Eastern Snowboarding

My Top Ten ‘Next’ North American Ski Areas

If you read this site regularly, you know there’s a heavy dose of Whistler talk. Every time I go on vacation, it seems I end up there. Believe it or not, however, there are other ski areas I want to visit that aren’t Whistler. I just seem to keep going back because a) it’s easy to get b) it’s relatively inexpensive and c) I have family out there. But one day I know I’ll hit other hills. And where do I plan to go? Let’s start with North America.

1. The Banff area: Banff, Lake Louise, Sunshine: The Banff area is number one because it’s still in Canada and, from what I’ve heard, the hills are phenomenal. Because the area is located just north of Calgary, it’s easy and cheap for me to reach. I’ve also had the pleasure of visiting that area of the Rockies once, and it was beautiful — the mountains are more striking than the coastal range (sorry Vancouver). I also nearly smoked a moose on the Trans-Canada highway. Luckily I missed it.

2. Jackson Hole: Every boarder magazine on the planet seems to think this is one of North America’s best-kept secrets. Lots of pow, no lineups and an amazing mountain. The brainwashing worked on me.

3. Kicking Horse: If you ever have the pleasure of riding Whistler Mountain with a Vancouver local, they’re apt to tell you they don’t go to Whistler; they go to Kicking Horse. Or Fernie. or Panorama.

4. Utah. I’m not going to even list one place. More than a dozen awesome resorts virtually on top of one another, accompanied by champagne powder. I am definitely going to make it to Utah.

5. Mont Sainte Anne: If you ever have the pleasure of riding Mont Tremblant with a Montreal local, they’re apt to tell you they dont go to Tremblant; they go to Mont Sainte Anne.

6. Aspen/Snowmass: Just ’cause everyone else is doing it. And I gotta do Colorado sometime. So #6 is really “Colorado”.

7. Stowe, Vermont: Oh Vermont, why must you be an eight-hour drive from Toronto? Your laid-back lifestyle and poutine make me feel like I’m still in Canada.

8. Sierra At Tahoe: Riding in California? Count me in, even if I’ve heard the lineups are long in California and the conditions can be questionable. (This is based on what I’ve read. I’m always open to more information on this one.) Mammoth Mountain also makes my California list; in fact, the two are kind of interchangable. I just listed Tahoe first because it was the first California resort to come to mind.

9. Lake Placid: World-class riding not too far from Toronto (by plane, anyway). One day I need to make it out to the Adirondacks.

10. Big Sky: Like Jackson Hole, another less-crowded gem from what I’ve heard. Why couldn’t Montana and Wyoming be easy flights from Toronto?

If anyone wants to sponsor it, we can do a tour!  Sometime soon I’ll list my desired ‘rest of world’ destinations. Although there’s probably 20 or 30. And be sure to check out Skiing Magazine’s top 25 ski resorts here.

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