Best Ski

One word “friendly” sums up Banff’s Sunshine Village ski resort, but do not be fooled by thinking that all its slopes are flattering even to the lazy skier.  There is a good spread of runs to keep the interest of all skills within a mixed abilities party across three mountains, all within the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Banff National Park.  Cruise to your heart’s content through tree lined trails, take the lifts to the top of Lookout Mountain for some more demanding slopes,  or tackle the ‘Double Diamond Blacks’ on Goat’s Eye Mountain.  

Whistler sets a standard that many other ski resorts have to match; right up there with Aspen and the best resorts in Europe but for very different reasons. The main concern for many is the flight; eleven hours but you do not lose skiing time as it is overnight and you are chasing the sun outbound.  Passing through Vancouver airport is quick and the transfer is less than two hours to Whistler, the roads are good and it’s worth keeping awake for the stunning scenery.  

Resort: Argentière (France).  This is a resort that has its own character that can hold its own with a famous and larger neighbour; Chamonix.  Rising behind the village is an awe inspiring mountain of great character; Les Grands Montets (3,295m); a skiing area famous for its steep and demanding slopes, both on-piste as well as off-piste. The other main attraction in the entire area for experienced skiers is the fearsome Vallée Blanche, an off-piste 20km long route with a vertical descent of 2,700m.

Resort: Verbier (Switzerland) the town lies in a sunny, south-facing bowl with spectacular views of the surrounding peaks; it is the largest resort of the “4 Vallées” ski region with over 400km of pistes some of which are challenging and to make life easier, there are off-piste areas accessible by lifts.  A menu of skiing delights can be enjoyed; glaciers, couloirs and deep powder bowls for advanced skiers and riders.  The Savolèyres and Lac des Vaux sectors provide a more limited playground for intermediates and novices with some gentle runs.  Boarders will not be left out as there are the

Resort: St. Anton (Austria) At an elevation of 1,300m., St. Anton is a small town with a year round population of 2,500 people; it is just over an hour to Innsbruck Airport.  It is at the centre of the Arlberg Ski-Circus and is certainly one of Europe’s top ski resorts, drawing keen skiers from all over the world.  It offers some of Austria’s most extensive and most challenging skiing.

Resort: Lech (Austria) is very much its own character; the word ‘genteel’ fits well.  This small village provides a great diversity of slopes for all grades of skier and boarder, but with more focus to the beginner and intermediate skier.  Lech makes up a part of one of the world's best ski domains, providing good connections into the neighbouring mini-resort of Zürs and the world class St Anton.  Experts will head for off-piste skiing, heli-skiing and the challenges at the neighbouring St.

Resort: Davos (Switzerland)is world famous three times over; the annual World Economic Forum for world leaders in commerce and politics, its ultimately high style guests and last but not least, its skiing over 320 km.

Resort: Val d’Isère (France).  This resort is one of the biggest names in skiing that attracts people from all over Europe and beyond as it has some really superb skiing together with lively après ski and good shopping.   The traditional Tarentaise village is at height of 1,850m. in the Savoie region and dates back to the 13th century.  One side of the village has attractive chalet-style architecture, the other side far less attractive with high-rise buildings but inside them can be another story.   
 

Resort: Obergurgl (Austria).  Most of the ski resorts in Austria are relatively low in elevation but the small resort of Obergurgl is relatively high at 1,930m, with only 500 year-round inhabitants.  It is the highest parish in the country and it shares its skiing area with Hochgurgl another 200m. higher, they are two of the most snow-sure resorts in Europe as it includes glacier skiing.  The villages are known as the ‘Diamonds of The Alps’ perhaps their well-preserved architecture is a contribution to that title.
 

The Resort: Morzine (France) is brilliantly located for skiing in the extensive Portes du Soleil region that boasts 650 kms of ski pistes and it is just an hour’s drive to Geneva Airport.