I snowboard a lot during winter and make an effort to visit a non-local resort every year. Last year I went to Whistler-Blackcomb and it was great.

This year I'm thinking about Jackson Hole, some place in Utah (either Park City or one of the smaller resorts), or maybe Whister again. Any snowboarders out there care to offer recommendations as to which is best?

I'm leaning a bit toward Jackson Hole at the moment. How's it compare to the others?

 

If you like steep and delicious powder, I would go to Utah. Stay in Salt Lake and you are literally 45 minutes, at most, from a ton of good powder areas, including all the Park City resorts. Snowbird and Snowbasin are two of my favorites, neither are in Park City, however.

 

I don't snowboard, but my favorite place in the world is Snowbasin in SLC (actually, Huntsville, UT). They have a REALLY nice new lodge and gondolas and high-speed quads from the last Olympics, and it's out of the way from the city so it's pretty empty during the week.

My second favorite is either Alta or Deer Valley, but that's probably because they don't allow snowboarders.

 

Take a look over here for resort reviews, etc...

http://forums.epicski.com/

 

Cool, thanks for reminding me, I'd forgotten about that forum. I'll dig through it for more information. I actually registered there a while back, but I don't visit it much because there tends to be a strong anti-snowboarder sentiment there. In fact, when I post, I never mention that I snowboard so as to keep the snowboard bashers away. Real nice and knowledgable folks, so long as they don't find out someone participates in the dreaded sport for young classless delinquents.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. Keep it coming! Looks like Utah is getting a lot of love so far.

 

What about the Alps? Still the best ski resorts IMO..
Serre Chevalier in France, Verbier or Saas Fee in Switzerland, Chamonix of course, etc..
I love doing as many resorts per season as possible, and since I don't live anywhere near a 'local' area (I'm in London), I tend to snowboard in about 5-6 resorts a year.
I only went to Squaw Valley in the US, and was shocked at the price of the pass compared to how small the place was. Good off piste though!

 

I'd love to visit the Alps, as well as a few places in South America. But unfortunately, this winter won't be a good time for it. Maybe in a year or two I'll have the opportunity to make it out there (I can only hope).

And yep, the Tahoe resorts are pretty expensive for what they offer. Still, it's the closest area to me (about a 3 hour drive and perfect for day trips) with lots of resorts to choose from, and I keep costs down by buying season passes.

 

Like me?

I've actually been really wanting to try snowboarding, but since I live in Alabama, and only fit one good week of skiing in each year, it's difficult for me to try something new. I've been thinking of taking a few days earlier in the winter with some friends to go Northeast somewhere to try snowboarding, but that has yet to pan out.

 

It really depends on the season. I went to Jackson Hole about 10 years ago during a dry season, and there was nothing but ice. The temps there are incredibly low, much colder than Utah, and Colorado resorts. On a good season, Jackson Hole should be incredible, there's no need to visit several different resorts as you would at a popular resort town like Park City or Aspen.

If you don't mind waking up to 5 degrees Farenheit and snowboarding in 10 degree weather, the omnipresent cowboy theme, then Jackson Hole is for you. If you want social scene, go to Aspen. If you just want the best snow in America, go to Utah, even though it can get boring.

btw, I used to be a snowboard instructor at Snow Summit (back when it was the premier snowboard joint), so if you have any more questions, pm me...