By Nicky Holford
Escape the crippling Euro and bag a ski bargain in North America. Record snowfalls and a long ski season means that there are fantastic offers to be had at top snow-sure resorts in the US and Canada.
A truly all round resort - Whistler
This award winning resort is North America's biggest ski area. Gearing up for
the 2010 Winter Olympic Games this year, the mountains of Whistler
and Blackcomb were joined together by the new Peak2Peak gondola making the skiing
and boarding even better. With an average of 33.5 feet of snow at the summit,
the season lasts until May. Enjoy the benefits of an international resort with
more than 50 bars and restaurants, snowboard camps, lift ticket bargains and
Fresh Tracks - a chance to ride the lifts at 7 am before the resort officially
opens
Great for mixed groups - Banff
The Rocky Mountains have it all - majestic scenery, cosy restaurants, lively
après ski and a range of resorts to suit all skier levels. If you are a beginner
there's no need to be intimidated - and if you don't want to ski at all you
can shop, spa or simply take in the scenery and wildlife. There are three resorts
to mix 'n match, all covered on the same lift pass which also includes a free
bus service. Mount Norquay, 10 minutes away from Banff
is ideal for intermediates wanting to flex those ski legs. Next head to Sunshine
Village with its beautiful alpine scenery and Lake Louise, which have top class
ski schools and free mountain hosts to show you around. All these resorts have
skiing to suit all standards, long runs for confident intermediates, good beginner
areas with easy lift access and no end of challenges for off piste fans or powder
hounds.
Find the Sun - Mammoth
Combine ski and sun at a resort that boasts an average 30 foot of snow and
300 days of sunshine a year. Mammoth
is a big mountain of 150 runs covering 3,500 acres of skiing. Even though it's
one of America's biggest resorts it's a bit of a hidden gem and a snowboarder's
heaven, thanks to generous amounts of powder, some steep runs and a snowboard
park recently voted best in the world! It's also suited to all levels, including
intermediates and families. It's higher than most Californian resorts getting
late snowfalls and staying open as late as July. Nearby June Mountain, the home
of snowboarding and a favourite with the locals, is included in the same lift
pass.
Take a tour - Lake Tahoe
Live the California Dream on the road to Lake
Tahoe, where you can combine skiing with a road trip through stunning scenery
from San Francisco to the Sierra Mountains. Once there, a choice of 14 ski areas,
all with their own unique character and terrain, including the top resorts of
Heavenly and Squaw
Valley, awaits you. Start the day with a hearty pancake breakfast, work
it off skiing, then experience a world of fruit machines and gambling once you
cross the Nevada state line. Don't miss the breathtaking view of Lake Tahoe,
in its deep turquoise splendour as you ride the chairlift at Heavenly. Then
it's ego skiing, cruising down long, wide, perfectly groomed runs. For the more
ambitious there's tree skiing through pine forests, pipes and parks for snowboarders
and some seriously steep mogul runs.
Great for families - North Conway
New Hampshire's
Cranmore Mountain Resort is a perfect introduction to North American skiing
for families, especially those with young children. It's a shorter flight than
west coast destinations and there are lots of gentle runs and great tuition
with the emphasis on fun. There are six different nearby mountains with a variety
of pistes to choose from. Best of all the slopes are immaculately groomed, uncrowded
with state of the art lifts, and ski school. This family-orientated ski area
has a supervised Adventure Centre. Other activities include ice-skating, snow
tubing and bargain shopping at the nearby North Conway factory outlet. Or you
could try some adventurous sports such as ice climbing, or snowshoeing in the
light of the moon.
Fancy hitting the slopes? Check out our last
minute ski deals now!
Nicky Holford is a freelance travel writer. She writes regularly for the Sunday Telegraph and is addicted to powder snow.