The Five Best Snowboarding Locations in North America
... and how to choose the best snowboarding locations for YOU
Picking the best snowboarding locations in North America is no easy task. For one thing, your favorite snowboarding locations will depend on whether you are a freerider, freestyler, or carver -- and whether you are a newbie, intermediate or a pro.
Picking The Best Snowboarding Locations
The 'best' snowboarding locations for you might also simply be the ones closest to where you are, or the most inexpensive to run. Finally, any list of best snowboarding locations will probably change somewhat from year to year, as the competition heats up, and some resorts add more services while others can't keep up the pace.
So choosing the best snowboard locations is entirely 'subjective,' but one thing you can do is read what OTHERS say about snowboard locations in North America, and why -- and then you'll find it easier to decide on the best snowboard locations for YOU.
Here is a list of what the pros say are the 5 best snowboarding locations in North America, and why:
1. Whistler-Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada is consistently rated the very best of the snowboard locations in North America, for several reasons: there's a sweet mile-high vertical drop, great beginner slopes, AND it now has the distinction of playing host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.
2. Big Sky, Montana, is a BIG resort an hour from Bozeman, consisting of two mountains -- Lone Mountain and Andesite Mountain. Lone has hundreds of acres of expert terrain to ride, and Andesite consists of lots of wide, groomed trails down both sides. And after hours, there are over 20 bars and restaurants and a snowboard store!
3. Mammoth Mountain, California is definitely one of the top snowboarding locations right now. Located on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the gondola at Mammoth stops at 11,000 feet, and you can ride for 5 days without taking the same run twice.
4. No list of great snowboarding locations would be complete without Vail, Colorado. Several terrain parks, a 'super-pipe' with 18' walls, and more snow than most winter resorts, Vail also boasts one of the finest snowboard schools around -- check it out this winter if you can!
5. Back in Canada, the Banff (Alberta) Resort is world-renowned for spectacular scenery, amazing rides and inexpensive vacationing.
There are dozens more fantastic snowboarding locations in North American, so don't restrict yourself -- go exploring!