Choosing one of the many good snowboarding resorts should be your first step to enjoying a good snowboarding holiday. It may seem like a somewhat obvious statement to make, but there is such a broad choice of snowboarding resorts internationally that choosing amongst them can prove a painfully arduous process.
Fortunately, however, this article can provide a few pointers as to which resorts are most recommended for the snowboarding holiday that offers it all. Really, you should seek a resort with plentiful off-piste, many long runs, a board park and a fun nightlife. Meanwhile, resorts with too many flats and drag lifts are perhaps best avoided.
Here is our list of the ten most recommendable snowboarding resorts.
1. Whistler, Canada
It’s fair to say that this place tops so many lists other than this one. For instance, it is frequently voted the best ski resort in North America, hardly a surprise when you consider that it boasts the largest amount of snowboarding terrain in North America: over 8000 acres (over 3000 hectares). This terrain includes 230 runs, 2 terrain parks, 3 half-pipes, a boarder-cross track, and numerous tree runs.
2. Mammoth Mountain, United States
This place certainly lives up to its name, as the mountain is indeed, well, mammoth. It also has a great snow record, award-winning terrain parks, and a huge diversity of snowboard-friendly terrain to recommend it among snowboarding resorts.
3. Breckenridge, United States
Breckenridge is a massive favourite among North American snowboarding resorts. It boasts four different but excellent snowboarding peaks, plentiful wide, open flats, and a top snowboard park littered with jumps, rails and boxes – ideal for keen freestyle snowboarders.
4. Buttermilk, United States
Convenience is definitely the watchword with Buttermilk. It is the closest of the Aspen snowboarding resorts to the airport in Colorado and there is free parking available at the mountain’s base. Perhaps more importantly, however, there is loads of gorgeous snow to ride on.
5. Big Sky, United States
This resort is set for substantial financial investment over the next few years, which will result in a lovely village with shops, restaurants and conference facilities. But you can check out the deserted slopes across Andesite Mountain and Lone Mountain right now!
6. Tignes, France
One of the major snowboarding resorts in France, and with good reason. The place offers 300km of piste, 2 half-pipes, 2 terrain parks and a brilliant nightlife. Tignes similarly boasts a fantastic record of snow.
7. Saas Fee, Switzerland
There is a really long history of snowboarding here, and little wonder, with all of the half-pipes, parks, and other obstacles available. There is also the possibility of year round snowboarding, thanks to the high altitude glacier. You should also check out the popular snowboarders’ retreats Hotel Dom and bar Popcorn.
8. Sauze d’Oulx, Italy
Now, this place looks gorgeous… and no surprise, since Monica Bellucci is Italian as well. This is certainly large among snowboarding resorts, boasting access to nearly 400km of runs. It is, however, definitely best suited to intermediate snowboarders.
9. Arinsal, Andorra
Though experienced boarders are unlikely to be impressed by this place, it warrants inclusion in this list as one of the best snowboarding resorts for novice boarders. There is a snowpark, half-pipe and boardercross, and the general atmosphere and scenery is just lovely.
10. Mayrhofen, Austria
This is arguably one of the best snowboarding resorts in Austria. Certainly, the hordes of Britons who visit on package holidays every year can’t be wrong, and the 157km of pistes, varied terrain and gorgeous mountain scene.
This article originally appeared on snowboard.ltd.uk.