Best ski town?

Hooper

Hooper

Member
yes... nightlife, atmosphere, skiing, transport, living costs, etc... i know whistler is awesome, any others worth mentioning?
 
I haven't been anywhere else really notable, but in terms of versatility you can't beat summit county as a whole if you count it as a ski town. I mean you've got breck, keystone, and a-basin all relatively close to each other with a free bus system that takes you all over the place...even to the further resorts like copper or the beav. individually the base villages of keystone and breck are dope by themselves, breck being the better of the two. only downside is the cost of living...not exactly the cheapest. if you actually try though you can live cheaper than some think (basically...don't eat out or go to bars). but to be able to live in one central place, like silvy, dillon, or frisco and have easy and relatively quick access to 5 of the U.S.'s top ski resorts is pretty dope.
 
^^^ I agree 100 percent. Summitt County, CO has 5 awesome resorts (loveland, a basin, copper, breck, and keystone) with 20 minutes of each other not to mention winter park, beaver creek and vail being within an hour or so as well. Depending on where you live, resort vs town, you can spend as little or as much money as you want. And the free transportation is legit.

If your looking for a smaller more core ski town atmosphere i'd say crested butte colorado. Virtually all of the towns 1500 residents either ski or ride. And the terrain is some of the gnarliest off-piste in bounds skiing in the country

East coast top 3 are tremblant, lake placid,ny and burlington,vt.
 
SLC, only downside is that you gotta drive an hour to get legit beer...but I heard that they were getting that law changed.
 
Banff and Innsbruck are pretty radical ski towns. Lots of gnarly resorts, long seasons, great party scene, reasonable living costs (for ski towns), great people, a bus system for the hills (you have to pay for a bus pass in Banff).
 
Not really ski towns by definition, but the metro areas of Vancouver, Portland, SLC, Denver are within easy striking distance of major resorts.
For the smaller stuff located right next to a ski hill, you're looking at Whistler, the towns of Summit County, Park City, etc.
Don't overlook places like Taos, and if you're willing to try Yurop, then Innsbruck and the Arlberg region can't be beat. I'm pretty partial to Innsbruck, it's a real city, with a beautiful old town, and close to everything. Italy is 30 minutes away, Germany is 45 minutes away, the Arlberg is 90 minutes or so, and you've got smaller resorts right in town. It's even possible to get out of the office for a lunch break and ski a few runs before returning to work.

 
you can buy real beer in slc at bars and state liqour stores. It just costs way more than it should. And SLC is way cheaper than Summit county. I was paying 350 a month all utilities and was 20 minutes from alta and 35 from PC. I'm pretty sure you cant find anything cheeper than that in CO, any1?
 
Mozzy knows what's up!

Plus, living in Austria is really dope. I spent a season in Switzerland and the ski vibe is incredible. Austria is cheaper, with better beer, bigger parties and hotter girls. Innsbruck/Arlberg has some of the best terrain in the world too. Check it out. German language not a necessity but it helps.
 
SLC, UT - HANDS DOWN. Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitiude, Park City, Canyons......all 30-45 mins from downtown. Not to mention the endless amounts of BC access and 500+ inches a year of the lightest snow in the US.

And you've got the Jibyard & Flowrider in Ogden.
 
I seem to be one of the only people who can't see living in SLC to ski. The skiing is great, and the snow quality and quantity is amazing, but I just can't get by the city. The party scene is completely wack. You are living in a city though, which is a huge plus sometimes. The resorts are quite small compared to other options and it certainly isn't that steep. The parks are some of the best in the world though.
 
Frisco, CO. really close to keystone and breck, heard they have a good nightlife, you can take a free shuttle to keystone, breck, abasin, and a few other resorts
 
"The resorts are quite small compared to other options and it certainly isn't that steep"

I dont know if we are talkin about the same utah. The resorts are pretty damn big and not steep? really? I know JH and some lower CO mtns might have alta and bird beat, but not by much and they have some epic cliffs.

But i do hear yea on the city. I does kinda suck even for a college town, but you get used to it. And i wouldnt want to live there in the summer. way too hot and dirty for me. plus no ocean
 
Wouldn't smaller resorts be a plus? closer parking, parking that you don't have to pay for, fewer people, slightly cheaper food...

Plus, "not that steep?" I was let down when I went to key, vail, and breck...Although I heard there were resorts in summit that had steeper stuff I never get to them for some reason...but then again, I'm addicted to Jackson Hole, so steep I guess is relative...

And I liked Ogden a lot, It was just a lil far from little cottonwood...even though snow basin is my fav in that area...
 
When I said smaller resorts, I meant skiable terrain. Not the "feel" of the resort. Alta does have fairly cheap food and cheap beer (but keep in mind it is Utah beer). I thought Alta was incredibly busy to tell you the truth. Nothing compared to Whistler, but things do get tracked pretty fast. Luckily, there's usually more snow on the way.

I guess they are steep compared to Colorado, and there definitely are some steep places at AltaBird at Brighton but over all, but they are definitely flatter than what I'm used to. I'm not saying there isn't anything steep, but the hills over all are kind of flat.

I've spent seasons in the alps and the Canadian Rockies which are quite a bit gnarlier in terms of terrain. Like you said, all terrain is relative. And yeah, Jackson has great terrain. And it's a fun town too!
 
odgen??? haha. what a joke. even though powder mtn and snow basin are both sick, i wouldn't classify ogden as a ski town. ogden and skiing dont really have anything to do with each other the same way that the great mormon temple has nothing to do with snowbird. they just happen to be close to each other.
 
There is more to the world than Utah vs. CO...... The resorts in Utah are microscopic compared to European resorts, both in vertical feet as in skiable area. I think the USA is out for "best ski town" for several reasons:

- the resort towns are artificial (at least most of them)

- every reasonable form of partying is illegal

- the ski areas are very small

- you can't duck ropes, you can't ski fast, you can't ski wherever the fuck you want, everything is illegal

To the real contenders.....

Innsbruck, hell yes, it's a pretty big city, at the foot of the best resorts of Austria (Mayrhofen, Arlberg, Schnalstal, Kaunertal, etc..) plus you got a gondola going from the city center straight up to the mountain with a park that is illuminated at light. Easy access to 7 glaciers for skiing in the summer, very little can beat Innsbruck.

Zermatt, the most beautiful. With 150 000 skiable acres, 7500 feet of vertical drop, terrain similar to Chamonix, a ski resort that is open to skiing 365 days a year, with 3000 vertical feet skiable in the deepest of summer, a town that is alive outside of skiing, with incredible nightlife, visitors from all walks of life. Zermatt is insane.

Wanaka, the chillest spot on earth. Together with Zermatt, this is one of the most beautiful and energetic places I've ever been. You get access to three fantastic mountains: Treblecone, Cardrona and Snowpark. The town is amazing to live in, the parties are the best of the best.

Chur, most people won't have a clue what I'm talking about, but within in ±30 minute radius from Laax, Lenzerheide, Splügen, Tschierschen, Arosa, Vals and San Bernardino... some of the best hidden gems in Europe... last year I had a couple of SLC locals visiting for a couple of weeks, and they found the region around Chur the best skiing they've had in their life. The pass is fairly cheap too and gives you access to about 40 mountains including the ones mentioned above as well as Andermatt, St. Moritz, Davos and even Ischgl in Austria.

And yeah other places to look into are Thun, Lausanne, Chamonix, Martigny, Briançon, Bourg St. Maurice, Luzern, Schwyz etc.. I haven't been to Canada yet but I'm sure Whistler and Banff are holding it together..

Definitely NOT summit county, there are no mountains in summit county, those are foothills, sorry.
 
Denver is legit as fuck. Only been to SLC out of those you listed but I wasn't diggin it. It may be closer to ski resorts but I didn't really like the vibe. Denver is about an hour on a good day from the closest skiing. The best part about it is the drive is actually enjoying sometimes, it's scenic as fuck but the traffic can sometimes ruin that. Regardless I make the drive to and from 3-4 times a week from basically oct-june and I don't really mind it that much. Denver has dope weather, tons of fun shit to do, tons of free skateparks, awesome local venues and local music, great art scene (first friday on santa fe drive is fucking sick), and a relatively cheap cost of living. Compared to philly at least...gas prices and rent are almost double back east. If only they had a public transportation system that took you from the metro area to summit county...then it'd be perfect...
 
Michael BC-

About Chur-

Are these the resorts in Switzerland that you can get to by rail? I've

heard amazing stories, and I think I heard that they did a flim on it

or something...

I heard things like, when you go OB the ski patrol will ski with you or

help you map out where to go. The beer is world class, the B&B's

are amazing, the girls are some of the most beautiful in the world...

My friend and I have been talking about a trip doing this but have no

perspective on the cost, it doesn't sound cheap. but we have an

opportunity to work in some resort in Germany where we have a lil bit

easier access to these places, I think we're gonna do it.

Any Advice, I'll take all I can get!

I don;t think many people have the opportunity to do these trips due to

the cost, especially ski bums. and that's why you're hearing SLC,

Summit Co CO, & Whistler.
 
How exactly are the towns "artificial"?
How is every reasonable form of partying illegal? Do you like to trip out on acid while molesting 12 year olds? Last time I checked drinking is legal and weed is decriminalized in CO, and those two I consider reasonable forms of partying.
There may be larger ski resorts in europe, but calling some of the mountains in summit "very small" or "foothills" is a ballsy statement. Vail is just fucking huge, Breck has a lift that takes you higher than anywhere else and the parks are immaculate.
Sorry in america we have a thing called liability. We also have a thing called tourists, which unfortunately are less skilled than the tourists you see in europe. Because of this you're right, we have to ski slower in SOME areas (like green runs and merging trails) but everywhere else I can ski as fast as I want. And if shit is roped off chances are its for good reason. There's plenty of out of bounds/bc to ski as well...loveland pass, silverton, montezuma bowl (lift accessed chutes, trees, dope shit), and plenty more. Americans, unfortunately are stupid, and can always find a way to die at a ski resort so precautions need to be taken.
 
Haha people die skiing in Europe just like they do in the US dude they just deal with it in a more mature manner.
 
Hands down peninsula, OH best ski town. 5 mins from 2 great ski resorts 1hour away from two more. Only 4 hours away from the great perfect north atwhich that piont you can make it to 7 spring in an hour less and is only 8 Hours away from vermont! they have two bars that kick all children and families at 6. How many people can say they live 5 mins away from 2 ski resorts that don't even share the same mountain! and your also 5 mins away from where the cavs use to play!! this town is build for and around skiers!! no town can try to match it.
 
I don't mean to be a negative nancy and rip on summit, it has a lot of good qualities too, such as the impeccable parks and the amount of resorts that are close to each other.

But Vail huge? Vail has 5000 skiable acres. I've been to Vail. In Europe it would be one of the smallest resorts! Places like Zermatt or Portes du Soleil have 150 000 skiable acres. It just doesn't even come close.

Breckenridge might have a lift that goes high, but the base if extremely high too. Breckenridge has 3240 feet of vertical rise from the base. Most European resorts have twice. Places like Zermatt and Chamonix have 7000 or 8000 vertical feet, and these are just the ski lifts, the mountains rise much higher. It just doesn't compare. Compared to an Alp, the peaks in summit really are foothills.. including the shape.
 
I like drinking in the street on my way to a party, and I like going out past 1 am.

During my stays in the USA, at various locations, I've had my alcohol taken from me in the street by the police, I've seen bars close at midnight, I've seen clubs turn off the music and turn on the lights at 1 am, I've had police breaking up house parties.. the list goes on.. everything that is normal in the rest of the world, is illegal in US ski resort towns.

On new years eve at midnight I had my champagne taken from me by a cop and we were told to break up the crowd because it's apparently illegal to stand outside in crowd on new years eve and share a bottle of champagne. Sadness.
 
what is the average snowfall and how is the snow quality in austria etc? for some reason I get the idea that it can be quite variable. i would hate to take a trip there and get lousy conditions. thats why I love SLC because you can feel pretty confident its gonna dump hardcore while you're there.
 
Colorado mountains are kinda flat anyways and yes many mountains in Europe are much bigger, but its also glacier skiing. The US in many states are limited by national Forests. The resorts cant expand because of environmental protection laws. Sure you could go put ski lifts out on mountains like Denali, or Rainier and have huge verticals and large acreage but there both part of national parks and with our litigious society there's no way they could open skiing on glaciers and that type of terrain, it would be a logistical nightmare.

We may not have the size in the US, but I'm fine with skiing 3000 vertical feet every run and knowing that ski patrol has cleared all the in bounds terrain after a big dump. An as far as I'm concerned Utah has the best snow on earth.
 
More random thoughts-
I'd also figure in the general 'welcomeness' of the people who live in these towns.
There is a certain locals vibe that is sometimes off-putting, mostly directed at weekend warriors or people from Texas. But the truth is, yes, these folks are coming in droves, maybe not behaving with much courtesy, but there are people traveling there to enjoy being in the mountains when they are able to.
The European resorts I generally find to be rather unfriendly. I do enjoying chatting on the lift with people to relieve the isolation of riding / skiing alone, and you'll certainly feel less of a stranger in the U.S. or Canada, than in Europe.
Can't say which I like better, I prefer the terrain of Europe. I feel a bit more welcome and social at the places in the U.S. and Canada. My biggest peeve of being in Europe is how long it takes to know people and the barriers in place for foreigners like myself, who can communicate in the language, who read up on the history of the places I visit, and try to stay as respectful and open-minded as possible.
Snow-wise- Utah and Japan still take the cake.

 
i hear a lot of people saying utah snow is the best... what about colorado snow? do places like summit get much pow? and is it any good?

and yes i know compared to europe...
 
colorado snow is pretty good early-mid season. dry fluffy powder. march dumps can be a little thick though, especially if it hasn't snowed in a while, making it a little more tiring to ski. didn't get out of the park much this season though, mostly laziness.
 
It seems like the CO storms dump on Vail, and the snow is pretty sparse once it hits the Summit Co. resorts. The wind seems to be particularly ferocious at Breck- the top is always scraped clean when I've visited.
 
Mike really knows what's up. You kids from Colorado and Utah really

have to travel. Your hills are quite small

and flat. Albeit, they get probably the best snow and have the best parks. Our hill

home hill in Switzerland is easily 12-15 times as big as Alta or Park

City, and not nearly as crowded. It also has one of the best parks in

Europe, but that doesn't compare to Park City, Canyons or the Colorado

stock. There isn't even any summer skiing remotely close by anywhere in

Utah.

I didn't say Chur, but I'll second what Mike said. There is an amazing

amount of incredible skiing in the area. Chur is a classic old European

city too. Unfortunately, it is expensive. Zurich is close by and there

are a ton of summer glaciers within driving distance. It's got a train

station which links you to tons of other great European hills. Aside

from what Mike listed, Davos is very close.

Partying in US ski towns is pretty bad and let me reiterate that SLC is

the worst place I've ever been in the entire world for partying.

Vietienne, Laos, is puts it to shame. It's seriously awful.

In Europe, you can ski wherever you want. That's better than not being able to ski wherever you want. If you don't know what the fuck is up, stay out of bounds.
 
There are a few lesser known ski towns that haven't been mentioned that deserve mentioning... because they're lesser known, they're not necessarily the best, but with all factors considered (standard of living, living costs, skiing, nightlife, events, etc.), they compare favorably with larger resorts.

Whitefish, MT

Ogden, UT

Sandpoint, ID

Crested Butte, CO

Revy, B.C.

Big Sky, MT

Taos, NM

And, of course, there are the larger places that can't be ignored.

Breck, CO

Salt Lake City, UT

Squaw Valley, CA

Jackson, WY

Park City, UT

Whistler, B.C.

Mammoth Lakes, CA

 
Burlington VT FTW but seriously it has to be the best on the east coast, lake placid being a close second and tremblant being freezing cold.
 
The reason SLC is so bad is because it is owned by Mormons.... they got that shit locked down. Whistler has a sweet night life though, not USA but it is north america....
 
I think that every one here is trying to compare apples and oranges. the amount of skiable terrain in europe kicks ass and every once in a while they get great snow. but as anyone who has travelled to europe will know the customer service is completely whack. youll either get someone who will bend over backwards for you or a complete wanker who wont give you the time of day. also europes parks dont even scratch the surface of what the jibbers get in North America. And yes being able to drink in the streets an party until 7am is fun. but sometimes you dont want some euros man tits wiggling around to some shitty trance music at 4 am cause you really just wanted to ski the next day. I think that in North America you get more friendly service at the resorts. yes we dont treat the gape gapes from texas well but you should see how they get treated in europe.. but all in all i thnk you have to decide what fits your style the best. what you want to do on an everyday basis. My favorite place to live and ski was for sure the god old baldy townhomes in breck. such a nice cheap spot.
 
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