The Skiers & Snowboarders Thread

[ayebee]

When planning a ski trip I go looking for info on various resorts, eg accommodation, experience, access, ticket options etc.
There is info to be gleaned from specific trip reports, however I thought it could be useful to have one spot where we can learn from others' experience when planning a trip.
Who knows, this may expand into equipment and other ski topics.

Personally, I have been to resorts in US West and Canada, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand and of course locally. Some are quite a while back.

Currently I am planning a trip to Dolomiti Skirama and Three Valleys (ie the Epic areas), plus maybe Courmayeur and Val d'Isere.
If this thread gets going I would be interested in experiences.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

This thread is discriminatory to snowboarders and I shall not contribute until this is rectified! (Sarcasm... somewhat).

 

[ayebee]

This thread is discriminatory to snowboarders and I shall not contribute until this is rectified! (Sarcasm... somewhat).

Oops, sorry about that. Fixed

 

[Forg]

Skiers: wine (white or rose)
Snowboarders: bongs

 

[offshore171]

Currently I am planning a trip to Dolomiti Skirama and Three Valleys (ie the Epic areas), plus maybe Courmayeur and Val d'Isere.

Sounds terrific. The Dolomites is a region every skier should visit at least once. I spent 3 weeks there and probably experienced less than half the accessible terrain, despite completing the Sellaronda in both directions. Selva is a great village to use as a base.

If this thread gets going I would be interested in experiences.

As you can see, this site gets very little discussion of ski travel

Even in the Trip Reports area, it's as thin as the snow cover at Thredbo in late september!

I've posted a couple:

eg: Alaska

Landing in an Alaskan blizzard

This trip had us taking off in Sydney in warm autumn sunshine, and touching down in this:

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

If you're not already aware of it, ski.com.au has some pretty good discussion of ski travel.

Ski Travel

www.ski.com.au

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Oops, sorry about that. Fixed

Thank you! More than happy to contribute now Been blessed enough to have called Jindabyne, Niseko, Whistler and Revelstoke home. Have only managed to get back to Niseko/Rusutsu/Hakuba since covid but have a trip to BC planned for early 2024!

 

[ayebee]

Thank you! More than happy to contribute now Been blessed enough to have called Jindabyne, Niseko, Whistler and Revelstoke home. Have only managed to get back to Niseko/Rusutsu/Hakuba since covid but have a trip to BC planned for early 2024!

Been to all those places but never long enough to call them "home", and many quite a while back.
Some very briefly.
Reckon you will be providing more than receiving info for them if this gets going.

 

[WilsonM]

I've done a taster (about 5 days each) in Queenstown, Cervinia and the multitude of resorts surrounding Innsbruck. Probably more experienced with Nozawa Onsen (shhh) which has been a go-to for my family for over 10 years now, and I also did a gap year season in Jasper/Banff.

Although my experience is limited, I'd highly recommend Cervinia over Zermatt if this is a debate for anyone - it's easy enough to get to (trains and buses from Milan), much cheaper and less crowded.

 

[draper]

My 2 cents worth. Since Vail took over Whistler i Am of the strong opinion that you should seriously consider other Canadian Resorts for a more rewarding experience. Whistler offers great on and off piste skiing but there is a growing concern that crowds and safety are matters that should be factored into your choice of where to spend your time and dollars skiing in Canada. FYI I average about 100 days each season on the Hill at Whistler, will be concentrating on other BC resorts from season 25/26.

 

[Seat0B]

I’m so glad you started this thread. I have skied in lots of places and will add a few posts in a couple of weeks. Just busy at the moment with work and family.

 

[Seat0B]

Shiga Kogen Terakoya in February 2024. My third trip here. Ask me any questions You have about a visit to Shiga Kogen.

 

[Cynicor]

Been to many ski destinations and areas for, mostly, backcountry touring and snow camping over the last 15 years, (mostly Japan but Alaska, Canada, Kyrgyzstan and Aus too). Mostly Splitboard (too many to name, though my fave is the ultracraft) and have touring skis (tried for a 1-ski quiver with Head Kore 105s 177cm paired to Atomic Shifts).

Settled last year on a nearly ski in/out apartment (you can ski to the roadside opposite but need to cross the road) in Yuzawa. You can buy (freehold/own/forever) an apartment there for about $8000 all in. Not a typo.

Feel free to ask, and if people want to know more about yuzawa and apartment buying I can write something up.

 

[Cynicor]

Alaska was hello skiing and ski plane/snowcamping on the ice field to ski.

Kyrg and Kazak was a backcountry tour with yurts and local homestays/guesthouses.

Canada was BC huts out of Roger’s and some random backcountry in that area.

Japan has been a large assortment from piste time in Hokkaido and Honshu resorts to backcountry huts and touring random mountains. Have vast knowledge of Hokkaido but more limited Honshu time. This will likely improve now that we have the house but I am now also saddled with children.

 

[LadyC]

Settled last year on a nearly ski in/out apartment (you can ski to the roadside opposite but need to cross the road) in Yuzawa. You can buy (freehold/own/forever) an apartment there for about $8000 all in. Not a typo.

Feel free to ask, and if people want to know more about yuzawa and apartment buying I can write something up.

Yes please, definitely interested in knowing more

 

[LadyC]

At the beginning of my skiing journey. Have been to Verbier, Park City and Vail. Looking at visiting both Trois Vallées and Hakuba next year.

 

[Seat0B]

At the beginning of my skiing journey. Have been to Verbier, Park City and Vail. Looking at visiting both Trois Vallées and Hakuba next year.

I have been to Hakuba twice (2017, 2018) - so can give you a bit of information if you want - although it was before Hakuba joined up to the Epic pass, and so things were probably a fair bit less crowded than they are now! Feel free to ask your questions!

 

[Seat0B]

Over the years we have skiied at:

• Lech and Stubai (Austria),
• Garmish Partenkirchen (Germany),
• Chamonix (France),
• Vail, Beavercreek, Breckenridge (twice), Steamboat Springs and Snowshoe (USA)
• Banff, Mt Norquay, Silver Star (Canada)
• Hakuba (Happo One, Tsugaike, Norikura and Kortina), Nozawa Onsen (4 times), Madarao, Shiga Kogen (3 times), Niseko and will add Furano for 2025 (Japan)

At home, we mainly ski Perisher.

Happy to help with any questions people have, although our Europe skiing and most of Canada/USA was quite a long time ago.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Can offer advice if required on: Queenstown ‘22, Niseko ‘23 and going Niseko again ‘24.

Also Whistler and Mt Hutt but those are a few years ago, so come with the caveat that any first-hand knowledge is a few years old.

And for the record, the thread was better when it was just skiers… with apologies to @HirafuHeartAttack

 

[Quickstatus]

it's as thin as the snow cover at Thredbo in late september! in winter

Fixed a typo error
You're welcome.

Shiga Kogen Terakoya in February 2024

Miss QS was there first week in Feb

My destinations
Cardrona NZ
Mt Shut NZ (not a typo)

Perisher AU
Thredbo AU
Hotham AU
Buller AU

Trois Valleè FR
Les Arcs FR
Val d'Isere FR

Whistler CA
Blackcomb CA (before amalgamation)
Norquay CA coldest day ever -45C
Banff CA
SilverStar CA
Big White CA

Alta US
Snowbird US
Canyons US
Park City US
Deer Valley US

Winter Park US
Steamboat Springs US
Copper Mountain US
Aspen US
Breckenridge US
Vail US
Beaver Creek US

Hakuba JP
Madarao JP

And then Covid hit....

Main domestic: Perisher
Usual routine:
0720 Skitube to Blue Cow
Cowpuccino
Summit Chair at rope drop
Rock Garden /kamikaze
Excelerator - ridge quad until 10am
Bail from Blue Cow via Terminal Quad to Pleasant Valley Quad
Ski to SunValley via Happy Valley
Sun Valley TBar
Eyre / Olympic until 1230
Down to lunch via Leichardt TBar (now a quad). Or via Olympic to Midstation down all the way to Telemark TBar
Lunch at Perisher Manor (prices are competitive with elsewhere given the almost always guaranteed free tables, no crowds, and table service
I tend not to ski after lunch as basically we don't stop after Cowpuccino until Perisher Manor

 

[ayebee]

Great to see some stories being shared.
I helped build a club lodge at Hotham in early 80's and still involved there, so these days we ski "epic".

More recent o/s trips have been
2018 - St Anton / Lech / Zurs and Dolomites Superski (based in Arabba)
2019 - another Dolomites Superski, based in Colfosco
2020 - Colorado (Keystone, Breck, Vail, Beaver Creek and A-Basin) based in Frisco, then Park City / Canyons / Snow Basin in Utah, and then over the Pacific to Japan for a week in Rusutsu and another in Hakuba (bad season)
2023 - Andermatt /Sedrun, followed by Solden in Austria

Feb/ Mar 25 we are planning a trip to Dolomites Skirama (Madonna di Campiglio) and Three Valleys in France, with possible add-ons for Val d'Isere and Courmayeur.
It would be these places I would appreciate advice on for good places to stay.

Going back further have also skied
Arosa in Switzerland,
Canada - Whistler, Revelstoke, Kicking Horse and Big White
Japan - Niseko (as well as more recent above)
NZ - Cardrona, Treble Cone, Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak and heliski near Wanaka
Other USA - Jackson Hole, Grand Targhee, Purgatory (Co), Sunrise Park (Az)

Happy to comment on experiences, with proviso "how long ago" is always a consideration.