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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
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    Missoula DMV
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    Which Resort has the Best/Worst Average Skier?

    This question popped into my head the other day, and TGR seems like the place to ask.

    Now, when talking about the the Best/Worst average skier from a resort, I'm saying that if you take ALL of the skiers/borders/riders at a given ski hill, and average them all out- which place has the best average shredder?

    This is mainly about rider ability, but can also include people's attitudes as well. No speculating over places you've been.

    I'll start:


    WORST: Vail. It's role as a glitzy ski 'destination' means that it's chock full of tourists that far outweigh the amount of ripper locals on any given day. Add in the relative lack of challenging terrain there and you've got an average skier ability that is near the bottom.

    BEST: Bridger Bowl. Small-town, and the college can attract some untalented riders in search of 'the dream', but that said it's got a huge proportion of people that hike the ridge and get after it's gnarly lines. The lack of 'blue groomers' there also means that tourists prefer going to Big Sky instead.



    What ski hills make your list? Discuss.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    Wenatchee
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    14,612

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
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    I’m unqualified to vote because I no longer travel frequently to ski, but twenty years ago: Deer Valley for worst because of all the Texans and southern Californians; and any mid-sized resort in Austria for best because of the race culture. Say, Zell am See on a non-holiday week. If you wanted to include a broader spectrum, substitute a Norwegian resort (Hemsedal) due to the hard charging telemarkers and snowboarders.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    idaho panhandle!
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    9,952
    I'm pretty much the best, so what ever resort I'm at that day.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    YetiMan
    Posts
    13,370
    Worst is going to be tough to really figure. There are situations where literally everyone is a beginner and the lifts just run for a few weeks if it snows.... There's got to be some minimum number of acres or ski days per year or something. Otherwise it's like comparing baseball stats without setting minimum at-bats. The guy with one at bat and one hit has the best average.

    The best average skier is probably at some race academy where the only skiers are elite racers....or some place where you cannot be a beginner like La Grave or Silverton or something like that. But again....maybe that's just twisting and working around the point of the original question and maybe it's better to set those special situations aside for the purposes of discussion.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    In the swamp
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    11,124
    The worst I’ve personally experienced was at Huntah

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
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    Behind the Zion Curtain
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    4,875
    When I went from a pass at Solitude to Snowbird I noticed a definite talent level difference. I'd imagine the one star campaign isn't going to change that.

    One star:

    Click image for larger version. 

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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    19,814
    Best in North America? Squaw Valley. Nothing even close to second.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Co
    Posts
    1,169
    A quick google search yielded a helpful tidbit of information. The three most visited ski resorts in America are Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone. Since 95% of skiers ski less than 5 days per year (learnt that on TGR) I’m Guessing the sheer number of skiers brings the average down. There’s some incredibly bad ass skiers who ski Vail and Breck but we all know how averages work.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
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    Behind the Zion Curtain
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    4,875
    Quote Originally Posted by 4matic View Post
    Best in North America? Squaw Valley. Nothing even close to second.
    I'd guess that Snowbird, Jackson, Taos and Crested Butte would come pretty close. I'd think most of the generally agreed on toughest resorts would naturally attract the best talent, and deter beginners and intermediates.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Gaperville, CO
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    5,845
    Quote Originally Posted by BobMc View Post
    I'd guess that Snowbird, Jackson, Taos and Crested Butte would come pretty close. I'd think most of the generally agreed on toughest resorts would naturally attract the best talent, and deter beginners and intermediates.
    Squaw has more raw talent. CB May have higher avg talent; but a 1/4th the number of skiers.

    Easy to confuse the two.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
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    Behind the Zion Curtain
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    4,875
    I'm pretty sure you're singing my point.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    Not Brooklyn
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    8,319
    Worst I've seen was Wolf Creek during Christmas Week.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using TGR Forums mobile app

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    inpdx
    Posts
    20,197
    Praxis RX

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
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    Big Sky
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    1,500
    Quote Originally Posted by 4matic View Post
    Best in North America? Squaw Valley. Nothing even close to second.
    Cute


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
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    none
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    8,335
    Any resort near a major metropolitan area will suffer.
    Squaw and Snowbird are great resorts, but the both have lots of gapers.
    I skied with some guys in their 70’s today and they ripped.
    That happens when you’ve skied everyday, for 40-50 seasons.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    Looking down
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    50,491
    Quote Originally Posted by 4matic View Post
    Best in North America? Squaw Valley. Nothing even close to second.
    You should ski Jackson Hole.

    I just skied Okemo the other day. Shot to #1 with a bullet for awful.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    6,176
    Best?

    I'd be willing to be La Grave. Can't really dick around there and live.

    Worst?

    Whatever mountain is close to NYC. Windham, Hunter, Belleayre, once those weekend buses role in it's an entirely different world. I can't tell you how many crashes I've seen that would have you keeled over from laughing at how absurd they are.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Right Seat
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    61
    Alta is close second to Squaw.

    Worst I've seen is Deer Valley, or any Wyoming resort out side of Jackson/Targhee.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    Looking down
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    50,491
    I have seen some really good skiers at Hunter. But, it's a specific kind of good. Carving ice and ice bumps.

    Sent from my SM-G900V using TGR Forums mobile app

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    tetons
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    8,509
    Quote Originally Posted by nyskirat View Post
    Worst?

    Whatever mountain is close to NYC. Windham, Hunter, Belleayre, once those weekend buses role in it's an entirely different world. I can't tell you how many crashes I've seen that would have you keeled over from laughing at how absurd they are.
    one of my best ski GF's is from Windham and she rips - there are gapers but the good skiers there know how to make a turn!
    skid luxury

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    Not Brooklyn
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    8,319
    I've only been to Hunter on weekdays, but there were always a quite a few good skiers. Families of rippers as well as old race nerds. Despite its reputation, Hunter has some pretty good terrain, including a fun sidecountry zone. I'd bet the average skier at Okemo or Stratton is worse.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    40
    The Pocono bumps are even worse than a Hunter or Windham. But again depends on your parameters. Any of the southern Vermont mountains can be a weekend shit show. Have seen plenty of bad skiers at some of the Co mountains over the years.

    In hunters defense... was there Sunday and actually commented to my buddy that the cold temps must have kept away the bad skiers/riders because nearly everyone on the mountain seemed semi competent.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    588
    I cut my teeth at Hunter, good skiers there (lotsa Joey's too). Snowbird local now.

    Taos was a weird one whenever I went there. Amazing skiers there, and mixed in were the Texas Wedge Kings. They come there on vacation, and what do Texans do? Go straight for the blacks, of course! Some guy who hasn't been on skis for more than 4 hours heading down a 40 degree pitch, good times! At least if it's not groomed they can't get going so fast to hurt themselves. Much scarier is the groomed stuff where a beater can hit 40mph.....

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    NCW
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    4,579
    *every user posts their local hill*

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