Taos Ski Valley Top ten 10 Skiing and Snowboarding

Snowboarding Zone - Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico:

Riders Guide - Taos Ski Valley is a very well equipped New Mexico resort with a total of 12 lifts, comprising of 2 Surface Lift, 5 Double Chairs, 1 Triple Chair and 4 Quad Chairs that take you up to 110 trails where you can ski and snowboard on their longest run of 30,360 feet that will turn your legs to jelly atop 310 inches of powder. Their trails are rated 24% for Beginners, 25% for Intermediates, and 51% for Advanced.

Parks and Pipes - The Out to Launch terrain park is located on Maxie's run under lift No. 7 and offers two big airs, a hip, a quarter-pipe and rails. The park is groomed nightly.

Out of Bounds - You want to see all of the fantastic New Mexico scenery you possibly can, so book a snowmobile tour or old fashioned sleigh ride with Adventure Tours. Roadrunner Tours will take you on a sleigh ride to a sheepherders' tent and cook your dinner over an open fire. If you want to rent your own snowmobile, contact Fast Eddie's, Sled Shed or BobCat Pass Adventures. The must do in the Taos area is the Red River Night Sky Adventure. It's a powerful telescopic universe tour that due to the altitude and the crystal clear winter skies, is absolutely spectacular.

Hangout & Hookup - Après ski is great at The Bavarian, The Martini Tree Bar, The Edelweiss Bar or Tim's Stray Dog Cantina. However, you're going to want to check out Taos's bars and clubs, and where to start drinking in Taos is likely going to be your most problematic choice. You can select from really great watering holes like Arroya Seco Tavern, El Taoseno Lounge, Lambert's Bar, Lucky Shoe, Herb's Lounge, Ogelvie's Taos Bar, Hideaway Lounge, The Inn at Snakedance, Momentitos de la Vida and The Anaconda Bar at El Monte Sagrado for some upscale drinking and dancing. Eske's Brew Pub has some decorations left over from the hippie era, but you can't beat it for a selection of really great live country and folk music, as well as its excellent local microbrews and pub fare. You have to order a mug of Eske's green chili beer. Just drink it, and you'll be thankful afterwards. Drink a margarita the size of a bathtub at OBL and see if you can walk out. You can check out the sounds at the Thunderbird Lodge or go two steppin' at the Sagebrush Lounge. but if you want to really visit the two premier music and dance locations in Taos you have to head to The Adobe Bar and The Alley.

The Deal - Fly into Albuquerque which is served by most major U.S. airlines, and you'll find yourself about a three hour drive from Taos Ski Valley. All of the major rental car agencies can be found at 'Querque airport. Faust's Transportation or Pride of Taos can get you to the resort but you will probably be better off by renting a car. If you're driving in, get to Santa Fe, then take New Mexico Hwys. 285, 84 and 68 to Taos.

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Killington Top ten 10 Snowboarding & Skiing Destination

Tucked beneath Vermont's second-highest peak, the Killington Basin is a natural place for a ski resort. The K-1 gondola carries skiers and riders to the highest lift-served skiing in the state (yes, even igher than on Stowe's Mt. Mansfield).

The basin receives, on average, 250 inches of snow each year. If the snow doesn't fall from the sky, Killington/Pico makes it fall from its guns. With one of the world's largest snowmaking systems, the resort literally blankets its seven mountains in white. The resort is also huge, by Eastern standards, and truly has terrain for all abilities, including some super bumps, nice glades, old-time narrow trails and plenty of blue squares for easing down the mountain.

Although Killington has consistent snow most of the winter, spring is probably the best time to ski or ride here. Crowds gather on the deck of the Bear Mountain Lodge, hooting and hollering as up-and-coming bump skiers rip it up—or flail—on the legendary Outer Limits trail, the longest, steepest mogul slope in the East. The smell of burgers on the grill wafts into the air, beer is plentiful (for age 21 or older), and everyone is having a good time. It's like a giant frat party on the slopes.

Killington, though, is not all things to all people. Weekend warriors flock to the slopes, and the chaos is sometimes dangerous. Snowshed (the beginner area) is dubbed "Bloodshed" by some locals. Furthermore, navigating the morass of terrain has made more than one skier or rider wish they had their own GPS system. Experts often find themselves zooming down beginner runs because they have missed their black-diamond choice. Worse still, beginners find themselves stranded on black-diamond runs in an attempt to reach their cars at day's end. To add to the confusion, Killington has five base areas (six, if you count Pico's). Killington provides shuttle service at day's end for those who have taken a wrong turn and ended up at a base different from where they parked in the morning. Be sure to read the signs at each trail junction.

Only about 1,500 feet of Killington's 3,050-foot vertical drop is working vertical, and only three trails, mostly beginner, meander the last 1,500 feet down to the true base on Rte. 4. People looking to avoid the crowds at the other Killington base areas often park here, take the Skyeship gondola to the mountain(s) proper, then take the long, slow run back at day's end.

To avoid confusion or ending up on those flat runouts when you'd rather be bashing serious bumps, we recommend one of the free Meet the Mountain tours, which leave from the Snowshed Base Lodge at 12:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Guides will show newcomers how best to take advantage of Killington's trails without getting lost or stuck in the thickest crowds.

Or you can ski Pico, a physically separate mountain from Killington's other six. Even though it's 10 minutes away by car, Pico is still worth visiting. Considered by many locals as a feather in the Mother Ship's cap, Pico has 2,000 feet of vertical, 48 trails and some very interesting (and often uncrowded) terrain. But starting in 2007/08, Pico is only open Thursdays through Mondays.

Killington/Pico will operate the same number of lifts midweek this year as last, with the exception of Tuesdays and Wednesdays non-holiday, when Skyeship Stage 1 and the lifts at Pico will be idle. K1 Lodge and Bear Mountain Lodge will be open daily, with partial services Monday through Thursday non-holiday, through the regular season. Partial services include parking, bathrooms, kiosk-vended lift tickets, first aid, coffee/bakery and Waffle Cabin. Snowshed Lodge will become our main base lodge Monday through Thursday non-holiday, from December 16 to March 28.

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Brian Head Top ten 10 Skiing and Snowboarding Destination

Brian Head Resort is the premier alpine destination in the southwestern United States. Honored as a "Top Family Getaway for Family Travelers" by the Family Travel Forum, Brian Head is a full-service resort conveniently located in southern Utah - only three hours from Las Vegas!

Brian Head is Utah's highest-elevation resort, receiving over 400 annual inches of light, Utah powder. The resort has 50+ runs for all ability levels, including an entire mountain dedicated to beginners and children. It features four terrain parks for varying ability levels, with more than 30 snow features, rails, fun boxes, and a half pipe (open when conditions permit). The Resort's lift-served Snow Tubing Park is the best in the region, with six lanes to choose from. It's like a giant frozen water slide! The Resort is located off Interstate I-15, adjacent to Utah's famous national parks. Its location has helped foster a uniquely laid-back, uncrowded atmosphere, which is seldom found at winter resorts anymore.

Brian Head Resort's renowned Kids Camp offers affordable, all-inclusive packages for children ages 3-12, and a state-licensed day care facility for age 6 weeks and up. The Winter Sports School has taught tens of thousands of guests to ski and snowboard. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, additional area activities include sleigh rides, spa treatments, snow tubing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and lounges with adult beverages. There is a wide variety of lodging options available in the area for every budget, and plenty of dining options to choose from in the area. Affordable - uncrowded - fun; come and find out what Resort guests have known for years - Brian Head Resort is one of the best kept skiing and snowboarding secrets around!

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BRECKENRIDGE Top ten 10 Skiing and Snowboarding Destination

BRECKENRIDGE

Ski & Snowboard Resort Review

Breckenridge, CO, USA is one of the most well known popular ski and snowboard resorts in North America. It receives 300+ inches of deep, dry Colorado powder per season and averages 300 days of sunshine per year.

Breckenridge Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain

The terrain at Breckenridge is spread across four mountain peaks, named Peak 7, Peak 8, Peak 9 and Peak 10. Between the four peaks there are wide open powder fields, steep chutes, enormous moguls, long groomed trails and easy beginner areas. The efficient lift system is well laid out and copes well with increased weekend and holiday crowds.

In 2009 the Breck Connect Gondola commenced operations linking downtown Breckenridge with the base areas of Peaks 7 and 8. The eight passenger gondola provides quick and easy access to the mountain departing from the main Gondola North parking lot and stoping at both bases eliminating the need to catch crowded shuttle buses.

Breckenridge is owned by Vail Resorts Inc. meaning the lift pass can also be used at other Vail Resorts.

Photo Credit: Jack Affleck, Vail Resorts

Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain

The summit of Peak 8 is where the recently added Imperial Chairlift is located. New in the 2006/2007 winter season it is the highest chairlift in North America accessing 400 acres of steep chutes and powder fields previously only accessible by a 45 minute hike. The double black diamond Horseshoe, Contest and Cucumber Bowls are all treeless and open enabling deep wide powder turns to be had by all.

From the top of the Imperial Chairlift head right to access the challenging bowls of Peak 7 leading down into treed terrain.

Long huge mogul runs are found on the left hand side of the Falcon Super Chairlift on Peak 10.

Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain

While advanced skiers and snowboarders enjoy Breckenridge it is particularly suited to intermediates with its very long immaculately groomed cruising trails on Peaks 7, 8 and 9.

Peak 7 has six excellent wide tree lined groomed cruising trails all serviced by the Independence Super Chairlift.

Some of the longest intermediate trails at Breckenridge are found on Peak 9; from the top of the Beaver Run Super Chairlift there are boundless trails leading down to the base area.

Photo Credit: Aaron Dodds, Vail Resorts.

Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain

Beginners head for the lower areas of both Peak 8 and Peak 9, the terrain here is gentle and wide, great for practicing linking turns.

The Breckenridge Ski and Ride School has lessons for children as young as 4 years old as well as ski and snowboard camps, clinics and telemark classes. First time classes are offered inclusive with lift pass and rental equipment.

Breckenridge Terrain Parks and Halfpipe

Breckenridge can boast having excellent freestyle facilities for snowboarders and freestyle skiers alike. The terrain parks and superpipe rank among the best in the USA and frequently host international events.

The most advanced park is the Freeway Terrain Park located on Peak 8; it is made up of huge jumps, table tops, long rails and big hits. The massive superpipe is at the bottom of the park.

The Country Boy Terrain Park located on Peak 9, is an advanced intermediate park with features slightly smaller than the Freeway Park. Also located on Peak 9 is the intermediate Gold King Terrain Park with medium sized jumps, rails and fun boxes; it has a mid sized halfpipe as well.

On Peak 8 the Trygves Terrain Park is an advanced beginner park with small jumps and rails. The main beginner park is the Eldorado Terrain Park on Peak 9, it has very small jumps, rails and fun boxes. Half of the park is used by the Breckenridge Ski and Ride School.

Other Activities at Breckenridge

Off piste activities available at Breckenridge include ice skating, sledding, snowmobile touring, hot air ballooning, 2 climbing walls, swimming, historical tours, evening sleigh rides, cinemas, live theatre and cooking classes.

Breckenridge Shopping

There are over 175 shops in Breckenridge. Breckenridge Sports stores are in 8 locations around town all selling and hiring the latest ski and snowboard gear.

The town has major grocery and liqueur stores, souvenir shops packed full of T-shirts, posters and photos of Breckenridge, specialty shops like book stores, jewellers, clothing boutiques and even the Breckenridge Barkery catering to canine visitors.

Breckenridge Restaurants

There are 70 restaurants in Breckenridge, French, Italian, Mexican, Steakhouses, Sushi, Vegetarian and fast food to name a few of them.

Crepes a la Carte have delicious savoury and sweet crepes perfect for a snack at any time of day. The Blue River Bistro has classic fresh pasta dishes and excellent service while the family friendly Kenosha Steak House specializes in BBQ pork and delicious hamburgers.

Nightlife at Breckenridge

After dinner party goers spend all night at Cecilia's the cigar bar and night club with DJs, bands and lots of dancing. Sherpa & Yeti's have live bands every night and is always packed to the rafters.

For a quieter night go to the historic Brown Hotel, it's where the locals go and has been in Breckenridge since 1868 with a friendly welcoming atmosphere.

One place that everyone visits is the Breckenridge Brewery they have 8 handcrafted fine Colorado ales and even brew a special Christmas Ale! Take a tour then have a meal and soak up the magnificent mountain views.

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Big Sky Top ten 10 Skiing and Snowboarding Destination

The Best Snowboarding in North America

There's nothing little about Big Sky (Big Sky Mountain)

Big Sky, Montana, is a well-equipped resort nearly an hour's drive from the nearest town, Bozeman. The resort has nearly 20 restaurants and bars, a snowboard store, and a couple of lodges, so there's always something going on. It's unlikely you'll go stir-crazy within a few weeks, but if you feel the symptoms coming on, get your butt to Bozeman to kick out the jams.

Big Sky offers 3,500 acres of incredibly diverse terrain spread over two mountains: Lone Mountain and Andesite Mountain. Lone Peak is the first thing you see as you drive up the road. It's an enduring icon and a perennial challenge, even for strong riders. Before the Lone Peak Tram was built in '95, only crazies hiked the peak. Back then, Big Sky was known for its intermediate terrain and light lift lines. The tram has since escalated Big Sky's lift-serviced vertical into the league of top-ranking U.S. resorts, and has opened up huge amounts of advanced and expert terrain. Both sides of the peak offer steep-as-you-like cliffs and chutes descending into the rugged bowl above the tree line and the main trails. There is no easy way down from the top, and even the wide-open South Face has a gradient of up to 50 degrees. Andesite is the 8,800-foot cone just south of the base area, featuring wide, groomed trails down both sides. It is named after the area's abundance of Andesite shale, which has a voracious appetite for P-tex and steel edges.

The resort receives huge amounts of snow from storms coming from the west or southwest. The two peaks tend to pick up any snow in the area. Due to the predominantly southern and eastern aspects of the lower mountain, the slushies tend to come early.

Big Sky Essentials

Web site: www.bigskyresort.com

Mountain information: (406) 995-5894

Snow report: (406) 995-5900

Getting There

By plane: Several airlines have daily service to Gallatin Fields Airport at Bozeman. The resort is approximately one hour from Bozeman by car. Shuttle service to and from the airport is also available.

By car: Big Sky is three miles off Highway 191, which runs between West Yellowstone and Bozeman up the side of the Gallatin River.

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Aspen/Snowmass Best Snowboarding and Skiing

Aspen/Snowmass is an expansive winter resort complex located in Pitkin County in western Colorado in the United States. Owned and operated by the Aspen Skiing Company it comprises four skiing/snowboarding areas on four adjacent mountains in the vicinity of the towns of Aspen and Snowmass Village. The four areas collectively form one of the most famous winter resorts in the world and are annually the destination for visitors from all over the world.

The four ski areas of the complex are:

* Aspen Mountain, the oldest of the four areas, located on Bell Mountain and the Aspen Mountain above the town of Aspen.
* Aspen Highlands, located on Highland Peak and Loge Peak just north of Aspen.
* Buttermilk, a low altitude family-oriented ski area just north of Aspen Highlands.
* Snowmass, the largest of the four areas (bigger than the other three combined), located near Snowmass Village.


2009-2010 Operating Dates:
Snowmass & Aspen Mountain: November 26, 2009 - April 11, 2010
Aspen Highlands & Buttermilk: December 12, 2009 - April 4, 2010

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Sixty-plus years after dedicating the first chairlift on Aspen Mountain, Aspen/Snowmass continues to deliver.

Anyplace else this would be four separate vacations. Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk – with over 5,300 acres of terrain and boundless dining and nightlife, there are more than enough reasons to visit the most exciting winter escape in the world. Four mountains, one lift ticket – experience The Power of Four.

With over $130 million in on-mountain improvements in the last six years including 11 new lifts, two new gondolas, the industry-leading Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, three new restaurants, two superpipes, additional terrain, 100% hands-free gates with NEW direct-to-lift capabilities, the new Snowmass base village and the best skiing and riding experience anywhere, there has never been a better time better time to visit to Aspen/Snowmass.

100% Hands-Free
New this year, skiers and riders will access all four mountains using 100% automated gates – a total of 40 gates at all access points on the mountains. Automated gates with the latest technology means guests spend less time in lift lines and more time skiing and riding! With hands-free gates put your pass in your pocket and never take it out again.

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ZELL AM SEE Best Skiing Snowboarding Destination

Here is an Alpine combination as compatible as beer and pretzels.

Yes, these two neighboring resorts fit together hand in glove, like a finely tuned dance team where both partners have learned to subtly complement each other for the best possible performance. Above the low-key village of Kaprun, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier guarantees wide-open bowl skiing the year round, while the majority of Zell am See’s Schmittenhöhe slopes sweep down through the trees, more reminiscent of Colorado’s Breckenridge or classic New Hampshire trails.

Here is an interactive Zell am See town map.

Here is an interactive Kaprun town map.

Together they comprise the Europa Sports Region, a land rich with winter and summer outdoor activities. In the spring, high-energy types can ski in the morning and windsurf the lake in the afternoon. Austrian and European skiers have long known the Europa Sports Region as an ideal location for skiing. The area was one of the first resorts in Austria with descents recorded as far back as 1893.

Lake Zell serves as the region’s focal point. This long narrow body of water sprawls 13 km. along a picturesque valley shadowed by the Hohentauern, Austria’s highest mountain range. When the lake freezes in winter, towns-people fish through the ice, go ice-boating, or skate across Zell’s surface to the village of Thumers-bach on the other side.

Zell am See sits on a flat semicircular piece of land that juts into the lake, squeezed from the mountains ringing the shore. Cream-colored buildings huddle around the well-preserved 13th-century church of St. Hippolyt, and the Vogtturm (city tower) which dominate Zell’s skyline, giving it the air of a medieval mountain town rather than a bustling ski village. One could wander for hours through the town’s winding streets and have no trouble envisioning merchants and traders from bygone days going about their business.

Today the streets are still lined with unpretentious shops—sport stores, well-stocked markets, intriguing crafts shops. You’ll also find cozy cafes, gasthauses and restaurants filled with locals and tourists alike. Zell am See, with a year-round population of almost 10,000, has honed the fine art of balancing the fantasy sought by tourists with the real needs of its citizens.

On the surface, Kaprun puts on a quieter face than does Zell am See, partly because it is much smaller in scale. But its laid-back atmosphere sets a more relaxing pace, and the village common gives it the air of a small New England college town. The Kitsteinhorn was Austria’s first glacial ski area.

On the mountain, Kaprun has completed a new Alpine Center at the top of the old Gletscherbahn.

Interactive maps copyright Schubert & Franzke

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Alpe d'Huez Best Skiing & Snowboarding Holidays

Anyone planning a two-week trip to Alpe d'Huez, will not have enough time to ride all the amazing and varied terrain that this place has to offer, set in 10,000 hectares with 800 hectares of pistes this place is big. Each year, this high altitude resort offers amazing amounts of great powder days covering some fantastic backcountry and wide open plateaus, but the terrain is as much for the novice as it is for the advanced rider.

The resort has quite a history, being the first place in the world to have a ski lift installed back in 1936 and the long windy uphill approach to the resort plays host to one of the Tour de France stages in the summer. Due to its location and mostly south-facing slopes, the runs here get a lot of annual sunshine. This has the benefit of letting you ride in great sunny conditions and also helps to soften up certain areas early on in the day. There's heaps of snow here so don't be worrying if the odd bit thins out early.

The resort has a well-equipped and fast lift system that can shunt over 100,000 punters up the mountains per hour. Unfortunately, its popularity with overseas holiday crowds means that Alpe d'Huez can get a bit clogged up, especially at weekends. Holiday periods are absolutely crazy, so avoid this time at all costs if you want to escape millions of day-glow two-plankers. However, during normal periods you can ride freely all week long from top to bottom, on and off-piste, without having to cross-track your own path or that of another skier. The resort of Les Deux Alps is 45minutes away, and a 6-day lift pass includes a free day over there.

New for season

2008/9:Order or re-charge your skipass online on www.sataski.com
Free skiing for beginners (instead of 2 lifts, there are 4).
A new run has opened at the arrival of the Marmottes II. Another new run : the Bartavelles, now links the Belvédère piste with the Rousses.

2007/8:New hands free ski pass system.

2007/8:New hands free ski pass system.

06/07: one new chair lift in Auris-en-Oisans and 15 new snow-guns.

04/05:new Funitel, the Marmottes III which connect sthe Marmottes II to the Herpie Cable car on the Sarenne glacier. Built to improve early and late season boarding.

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Skiing and Snowboarding in Chamonix

Skiing and Boarding in Chamonix
Chamonix offers a multitude of slopes for all levels, each ski area having its own merit. Tremendously long slopes, skiing through the trees, freeride and off-piste, beginners slopes : an infinite number of possibilities for snowriders and mountain lovers alike.

Whatever your skiing style or choice of ski speciality, come and join the ski professionnals who know how to teach you the essential techniques whilst making it a pleasure all the way.



When is it possible to ski and board in Chamonix ?

Chamonix's ski areas are open from December to May, subject to snow conditions. Chamonix does not offer summer skiing.

The Ski Areas

Chamonix's skiing extends over 3 main areas : Brévent/Flégère, offering south-facing slopes and exceptional views of the Mont-Blanc chain, the Grands Montets, high altitude north-facing slopes which dominate the village of Argentière and the Balme area, wide open slopes at the top of the Chamonix valley, bordering on Switzerland. The sister resort of les Houches lies at the opposite end of the valley and is accessible with the Mont-Blanc Unlimited ski pass.

Chamonix also offers 3 smaller valley ski areas, ideal for children, beginners, or for experimenting new snowriding techniques.

Ski map
List of ski areas



Lift Passes available in Chamonix

The lift pass Chamonix le Pass, provides access to the 3 main areas (excluding the top cable car at the Grands Montets) and to all the beginners slopes
The lift pass Unlimited, provides access to all Chamonix's ski areas, the Courmayeur and funivie Monte Bianco areas and also to the sightseeing lifts and trains: Aiguille du Midi, train du Montenvers et tramway du Mont-Blanc.

Lift pass information

Easy Access

Both the lift passes and your guest card (supplied free of charge by your accommodation provider) give you free access to the shuttle bus service within the Chamonix valley. Frequent, environmentally friendly buses serve all the different ski areas - the simplest way to travel.

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Las Clusaz Best Skiing & Snowboarding , freeriding and new glide.

Mountain Layout — Snowboarding Las Clusaz is known as a center for freeriding and new glide. Boarders at every ability level will find a part of the mountain just right for them. Try out the terrain park-—with a halfpipe and a couple tabletop jumps—halfway up the Massif de L’Aguille. Take any of the Loup lifts to get to the top of the park. Never-evers could make their first turns on the Poma lift (Champ Bleu) or the gondola (TC de La Patinoire) at the edge of town. Otherwise, take the new gondola from La Clusaz to the top of Massif de Beauregard for wide slopes. (Learning how to use Poma lifts shouldn’t be more difficult than strapping yourself to your snowboard.) Beginners could spend time at Massif de Manigod; it is easiest to get there by car or shuttle bus. Here, there are two chair lifts and an assortment of Poma lifts. With enough snow, you can take the scenic cat track back to town. Intermediate boarders will enjoy cruising the slopes on Massif de Beauregard or Massif de Manigod. However, the face of Massif de L’Etale or any of the eight lifts above the town provide steeper runs. At the La Balme area the groomed trails will probably suit intermediates best. Advanced/expert boarders can go just about anywhere and have a great time. The Aguille chair lift provides wide, fairly steep groomed and ungroomed terrain (beware, though, for at some point after every snowfall, this face turns into a mogul field). At the top of the Aguille lift, take a right and board at your own risk down the Combe de Borderan, an expansive off-piste bowl. Also, at the top of Massif de l’Etale there are some pretty steep, open terrain, along with a few off-piste trails through the trees. For a full plate, head to La Balme (with the higher elevation and lower temperatures, powder lasts longer here than the rest of La Clusaz). Enjoy the vast, ungroomed fields of snow and the many natural land features. Xavier, the head of snowboarding at La Clusaz said, “La Balme is a natural terrain park.” Countless mounds and ridges provide great big air jumps with even better landings. For expert snowboarders, there are backcountry opportunities. Above the Aguille chair lift, a 30-minute hike will lead to La Creuze, a challenging bowl that eventually funnels down to marked trails. Above the L’Etale chair lift, one can hike and reach off-piste terrain. From the top of Col de Balme chair lift, one can take a long hike over a ridge and into the Combe de Bellechat, an extremely wide valley with snow as good as at La Balme. Boarders should consult local experts before venturing into any of this terrain (in most cases, hiring a guide is the safest and smartest thing to do). Information on backcountry boarding (and guides) is available at 450 32 66 05.

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Val D'isere Best Skiing & Snowboarding Holidays

High Altitude Glacier snowboarding! Val d isere has a vibrant and world renowned reputation...

Overview

Val D'isere is a world renowned Snowboarding resort with extensive shopping, a vibrant cafe culture is one of the best high altitude snowboarding resorts in France. "Val" is also known for it's apres ski antics and crazy party life, yet it is just as well suited to families that perhaps want a more sedate time in resort?

The snowboarding is very suitable to all abilities, and it offers an abundance of easy and intermediate riding all over the resort, and even has some easier blue runs right up on the glacier. The advanced snowboarders will find many more challenging runs too.

High Altitude Snow

At an altitude of over 3,250, and some very fine Glacier skiing and boarding, Val links straight up with its sister resort - Tignes, and enjoys a similar “Super-Resort” status. For those that are after famous Espace Killy terrain and value priced chalets, then our Snowboarding Holidays Tignes and Val D'Isere options are hard to match. The huge Espace Killy ski area is all included on the standard full area lift-pass.

Snowboarding in Val disere

Val D'Isere naturally offers some very good Snowboarding, alongside its world famous skiing. The Fornet area at the top of the valley - and at the base of the Glacier - is unbeatable in the powder and offers summit descents on wide, fast and extremely well kept slopes. The powder options are also very good and you will still find fresh tracks even days after a dump. Let's not also forget that it also snows very regularly here too - so it's often not "days" between snowfall anyway!

Skiing in Val disere

Like its' neighbouring resort of Tignes, Val has some very wide and easy "motorway skiing", with long lasting and highly efficient runs suited to all levels of skier. The lift system is very modern and has an abundance of express chair lifts which will whisk you up the mountain quicker and result in shorter lift queues!

The skiing is suited to all levels and ranges from netweorks of gentle piste to the steeper gradient mogul fields and powder runs!

Beginner snowboarding in Val d'isere

Val D'Isere offers plenty of runs to suit the beginners on the lower slopes however there are also many well linked easier runs higher up the mountain too, so beginners are not just restricted to the nurseries! There are a few free lifts that beginners can make use of on arrival and so it would be prudent to perhaps buy a pass from in resort rather than before hand.

Resort life

Val D'Isere has plenty of nightlife - that's for sure! Ranging from the loud apres ski bars which get going from 4.30pm to the chic cafes with impeccable service and beautifully crafted interiors. Eating out is big in Valdisere and restaurants to suit all tastes and wallets can be catered for.

Tignes Stats

Top Lift	3550m
Area	300kms
Longest run	15km
Circuit	35km
Lifts	106
Mountain Restaurants	16
Beginner runs	41%
Inter and advanced	59%
Off piste	10/10
Slope Style: Freestyle	30%
Slope Style:Freeride	70%
Pipes	2
Parks	2
Trees	30%
Backcountry	Yes
Travel Fly to:	Geneva
Transfer Time:	3.5 hour (approx)
Nightlife	Good

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Courmayeur Italy Best Skiing & Snowboarding Holidays

At the Italian end of the Mont Blanc tunnel, Courmayeur enjoys a phenomenal resort location.

Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, guarantees snow; the Alps here are among the most spectacular in the range; and Courmayeur lies at the junction of Switzerland, France and Italy. If a skier tires of skiing the Courmayeur slopes, Cervinia and La Thuile in Italy are within striking distance; Chamonix in France and Verbier in Switzerland can also be reached for a full day of skiing.

Courmayeur is a small picturesque Italian village with the ski area across the valley. The village provides a cozy atmosphere with a warren of narrow cobblestone streets, small bars and fabulous restaurants. The slopes are reached by cable cars stretching across the valley, and the short return to town is by bus. During the past three years the resort has invested heavily in snowmaking to ensure good snow conditions on the Val Veny side of the resort. But, its star quality is found in the restaurants, where Italians seem to spend far more time than on the slopes.

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Meribel France Best Skiing Holidays & Snowboarding Holidays

Méribel has been developed into a first-rate ski resort, at the same time taking pains to retain a semblance of the traditional mountain architecture of the French Alps.

From a skier’s point of view, the resort has two sections. There is Méribel that basically stretches from La Chaudanne at 4,757 feet elevation with traditional village atmosphere with a major lift center and the tourist office, to the Altiport, a small area at 5,577 feet on the mountain with a runway and lot for pilots who have their own small planes. (Pilots must have special training to use the altiport.) About four km. up the valley is Méribel-Mottaret, a smaller village with a larger lift hub and more ski-in/ski out accommodation. These villages are set in the central valley of Les Trois Vallées. There are 53 lifts in the valley, 18 of them that start in the village and link up with another 200 lifts in Les Trois Vallées.

Here is the Meribel resort map in pdf format.

Old Méribel center, La Chaudanne, was founded by the British; it still retains many of its British trappings and English is spoken almost everywhere. Above this original center rises the rest of Méribel with 750 vertical feet of hotels and chalets built up the side of the valley toward Courchevel. It has excellent ski slope access. It is about a 10-minute ride from the Altiport and Rond Point des Pistes down to the tourist office.

Half as old and still growing, Méribel-Mottaret is higher up in the same valley. It has more direct lift access to Les Menuires, Courchevel and Val Thorens via the Cote Brune chairlift. Méribel-La Chaudanne is about a 10-minute ride from Méribel-Mottaret. They are linked by a free bus.

The lift to La Saulire provides the best access to the Courchevel valley and the lifts to either Roc des Trois Marches (8,868 feet) or Mont de la Challe (8,448 feet) provide the best connections to Val Thorens and Menuires.

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Flaine Skiing & Snowboarding 2009 Resort

Flaine is the name of a ski area in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps, and is a part of the linked Grand Massif domain. It is in the territory of the communes of Magland and Arâches. Flaine is linked to Samoëns, Morillon, Les Carroz and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, with 267 km of pistes in total. It featured the first 8-seater high speed chairlift, called Les Grands Vans, and the first snow cannons to be installed in Europe

Skiing
Ski terrain

There is skiing for most in Flaine, as the resort enjoys a particular reputation as being all rounded.

The most notable runs in Flaine include Styx (Black); le Diamant Noir (black); Serpentine (blue/red); Fred (red); Tourmaline (blue) and Mephisto (red). The liaisons ski runs which take you out of Flaine, take you to Samöens, Morillon and Les Carroz via the run Dolomie (blue) and to the smaller ski resort Sixt via the long blue, Les Cascades, which has a spectacular view of the Ger Valley.

In Les Carroz, Morrilion, and Samőens classic runs include Marvel; a fabulously long green that goes through the forest, Sairon; a long blue with many jumps and banks on the side of the piste, Lou Darbes; a medium length blue run that is downhill all the way — an excellent run for 'bombing' down, and Aigle Noir, a steep, difficult black run.

The predominantly north-facing runs are very reliable: package companies offering "snow guarantees" often import punters from other French resorts when their pistes have lost the amount of sufficient snow that can be skied on. Flaine was the first resort to feature artificial snow making in Europe from 1973.

Interestingly, in each different grade of run (green, blue, red, & black) there is a theme in the Flaine bowl. For example most of the blue runs are named after metals/jewels (e.g. serpentine, turquoise, dolomie, cristal, tourmaline, emeraude), nearly all the reds are diabollically named (e.g. faust, mephisto, belzebuth, lucifer) and most black runs after stars (e.g. diamant noir, agate, styx). Most green runs are named after trees (e.g. meleze, pin, epicea). This only occurs in the Flaine valley though; the other resorts' runs are named separately. However the same named to feature in the different resorts. For example "combe" which means valley in English is a popular name because of the nature many runs leading into the valleys. The same with arete.

Lift system

There are 2 free lifts (Pre and Telebenne) which link the up and lower parts of Flaine. Flaine is in the process of implementing an upgrade program to its lifts and trails called Flaine Perspectives 2006–2010.^[3] For 2006, new gondola cabins were installed on Aup De Veran, whilst the base station was renovated for 2007. For 2008, the Les Greats lift was installed to allow better access to the new INTRAWEST village (Flaine Montsoleil). In addition the Tete Des Verns 6-person detachable chair was installed from the main base area. For 2009, Flaine aim to renovate the Telebenne, installation of a 4-person chair to replace the Bois button, to be called Aujon and the installation of a 4-person chair to link the western part of the INTRAWEST village.

Name	Type	Make	Year Built
Grands Vans	8 person detachable chair	Doppelmayer	2000
Aup De Veran	4 person gondola		renovated 2006/07
Bois	Surface lift	Poma	To be removed summer 2009
Aujon	4 person chair	?	Due winter 2009
Tete Des Verns	6 person detachable chair	Doppelmayer	2008
La Foret	4 person chair	?	Due winter 2009
Les Gerats	4 person chair	Poma	2008
Veret	Surface lift	Poma
Vernant	6 person detachable chair	Poma

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ST Anton Skiing & Snowboarding 2009 Resort

SUMMARY : The best resort in Austria, with great freeriding for advanced and intermediate riders. It is a bit snooby off the slopes but nothing compared to nearby Lech. ON THE SLOPES Austria's best OFF THE SLOPES Great but a bit up itself MONEY WISE Super expensive, but worth the money just for the slopes. Terrain & parks Halfpipe: No - Terrain park: Yes - 1 Backcountry/off-piste:great Tree runs:Lots

ST Anton
Those who know about where to ride would have to agree that St Anton has the best terrain in Austria, making this place an absolute must. This is a resort that has it all and will suit all styles of riding, though favouring freeriders the most. Whether you’re a freestyle freak, a piste carving poser, a freeride speed king or simply a nappy-wearing new kid, you will love this place.

The area does have the reputation for being expensive and attracting the fur-clad, Ferrari-owning skiers, but whilst they sip pink gins in mountain bars, snowboarders can roam freely over miles of excellent terrain. With steeps, deep powder, air, and trees on all sides of the mountain slopes, it’s hard to beat.

The Arlberg ski pass allows you to ride the linked areas of St Christoph and Stuben, and (via bus) the resorts Lech and Zürs which all offer great snowboarding terrain, with amazing amounts of powder.
New for season

06/07: the slow Galzigbahn chair is being replaced with a 24-person gondola

05/06 season: the slow 3-man chair from Alpe Rauz to Ulmerhütte (run 17) being replaced by 6-person chair. Some improvement in snow making facilities.

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Top ten 10 Skiing and Snowboarding in Europe

ST ANTON
This Austrian party town is closer to Zurich and Innsbruck than people realise. Possibly the best destination for a weekend of partying and hard skiing, it provides nonstop on and off slope action. You will need serious rest after a weekend here. Best for expert skiers; beginners should go elsewhere. www.stantonamarlberg.com

FLAINE
Close to Geneva. Do not be put off by the French resort’s concrete Bauhaus-style architecture. The ski area is fantastic, a number of more appealing, chalet-style four and five-star properties are springing up and you can always stay in prettier outlying villages such as Les Carroz or Samoëns. www.flaine.com

MÉRIBEL
France’s Les Trois Vallées are almost ruled out for a quick getaway because of the lengthy transfer from Geneva. But Méribel has an altiport and a plane hop from Geneva can be cheaper than a taxi. See how many of the Trois Vallées’ 630km of runs you can manage to squeeze in. And stay in a chalet – this is chalet central. www.meribel.net

COURMAYEUR
This gem of a resort is a little further away but still reachable. Just through the Mont Blanc tunnel in Italy, it is less than two hours from Geneva and is fab for shopping. Top for people watching, particularly the finely clad Milanese, who descend at weekends. Perfect for piste-bashing intermediates. www.courmayeur-montblanc.com

VAL D’ISÈRE
Close to Chambéry, this French resort has some of the best skiing in the world on its doorstep. L’Espace Killy lift passes cover Tignes too, in case there is not enough to entertain you in Val for 48 hours: Tignes is also more snowboard friendly. Val has fabulous off-piste but is also ideal for cautious intermediates. www.valdisere.com

LA CLUSAZ
Very French and relatively undiscovered by Brits, La Clusaz is less than an hour away from Geneva. It is also set in pretty countryside – the Aravis mountains are softer and smaller than the jagged Mont Blanc massif and dotted with gorgeous chalets. Lots of Gallic charm. The resort is great for intermediates. www.laclusaz08.com

CHAMONIX
The French Alpine mecca is a bit of a push for a weekend but it is nonnegotiable for the die-hard ski fanatic. Out of this world skiing and off-piste make it well worth the journey. Stay up the valley in Argentière to be really close to the Grands Montets – the best mountain in Cham. www.chamonix.com

ENGELBERG
This resort in Switzerland is strangely underrated. It is excellent for off-piste hounds and good intermediates and, crucially, is close to Zurich. A pretty, two-and-a-half-hour train ride (less by car) brings you to a resort with awesome off-piste and one of the longest verticals in the Alps. www.engelberg.ch

ALPE D’HUEZ
There is skiing and boarding for everybody at this French resort, close to both Grenoble and Lyons, although it is particularly good for beginners. Not a classically charming resort but it is in the big league, offering a giant variety of slopes. It is also blessed with plenty of sunshine. www.alpedhueznet.com

ZELL AM SEE
This Austrian destination is extraordinarily pretty, located beside a lake and very close to Salzburg. Kaprun is just up the road, with its glacier offering snow-sure skiing and more slopes. Zell, itself, is slightly limited, certainly for the adventurous expert. www.zellamsee-kaprun.com

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Top ten 10 Skiing and Snowboarding Destination

By Pallavi A

Planning a Ski vacation with your friends and family? Let's take a look at the guide below and learn more about the top Ski destinations of United States:

Aspen - Snowmass:
Aspen - Snowmass is a popular winter resort complex and it is located in the Pitkin County in the western Colorado. The winter sports take place in the four adjacent mountains within the vicinity of Aspen and Snowmass Village. These four mountains collectively form one of the most popular ski/snowboard destinations. The four Ski areas are:
• Aspen Mountain
• Aspen Highlands
• Buttermilk
• Snowmass

Big Sky:
Big Sky resort is located in Montana in Madison County which is an hour's drive from the south of Bozeman. It is considered as the biggest skiing resort in the United States of America. The mountains peak is at a soaring 11,100 feet with two additional mountains that covers up to 85 miles. During the off season, Big Sky Resort offers plenty of outdoor activities like golf, Frisbee golf, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting and more.

Breckenridge:
Breckenridge is located in the heart of Rocky Mountains and it is just 86 miles west of Denver. This mountain has 146 trails to ski upon and 27 lifts and over 2,200 acres of ski terrain, with the longest run over 3 miles in length. During summers, Breckenridge attracts plenty of outdoor activities like the hiking trails, fly-fishing in the Blue River, mountain biking, white water rafting and many more. With so many activities all round the year; Breckenridge is certainly an exciting destination to experience.

Brian Head:
Whether you are looking for a laid-back or extreme adventure, you can tailor your own experience at Brain Head Resort. Located in southwestern Utah, Brain Head resort is popular amongst the people who are looking to escape the fast pace environment and crowds. You can have unlimited fun exploring the mountain with snow bikes, snowboarding, skiing, snow tubing, night skiing and more from 11,300 feet up the mountain.

Killington:
Killington Mountain ski resort is located near Killington, Vermont. It is considered to be the largest ski area in the eastern North America. It stays open for a longer than other eastern ski resorts as it snows for an average of 8 months in a year. During the peak season Killington serves nearly 17,000 skiers or more in a day.

Taos:
Taos, located in New Mexico has two major ski areas i.e. the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Carson National Forest. The mountains peak is at a soaring 11,800 feet. Apart from skiing/snowboarding, the valley also includes other activities like skating, sleigh rides, mountain biking and more.

Apart from the above mentioned destinations, you can also check Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Keystone, Lake Placid, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Mount Shasta, Park City, Alta, Snowbird, Steamboat Springs, Stratton Mountain, Sun Valley, Telluride, Timberline, Winter Park and more.

Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge - Result

Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge 2008
Result by class - download here

Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge 2008
FinalsResults - Men - download here

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Pond Skimming - Killington Event

Pond Skimming - Apr 13, 2008
Clown`s wigs, witches costumes, knee-long surf shorts, and Mr. Zoggs Sex Wax are just a sampling of what spectators might find at Killington`s Annual Pond Skimming Contest. The contest, known for its wacky costumes and wet antics, is part of Killington`s long spring line-up of events.

Killington`s operation crew will build the man-made for the event. The pond, located at the K-1 base are, is then filled with chilled water. Contestants begin the "skim" by gathering up as much speed as possible then attempt to slide across the pond and to make it to the other side without getting wet. The more speed one picks up, the better the chances of staying dry and also the bigger the splash they will make if they don’t make it across. Skiers on twin tip skis and riders on snowboarders claim to have the advantage because of the wider surface of their equipment.

Spectators play a crucial role in determining the winners in a variety of categories including best overall skim, biggest splash and best costume. Of course the judges also hand out the Judges Awards for their favorite competitors, you never know what they are looking for but bribes never hurt your chances! Registration for Pond Skimming is $10 and is open from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. in the K-1 Lodge. Competitors must have a valid season pass or lift ticket for the day. Registration is limited to 75 people so sign up early. The event will kick of at 12 noon and will happen rain or shine.

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Sunshine Daydream Festival - Spring Event

Sunshine Daydream Festival - Apr 12, 2008
As a way to welcome in the spring season, Killington will host the 12th Annual Sunshine Daydream Festival, a tribute to the Grateful Dead. Jerry-followers as well as those who simply enjoy soulful music will find an all-day party plus classic New England spring skiing and riding. Not only is this a chance for guests to get those old tie-dyes and Birkenstocks out of the closet but its also an opportunity to soak up the spring sun and play in the spring snow. The 12th Annual Sunshine Daydream Festival will feature bands playing Grateful Dead covers during the day. Whether on or off the snow, Deadheads and wanna-be`s will find activities for all ages. There will be a mini shakedown, drum circles and tie-dying. Festivities will be held at the K-1 Lodge from 11a.m. until 5 p.m. The event is free, and t-shirts will be available to purchase for tie-dying.

The Kind Buds will kick things off at noon. The acoustic duo plays mellow versions of the Grateful Dead classics. The headliner for this event is Playin’ Dead, a favorite from the past few years. This year Playin’ Dead will play two 90 minute sets to get you up on your feet and dancin’.

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