What ski area is your favorite and why?

[Blurred]

There are many different things that factor into the ski experience.
Snow, terrain, vibe, etc.

What is your favorite ski area, and why?

[JTrue]

The Bird

Terrain is sickter
Snow is sickterer
Vibe is balls out
Not as much traversing as Alta
Did I mention terrain?

Edit: This is a great thread, really cool to gain others perspectives on why they ski where they do. That said I need to get up to Jackson sometime...

[Rooster]

The Bird

Terrain is sickter
Snow is sickterer
Vibe is balls out
Not as much traversing as Alta
Did I mention terrain?

yea, but only three thousand vert.

[AstroPax]

What is your favorite ski area, and why?

Don't like any of them. They all suck!

Come to think of it, maybe I'll just dis the skiing scene altogether, move to the tropics, and revert to surfing, scuba diving, and Pina Coladas.

-Astro

[BobMc]

Cue the "I'm so core my ski resort doesn't have lifts, I SPEND MY TIME IN THE BC!" reply.

You know it was coming.

BobMc

[skikola]

Kirkwood.
I shouldn't have to explain why, but....
Laid back feel, some of the best rippers in the country,
low gaper factor,
obviously there for the classic sierra steeps and gnarly terarin,
with one of the best snow packs and some of the best overall
weather you can find at a ski hill.
Still rocks some slow speed lifts too.
I could go on and on....

[SuperGaper]

JHMR- Poor management, but good terrain and even after all the development not too crowded. 4139' of vert and open boundaries equals a good time somewhere all the time. Wait a second- it actually sucks- do not come here.
That is all.

[Steepdeepnlong]

Why do I have to pick one? This f...ing culture of ours is so bent on being the "best" at something, or a "winner" such that if you're not some sort of "Superman' (or Superwoman) then you just don't rate at all. And then of course we'll have to get into which resort is more "core" and why; and the "if you ski park instead of pow then you're not as core as me and my friends" thread, followed by "if you ski pow but at Alta and not the Bird then you're not as core as me..." thread. And lets not forget that the resorts in my state are why more core than the resorts in your state, plus the snow here is better. And the women are hotter. And the local beer is "The Best!" I haven't even mentioned the 'Boarder vs. Skier crap that's bound to come. Screw that. My favorite resort is which ever one I happen to be skiing at.

[nick > jesus]

i have not skied many places, but for me its telluride

bad ass terain

seems like the last few times i have been there it was dumped (though coverage sucked this year, when it dumped and you could not see rocks, that was bad)

vibe in the town is good (as long as you are renting a house for a few days with a shit load of people so its like $40 a night)

[Ottime]

Ditto on Kirkwood. I love to travel to other resorts, but always miss the 'wood. Seems like when ever I travel, it is dumping back home. Poorly managed, but great terrain.

The low gaper factor is unreal. It pushes you. My wife feels like she sucks at Kirkwood, but then thinks she rips when we travel. Still uncrowded even when parking is maxed out. Lot's of snow, higher elevation. Oh - and the hike to and sidecountry are killer.

JHMR & Whistler are up there. Terrain & Vert.

Still want to travel some more and see what is out there. But I like being at home, front of the line when Chair 6 or 10 open on a 3 foot powder day. Even better when the weather keeps everyone else on the lake.

[DrGonzo]

Snowbird

1) Terrain
2) Proximity
3) Vibe
4) Lifts (Tram & Tunnel)
5) 3200 Vertical isn't enough?
6) I'll get busted for this, but I like the Baby Thunder park set-up as well--separate from the rest of the mountain.

I lived in Boise for a while, and I though Brundage had the best snow in Idaho, and, by far, the best (read: least) crowd. Okay terrain, too. I miss that mountain.

[Greydon Clark]

Alpental, it is close to my house.

[Lexi-Bell]

Why do I have to pick one?
.

Because the question is which ONE is your favorite, you fucking whiner.

Mine is JHMR, because it kicks ass.

[Schmear]

Blackcomb. But then Alpental is Blackcomb in miniature and closer to home with worse snow and no Loonies.

[nutcase]

Crystal. It's close to my home and the place I know the best. Baker a close second. just cause it kicks so much ass.

[Squirrel99]

Washington- most under-rated, rowdiest terrain + lots of snow (except 04-05 season )
*Alpental/Baker/Stevens/Crystal

If I was still in Utah, it's the Bird- hand's down. No questions

(but the gnar in the Cascades is far superior)

[Vicious]

You didn't answer your own question B!

[Bighit9]

Midweek Alpental. Very low gaper level, close to my house, wet snow, rains a lot.

[smallAXE10]

ill keep the "motif" going with JH. Ive only been there once, and probably have a lot of lines to make elsewhere, but the time I spent there was ridiculous.
I went with a bum ACL and more balls than you could shake a stick at;
when I left, my knee was much larger than my newly shrunken peabag and I was surly in need of a liver.

things learned:

1.) out of bounds means, locals only.
2.) if you try to show off, you will get laughed at.
3.) lifts don't stop because their are no gapers to stop it.

Shangri la

[Mofro261]

Terrain and snow- these are totally overrated.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

It's all about the VIBE.
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Can you feel it?
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

Aw yeah!
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

I can feel it.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

VIBE.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

Fuck those ski Resorts.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

VIBE.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

The ski Areas have it.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

VIBE.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

You can't control it.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

VIBE.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

But you got to have it.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

VIBE.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

VIBE.
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

VIBE!!!!!!!!!!
+++-+++-+++-+++-+++

[Mofro261]

But Alpental is close to my house too.

[Ripzalot]

LA GRAVE.

one lift, 2000+m of vertical, steeps, powder fields, couloirs abound, glacier, trees, it's got it all. the people there are cool - no tourists with the family scene - all big mountain riders who love what we love.

[shmerham]

Snowbasin

Not the rowdiest place, but lots of fun terrain, a little bit o' gnar, uncrowded (that's pretty key in my book), laid back / not too aggressive (also key), and the nicest shitters on the planet.

edit: ...and on any given day you might see MD9 throw something sick. ...the meat family are gracious hosts as well.

[ptavv]

St Anton

[Steepdeepnlong]

Because the question is which ONE is your favorite, you fucking whiner.

Mine is JHMR, because it kicks ass.

Actually, the question was, "What is your favorite ski area and why?" Which I answered (i.e., the resort I'm at because I don't want to pick One) you illiterate dirtbag Jong.