders, so watch this space for my series of articles on the new North American ski resorts featured on our website which will hopefully help you choose between Aspen, Breckenridge, Deer Valley, Keystone, Park City and Steamboat.
Aspen
The Snowplaza UK website just didn’t feel right without including the outstanding ski resorts in Colorado and Utah in North America ! Although relatively few British skiers venture as far as North America for their ski holiday, those who do, come back raving! Huge snowfalls, meaning excellent off-piste skiing, quiet ski slopes with efficient ski lift systems and high quality accommodation with standards of service that you rarely find in European ski resorts is what’s on offer on the other side of the pond! Over the next few months, I will publish articles dedicated to the top North American ski resorts but read on to whet your appetite…
America is renowned for its dedication to (or I would even say obsession about) quality and service and this does not stop at the foot of the mountains! If you’re not a fan of the “have a nice day” culture then avoid a ski holiday in the US! Courtesy, unlike in many European ski resorts, is a number one priority in the US and can sometimes even become a little over the top. However, you certainly feel special and spoilt during your ski holiday in the North American ski resorts. Highly efficient, fast ski lift systems mean very few queues and modern, high tech equipment guarantees excellent piste grooming resulting in immaculate ski slopes in all weather conditions.
For those who enjoy skiing in thigh-deep powder in stunning scenery, the North American ski resorts are the place to be. Fresh snowfalls in the US are often measured in meters after one dump and some resorts measure up to 10 meters during the ski season compared to 5 meters in Europe. On top of this, the climate is very dry and the ski resorts are usually further away from the sea making for perfect off-piste conditions. Unlike in European ski resorts, each North American ski resorts has its total ski area boundary marked out by signs or ropes (including the most difficult to access off-piste areas) meaning that wherever you go you can be reassured that the area is avalanche controlled and safety patrolled. The great advantage for adventurous powder hounds is that you go “backcountry” skiing for the day with the knowledge that you are safe (within limits of course) and you don’t have to pay for a guide or buy or hire avalanche safety equipment.
Generally, après-ski in North American ski resorts means a laid-back evening spent in taverns and pubs which serve local beers and cocktails in a lively, ultra-friendly atmosphere – everyone will be your best buddy by the end of the evening! With regards to other activities, it really depends where you go – you’ll find some ski resorts that are so quiet and intimate, they seem like ghost towns in the evenings whereas others are vibrant, offer many extra sporting activities and lively nightlife. The choice is yours!
Going skiing is an effort and everyone knows that a ski holiday is not cheap! Many people are put off skiing in North America by the price and length of the long haul flights and it’s true that, although you can find some good flight deals, you cannot shorten the journey! The solution is to go for 2 weeks and maybe make your ski holiday your main holiday in the year including maybe a short break in one of the wonderful North American cities. Most skiers and snowboarders who have been say that it’s well worth the extra effort. As far as cost is concerned, this will, of course, largely depend on the strength of the Pound at the time you travel. However, once you are in your ski resort, you will notice that overall, the day-to-day costs for ski hire, ski passes, restaurants, etc, compare very favourably to those in equivalent European ski resorts. You'll soon fall under the spell of the unique atmosphere in these ski resorts and maybe you too will be converted!
North American ski resorts really do have something to suit everyone, not just good skiers, boarders and crazy riders, so watch this space for my series of articles on the new North American ski resorts featured on our website which will hopefully help you choose between Aspen, Breckenridge, Deer Valley, Keystone, Park City and Steamboat.
Being lucky enough to have parents who were crazy about skiing, my love for the mountains started when I was 4 years old on our first family ski holiday to Austrian ski resort of Obergurl. One ski holiday a year was never enough and tears rolled down my face as I looked out the back window of the car on the drive down the valley on the way home!
