Monday, 27 February 2023

Places to ski and winter sport in the USA and Canada

Arizona Snowbowl Winter Resort

The Mountains of Arizona 

Arizona Snowbowl Winter Resort is home to the state’s longest ski season with an average of over 260 inches annual snowfall, located north of the mountainous city of Flagstaff. 

One of three winter resorts in Arizona, Snowbowl is the most popular due to its variety of runs from expert locals to complete beginners or children. 

Another resort for a winter sports holiday is Sunrise Park Resort in East Arizona, which aside from skiing also offers separate runs for snowboarding, cross country ski and children’s ski. 

Steamboat, Colorado 

This popular resort is known for its western heritage but is currently undergoing a $200 million renovation which will see modernisation on the mountain and in the resort’ itself. 

The new Wild Blue Gondola has become the longest gondola in North America and the fastest 10-person gondola in the USA, while base area improvements include a new ice skating rink. Steamboat is on the Ikon Pass, offering unlimited access along with 13 other North American ski resorts. 

Vail’s, Colorado 

Vail in Colorado is celebrating 60 years of operations, with a line-up of special events and tributes. 

Founded by World War II veteran soldiers, Vail has seven back bowls that are now more accessible than ever thanks to new high-speed chairlifts. 

Aspen Snowmass, Colorado 

Set to open for the 2023-24 winter season, Aspen Mountain is increasing its skiable acreage by more than 20 per cent. 

The area will be the mountain’s first significant addition since the opening of the Silver Queen Gondola in 1985. 

It will include 1,220 vertical feet of groomed trails and glades ranging from intermediate to advanced terrain. 

While at the resort, visitors can go to one of the other four mountains. 

Palisades Tahoe, California 

Palisades Tahoe has become the third-largest ski area in North America, with it base-to-base gondola connecting two mountains of the resort for the first time. 

The 16-minute gondola ride will take skiers and riders between the two base areas, The Village at Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Lodge, making it easier to enjoy both mountains in a single day. It is the first gondola of its kind in North America, offering panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada. 
www.palisadestahoe.com

The Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington State 

The Summit at Snoqualmie offers the most night skiing in the US, with nearly 600 acres to discover under the stars. 

Located just an hour’s drive from downtown Seattle, it features steeps, backbowls, terrain parks, a Nordic centre and Tubing Park as well as terrain for beginners. 

The Badger Pass Ski Area, Yosemite Mariposa 

The Badger Pass Ski Area reopened in January 2022 with the ski season typically running from January through to March. California’s first ski resort has a base elevation of 7,200 metres and 10 runs, and is good for beginners and intermediates, as well as terrific for black diamond skiers with the Wildcat Fox and signature Badger runs. 

Cross-country skiing, snowshoe trails and rentals and snow tubing are also available www.travelyosemite.com/winter/badgerpass-ski-area and www.yosemite.com 

www.whistler.com

Whistler, Canada 

Whistler offers world-class ski runs and European-style Village, with twinkling lights and snow-capped roofs. 

Two new chairlifts join the Whistler Blackcomb mountain, Big Red Express and Creekside Gondola for the 22/23 ski season. 


Mammoth Lakes, California 

Mammoth Lakes, California was named Best Ski Towm in North America in the 2022 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award.

The local ski and snowboard season is one of the longest in the country, often extending to the Fourth of July.  It is home to Mammoth Mountain, which enjoys a long history as a basecamp for adventure and laid-back charm. Major investment over the last decade brought a host of new dining, lodging and activity options 
*Source: Hariet Ball at harriet@blackdiamond.co.uk

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