I agree with most of the rankings based on an advanced/expert skier's perspective. Snow conditions can change the ratings significantly. Went to Red Jan 31st this year and it was just bad. The terrain looked amazing if there was enough snow or not skiing on a sheet of ice. Steamboat at D is a little rough. I agree it only has one section for difficult terrain and it is hard to lap, but can be a lot of fun.
Ahhh dang that suck! Ya snow conditions really play a huge role in how good of a day you're gonna have. Red is definitely worth the trip if they get good snow
If you just live or die by the steeps, I can understand the ranking, but two things that cannot be understated at Sunshine Village is the consistent early season snowfall and snow quality. Being the highest base elevation ski area in Canada and mostly north facing, you can still ski chalky packed powder 10+ days after the most recent storm. Additionally, I would say it is the most likely place to have 90%+ of the mountain open by mid-November maybe of any IKON mountain
I'd like to defend Sunpeaks a bit. If you're able to go with somebody who's advanced and knows the mountain, the skiing off Crystal is pretty fantastic. Gils is full of open expert terrain and there's some pretty great lines in the West Bowl.
Have you ever been to Beaver in UT though, if so what do you think of it? This is my first season and I decided to get a pass there because I go to the college near it.
Cypress is my first mountain and my home mountain i think its a d tear it hase some ok runs nice people good food the biggest out of cypress semor and grous it is a bit pricey for a pass. The raven and sky chair are the best. I am thinking of becoming a ski instructor there for a winter job.
This was a super fun video to watch, thanks for putting this together! I've lived in Colorado for 10+ years now chasing powder from the front range, and moved to Steamboat full time a few years ago because it's the best for snow. I got 100+ days at the 'Boat last season. I generally agree with your list, but as others have mentioned, I think Steamboat is too low. People who think it's flat haven't skied it right. Biggest unlock is Mahogany Ridge and Fish Creek Canyon, which just opened on 23-24 season. It's 650 acres of fall line skiing. It's like Highlands or Abasin. Huge drops, 100' cliff lines, and Wyoming / Utah snow quality without the lines you get on I-70 resorts. It also means the snow stays around for days. I lived in Summit County for a few years and Abasin was my home mountain, and while it's fun, it just doesn't get the same snow that Steamboat gets. Add the Denver crowds and it feel crusty and skied out on most days.
@joeythenomad definitely do! Locals are pretty upset that this terrain got added to inbounds, but I personally prefer to have ski patrol available to help in the rowdiest of terrain in case I eat it. It was still knee deep on most days in the canyon last season, and if I had to distill steamboat’s magic, it’s that. Pow for days, some of the most fun steeps you can find if you know where to look.
Whistler all the way. Maybe I'm biased. I love my PNW mountains. But I do have to agree with the weather on Whistler However when conditions are right it's the best I have experienced. Also love Bachelor and Crystal. They are so much fun but Whistler takes the cake for me.
I grew up in Alaska and have worked at various resorts in the states and I can still say there’s something special about Alyeska. The turrain in AK Is the reason to be there it’s so awesome. Girdwood is also a really cool vibe for ski towns. It’s definitely not the biggest mountain but the snow it gets is unreal. Definitely something you need to experience! I’m headed to park city this winter for work and I’m so stoked for it. Only resort in Utah I’ve rode so far is Brighton and I fell in love. So stoked.
[World class skiing with high vertical, huge variation of terrian, good snow quality, beautiful views] "I dunno, it's kinda flat (🙄), not a lot of challenge, it's just not for me." Geez, hard to impress you. Sounds like at this point you need helli-skiing in Alaska, Argentina, or the Himalayas to impress you.
Which mountain is this referring to? But yes heli-skiing would be sick but theres plenty of resorts that are amazing! See the S and A tiers on this list
I am not a westerner, but I took a trip to Crested Butte in January of 2023 with some college friends and I am happy to see that our ski resort made it to A tier. That is the only ski resort I have ever been to. I couldn't even tell you anything about any other ski resort on this list but I have a small sense of pride seeing CB at A tier. On the way down from the easiest route there, Houston, on the first day of the trip I ran into a few older gentlemen who were giving me tips on how to not wipe out. Funnily enough they were all talking to me like I was a native Coloradoan lol.
Joey- Like you I have been living the overland lifestyle (DoubleNickelRoadTrip) for three years and have skied almost all the resorts that you have. Obviously your ratings prioritize steepness and I agree with most of your assessments based on that. A few comments- your only bad miss is your rating of Alta. There is no world in which Alta isn't S tier. Though I am an advanced skier, I prioritize consistent deep and light powder over absolutely gnarly terrain. To me only Alta and Taos are truly magical experiences for advanced/expert skiers. That brings me to Taos. For and Advanced/Expert Skier I would rate it S Tier. Their relatively lower annual snowfall amounts are tricky. Its true that you probably want to ski Taos After February 1 but the snow quality and preservation is top notch. Also, while many Colorado resorts get a consistent 2-4 inch refresh storms, Taos gets hit with big and dry dumps. So they may go two weeks with bluebird days on chalky packed powder, and then get hit with 40 inches in two days. There is not a mountain I'd rather ski in February and March than Taos. A couple other comments- if you like spring corn skiing, then A- basin should be bumped up a notch. I skied A Basin on May 25 in 2023 and had genuine winter conditions the top 800 vert and beautiful corn below. Sun Valley while lacking gnarly terrain has some of the steepest and longest Blue Runs in North America. As an advanced skier who is pushing 60, I have learned to enjoy long and steep Blue/Black cruisers. If I added that to your rankings- Snowmass would move up a notch and Sun Valley would move to A tier. Overall though a great ranking based on the type of skier we are.
Personally I think steamboat should be upper B tier to A just because they have no lines most of the time and especially with the new area it’s super fun.
The no lines is great, much different than the 70 mountains lol. I can see how some people would like it but idk just wasn’t my cup of tea, but glad you enjoy it!
A Basin should be A. Steamboat B. I personally like Alta over Snowbird precisely because at Alta you have to know where the best lines are, so it keeps the powder more fresh. I totally agree with Taos at A. The terrain at Taos is the real deal.
I tend to agree with you. I love Steamboat and A Basin. Also like Alta over Snowbird. But I'm not an expert skier. More intermediate to advanced. I am also partial to Beaver Creek. Something about it.
Idk I just think that not allowing snowboarders should be an immediate D/Q from top rank like some groups gonna have a snowboarder and barring them from the mountain just seems harsh.
I went to snowbird when I was 12 and was still a pretty inexperienced rider. Im by no means an expert now but I can ride some much harder terrain so I wonder how much more enjoyable it would be if I went back (you are right, I didnt really have a good time when I went lol)
the big sky tram didnt cost extra when I went in 2021. maybe they added that later because I did end up waiting an hour and a half for the tram also pfft no Yellowstone Club? smh its the most accessible mountain in the US 😂
stone creek chutes and the backcountry glade skiing on the opposite side of beaver creek offer some really fun extreme terrain on a powder day. Beaver Creek B tier on powder days imo
East coast has some sick mountains and I grew up skiing there, didn't include it in this video though because it was already pretty long and didn't feel fair comparing a whistler to Waterville Valley... I'll make another video with East coast mountains only
It's definitely worth it! It's not huge, but the snow quality and terrain are awesome. As a bonus, even though it has maybe the most barebones base area after Silverton, the food they serve is incredible.
I record all my ski footage with the Insta360 X4 so that way I can reframe it in post for horizontal for youtube or vertical clips for social media. Also I don't have to worry about mounting at a bad angle or the camera getting knocked into a different position and missing the shot. amzn.to/3LVVtvO
Great video! Would you consider making a video about the day to day while living in the van during ski season? Curious how easy it is to find things like places to sleep, and fresh water to fill up with.
@@kylethompson6433 Ya winter is definitely harder for finding spots to fill up water because a lot places turn their water off in the winter to avoid freezing. Some of my go tos in the winter are truck stops (some still have water on), or I find or make a friend that has a water tap at their house, and as a last resort I'll usually ask a liftie if they know of anywhere to go
great vid. van question for you as i am beginning van build. where and how do you store your skis? I did not see one of those ski lockers in the back of your van. thx.
thanks! I built a space for them in the back of my van underneath my water tank. Basically they slide in the back and i have space cut out for them to live all the way up to my cabinet. Here's a video showing it th-cam.com/users/shortsS2m1HGzTVIY
Some of the clips are me some of them are other people. The flips are usually not me, I'm not that good lol. The big mountain steep chutes and cliffs are what I usually do
@@joeythenomad Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Regardless, you're a badass, and not just on the slopes. I just discovered your channel and I need to subscribe now. Great content and lifestyle.
Good list...but Breck over A-Basin? Breck is bigger and has decent expert terrain, but I'd wager A-Basin has more legit expert terrain even though it's smaller. Certainly A-Basin has more sustained expert terrain. I've never skied Kicking Horse, but did mountain bike there. Insane terrain. I knew it was a good ski area, but was blown away the first time I took the Gondola up and saw it all.
I personally prefer A basin over Breck but I just felt like Breck had the full package and the expert terrain was easier than accessing when compared to hiking the East Wall at A basin, but I could be convinced to swap them I'm not super set on that ranking lol especially with how crowded Breck gets. Kicking Horse is insane and definitely worth the trip! Pair it with a few days at Revy and if the snows good it'll be the best ski trip ever
I agree here, A Basin is cool but I much prefer Breck for it's ease of access. I was there in early April and I only needed to ride one fixed grip lift, which was only for accessing peak 6. Breck also has much more terrain to explore, even if it's tamer overall.
@@Custom_Stryfe_Mainbreck? ease of access? lol. it takes 30+ minutes to get from the parking lot to the top of the mountain… abasin, park at the beach, up top within 10 minutes
@@nylla6161 That depends on how crowded it is, and what you consider "the top" to be. If you're talking about reaching the hike to the summit of peaks 6 or 8, then yes it will take a while, but that's because you're ascending an extra 800-1000 vertical feet compared to A Basin. If you're talking about just getting to the top of one of the out of base lifts, it only takes about 10 min when there aren't many crowds. And no, Breck won't be crowded if you pick the right time to go- those times being before mid December and after mid/late March.
@@Custom_Stryfe_Main it might be an extra 800 feet, but the bottom half of breck is flat and pointless. E, 6, imperial, t bar, & kensho are the only things worth skiing. 8 minutes on the gondola, 8 minutes on superchair, then you still have another lift or t bar to go meanwhile, pali is 100 feet from my car. with the summit just an extra 4 minute chair. like i love breck, i live in breck, but nothing about this place is easy to access, especially on weekends… couldn’t even imagine going out to ski here on the weekend. good god lol
I hope to visit all these some day! Especially the Canada S tier. I have spent many greats day in UT and agree with all you rankings except I think you should give PowMow another try especially after the new public lifts go in. PowMow stashes last for days and lift lines do not exist ...Snowbird is amazing but tracked out by noon on a fresh day and the red snake up and down takes away from then awesomeness. Baldy hike (very short) can make the fresh turns last till 3 lol. Thanks for the rankings! Helps to get the most from Ikon investment!
Revy and Kicking Horse have the same light Utah snow so thats where you'll wanna go if you like Utah. And I know powmow gets great powder and it sticks around, but i dunno it doesn't seem to have a lot of pitch but maybe i just haven't found where to go. the cottonwood red snake can be pretty bad though...
Man this was great! We did about half those mountains last season (also on ikon and epic) while camping in the RV full time. and YES Big sky deserves S ranking but totally dependent on the snow haha. You need to go to whitefish! Awesome little local mountain, some awesome steep runs on the outer lifts. Great video. We might make one like this soon.
Nice video! Nakiska's main draw is it's close proximity to Calgary. While the mountain doesn't stack up well against Sunshine or Louise, it's excellent for a quick half day, or if conditions are not the best. The glades on the upper mountain are quite fun when they get enough snow.
Its more of a culture and tradition thing, snowboarding didn't used to be a thing and when it first came on the scene a lot of skiers didn't like snowboarders so a few mountains didn't allow snowboarders. Now skiers vs snowboarders isn't that much of a big deal but some resorts keep it for what I'm guessing is tradition and more of a unique selling point to visit
Bro looks like you were ripping that Wiggle off Chair 3 about the same time I was last summer. That thing was Super fun sometimes I could Send a nice Spreadie off the bottom lip. No love for SugarBowl? It's my home resort since I've bailed on Sierra & NorthStar long ago. I go to Palisades late season can't dispute anything that place ROCKS. And it gets CROWDED, especially late season Pow day when everything else is closed, like May 5th last Sunday!
That is when I recorded that so you're probably there too! haha that thing was so fun. And I haven't been to SugarBowl or Sierra since I've mostly skied Ikon and Epic resorts. hard to justify paying for day passes when you've already spent $2k on passes lol. Tahoe in the spring is the place to be though!
As a long time Coloradan, I’ve skied Breck too many times! In fact I learned to ski there and had to deal with tons of people from my inception😂 I think it doesn’t deserve A tier, and definitely not a peer of Highlands which is far superior in my book. The lower 2/3 of Breck is super flat and too many bottlenecks to get to the good terrain. And the volume of people! And the wind! I will say though, after spring break when all the crowds leave, I enjoy Breck enough. No lift lines, the terrain at the top is all open, less wind, and the elevation preserves the snow well into May.
Tbh I expected to see some arizona resorts in there. Recent has been really good too, past 2 years has been lasting damn near the end of May for snowbowl and Sunrise could have stayed open but sunrise closed early.
Oohhh that’s a good question! If we’re not counting the effort it takes to get there probably revelstoke or telluride, including travel hassle probably Tahoe for the vibes and different mountain choices. Jackson is also a solid contender it’s hard to choose!
the whistler one isn't really accurate at all. if you go midweek you wont have any crowd issues at all. 4 hours from vancouver never happens unless it snows like 2 feet overnight
I ski Whistler 40 times a year. It is the best mountain if you can pick your days. There are a lot of bad weather days and super crowded days. If you are planning a 5 day vacation I would not recommend it.
As a lifelong Squaw/Palisades skier, I grew up pissed off how every year the mainstream magazines like SKI magazine would always rank places such as Vail, Beaver Creek and Deer Valley at the top of their list of "best resorts". Like, who tf would rather ski there unless you were only there to buy a fur ski jacket and pay $100 for a steak? This video makes me feel vindicated.
I always have pretty good luck at Snowbird,and the locals there always seem to make me feel welcome and some of them even remembered me from the season before. Kinds of coo the hear someone call your name at the bird when you live like 1500 miles away. I always just drive up about an hour before they open and usually get one of the first spots at the top of the parking lot nearest to the tram. Have a nice snack and get in the tram line early if I can to get at least one tram ride for the day because if it gets backed up I opt for laping the other lift beings is so easy to bounce around the resort. I'm usually just ripping n my own so I can cover a lot of ground in only a few hours then call it a day around 1-2 and if its a epic day stay until close. but I try to listen to my body and not go to far. Took a heavy slam there one day only an hour into a foot powder day and had to call it because I injured my wrist pretty badly. I knew if I feel on it again nit would not be good andeven though it didn't seem like a wrist could take you out of snowboarding for the day, at snowbird you don't want to me messing around like that. Brighton is right up there for me too though being a snowboarder. there is some insane steep stuff if you hike the ridges and had a few mandatory airs. Lots of nice medium-large cliffs with good landings at Brighton.
You missed the wild west at sunshine, even better freeride area and you can do way more slackcountry at sunshine so that's why I generally rate it above lake louise
It wasn't open when I was there so couldn't try it, but would love to go back. Ya if you're doing the freeride stuff then I can see how it would be better than Lake Louise but tried not to include parts where you need a beacon and extra gear just to get to it in the ratings
@@joeythenomad as a local I've had the chance to talk to some of the people running sunshine and I've asked about the beacon/shovel&probe rule and what I understand is its kind of 2 fold. First it helps to ensure ability levels for entry, if someone screws up its hard for ski patrol and takes lots of them to get people out of delerium or the wild west so it presents a bit of a danger to the rest of the resort and the other reason is to limit people and guarentees you can always find a bit of powder in there. I've noticed over the years way more people at Sunshine ride with avy gear than at most other resorts because of the gates but it's kind of nice because you know if something goes horribly wrong there are way more people to move snow and 2 years ago i watched a quarter of goats eye slide in an alvanche in late April🤣🤣
I haven't had super great conditions anytime i've been to snowmass so maybe thats why I couldn't find the big stuff, open to trying again next season though and re-evlauate
Awesome video.I live in co so a basin not being at least a tier is wild to me. Also telluride not being S tier is criminal to me. But I really liked your reviews on Canada resorts that I havnt been to yet.
Those are 2 that I went back and forth on. Personally A basin is one of my favorites in co, its just a lot smaller than others especially if you don't feel like hiking up the east wall. But there's still lots of good stuff and there and Copper is usually where I go when i'm around Denver. Telluride is super close to S tier to me too, I've only had one trip there though so maybe a few more days would bump it up for me lol
Great list. However, I always thought that vail was awesome. Blue sky basin has some super steep runs with a few pretty massive cliffs. I also thought high line is one of the hardest runs I’ve ever done because the moguls were some of the biggest I’ve ever done. I also do think this list focuses too much on how steep the areas are and not the variety ski areas have or the terrain variety they offer. For example, keystone has a much better terrain park and significantly more terrain variety and acres than Brighton does. But that’s just my opinion. I also enjoy some intermediate and advanced terrain when I go and not just expert so I like the variety of places like vail and breck a lot and feel that snowbird mostly caters towards people who wanna do expert terrain most of the day. Great list nonetheless
@@joeythenomad I do agree with that. And nonetheless the video is your opinion too so it’s still a great list. I just have always liked Colorado skiing more than Utah for some reason. Which is an unpopular opinion haha. But great video all the same!
Decent reviews but I have to say your criteria is missing a handful resorts in Utah that’s if you have yet to experience, then you are limiting yourself from the best experiences in the world. I grew up skiing in Utah but the constant fight with crowds has made me ski less and less. It’s not like when I was young and on a Tuesday after school when you ran up a place like Provo canyon, my friends and I, late in the day, would be on fresh powder making some of the first 5 or 6 tracks of the day. Which leads to Sundance, if you haven’t skied it you haven’t actually skied Utah just alike Nordic Valley, Eagle Point,cherry point, Beaver, snowbasin and Brian head. All of them have expert runs and yes they may not be the little and big cottonwood canyon but they beat any of those four resorts gaining massive headway above of them in the past 15 years. Going skiing and waiting in Disney land lines is not experiencing the Rocky Mountains. Sky a powered day as you a sleekly glide across the top of the lightest and simply put “greatest snow on earth”. Skiing with lines and having to worry abóut getting hit or running into another skier is Disneyland and it’s exploiting the state with the greatest diversity and sheer beauty of any place on earth. I don’t care how good the runs are at snowbird, they are rides not skiing. Stop looking for thrills and explore what brings the greatest thrills in skiing. The feeling of being alone and feeling a connection with the power and wonder of nature as you cut lines across its face and feel a sense of peace Disneyland will never provide. Run into a moose chilling in pond as you ski by. I get it man you had to hit pass resorts. Redo your budget and go check out what skiing is and should be about. You missed some of the best CO resorts as well. Stop góing to the Hollywood spots, the secret is out and you are going to Disneyland. Utah and Colorado are two of the greatest most breathtaking places on earth. With Idaho’s, Nevada, Montana and Wyoming joining the back bone of the Rockies, the greatest range on earth. Skip Canada until you explore these place! I have been all over the world and stood on every continent, no place on earth compared to the call the Rockies sings óut when you approach places like Denver and salt lake international and you are welcomed home by towering giants. you are so right about star valley. That ranking must have been paid for and I had family with a cabin there for years. Fun in the summer but not where we went to ski in the winter, thanks for the video. I have a few years on you but I wish you could have gone to those places before they were rides. There are still gems out there that can connect all of us and help us understand and wrk towards preserving the gem we all call home, earth. It’s never to late but everyone must feels that connection if we really hope to save this wonder of the solar system for our children
Have to disagree with Sun Valley. D? Really? Ok, a few reasons its rated so high by others. 1. Consistently excellent conditions. It is called Sun Valley for a reason. Bluebird days are very common. And while they get less natural snow than the Rockies, they have very robust snowmaking. You can count on excellent grooming and perfect corduroy. 2. Excellent ski school/instructors 3. On mountain food is a cut above. 4. Breathtaking view from the top. 5 different ranges are visible. 5. A part of ski history 6. A personal reason, being in my 60s now I stay off the Expert terrain. The long, sweeping cruiser and intermediate trails at Sun Valley are just excellent. And You can cruise from the top of the mountain all the way to the base areas on greens and blues. Sun Valley is my "S" tier resort now that I don't chase the steeps. I guess it depends on what you are looking for.
My ratings are mostly based on availability of expert terrain and steeps, and snow quality so thats why its D. Based on what you've said it could definitely be higher but we have different criteria for what we want from ski resorts it sounds like. But if you love it and are getting out there thats all that matters!
Should be expert's ranking of ski resorts. That's the problem with all these, they are going to be biased towards your skill level and I think a lot of experts forget about those just getting into the sport. I'd love a "beginner's guide." In that case, I think Beaver Creek would be A or even S tier - where else are you going to find a green bowl?
True definitely more of an advanced/expert ranking, but thats what I like to ski so the rankings reflect that. Not saying there shouldn't be a beginners ranking, that sounds like a great idea for new people or someone with less skill, I'm just not the person to make that video. If you're thinking for new people though I do agree Beaver Creek is a phenomenal mountain
I agree with most of your list. But Big Sky should be down in the B column and Grand Targhee should be in the A column. Park city should be in the B column and Bachelor should be in the C or D column.
I really think A-basin should be S tier. Its not just the ski trails that make Arapahoe basin so good it how the mountain ops have been running their mountain. Lift lines at A basin are always 10 minutes or less. You never feel like your cramped or so many people are around while you are skiing. Other ski areas in Colorado like Wp, Keystone, Breck, Vail, Eldora, and Baver creek feel like its Dodgeball trying just to ski down the mountain which realy isnt fun. Arapahoe basin is making sure they are carbon nutural by 2025 ( or something like that, correct me if i'm wrong😂). Arapahoe basin did just join alterra which people a say could be bad, but Alan Henceroth the cheif operating officer of a basin said nothing will change for arapahoe basin (just parking requirements which could be a good thing). Arapahoe basin terrian is also on another leval. The east wall, pali and steep gullies area are all Phenomenal. Yeah, A basin isn't the best in October- late december with limited openings on the steepest terrian. During the peak season in January-Mid may it could be one of the best ski mountains in The U.S (maybe???) Of course it isn't alta averge of 530 inches a year but 325 inches of snow a year is still really solid. Sorry if I made a mistake only 13yrs old. Still don't know much about Mountain ops of arapahoe basin . Love the video ❤❤❤
A basin is one of my personal favorites so i don't disagree with you, tried to take my personal bias out of this video but ya theres so much good stuff at A basin its just a bit smaller, but everything thats there is amazing
Hey Joey, if you ever want to shred up around Whitefish, shoot me a message. We get buddy pass tickets that are $45 and I'd love to show you around! Best in Montana IMHO.
@@joeythenomad that is true, but the important thing to recognize about the northern Rockies is that even with little snow, the quality of that snow can still create incredible skiing. Cold smoke can hang around for up to a week without new snowfall and still be incredible as the day it fell.
Feel like this video should be called “ranking mountains by steepness” 😂
Hahah that would also be an accurate title 😂
@@joeythenomad good stuff though man - keep up the good vibes
@@goodridevibes Thank you!
As they should be.
as a fernie local, the a- tier is really accurate. we get really really inconsistent snow, but on a day when we get a good dump... its a skigasm
Agreed! Fernie can be amaaaazzinnggg but consistency is a problem... Thanks for the local confirmation
@@joeythenomad no problem! hope to see you out here this season
As soon as i heard Alta not Allta deserved a like immediately. I usually ski at Solitude and I love how you like Solitude.
Appreciate it! And ya too many people underestimate Solitude
I agree with most of the rankings based on an advanced/expert skier's perspective. Snow conditions can change the ratings significantly. Went to Red Jan 31st this year and it was just bad. The terrain looked amazing if there was enough snow or not skiing on a sheet of ice. Steamboat at D is a little rough. I agree it only has one section for difficult terrain and it is hard to lap, but can be a lot of fun.
Ahhh dang that suck! Ya snow conditions really play a huge role in how good of a day you're gonna have. Red is definitely worth the trip if they get good snow
They added mahogany ridge it’s better now!
If you just live or die by the steeps, I can understand the ranking, but two things that cannot be understated at Sunshine Village is the consistent early season snowfall and snow quality. Being the highest base elevation ski area in Canada and mostly north facing, you can still ski chalky packed powder 10+ days after the most recent storm. Additionally, I would say it is the most likely place to have 90%+ of the mountain open by mid-November maybe of any IKON mountain
I love this vid! It's given me so much info about where to go skiing next, and I totally agree with many of the rankings.
Thanks glad you enjoyed it!
check out Big White outside of Kelowna, champagne powder & snows way more than whistler!
Big whites on my list for next season! I’ve heard great things
Big White is good times! Gem chair on a Pow day..... heaven.
🤫
YES BRO.
@@andrewbryan1444 so true
I'd like to defend Sunpeaks a bit. If you're able to go with somebody who's advanced and knows the mountain, the skiing off Crystal is pretty fantastic. Gils is full of open expert terrain and there's some pretty great lines in the West Bowl.
Have you ever been to Beaver in UT though, if so what do you think of it? This is my first season and I decided to get a pass there because I go to the college near it.
Cypress is my first mountain and my home mountain i think its a d tear it hase some ok runs nice people good food the biggest out of cypress semor and grous it is a bit pricey for a pass. The raven and sky chair are the best. I am thinking of becoming a ski instructor there for a winter job.
Winter ski instructor there would be a great seasonal job!
This was a super fun video to watch, thanks for putting this together! I've lived in Colorado for 10+ years now chasing powder from the front range, and moved to Steamboat full time a few years ago because it's the best for snow. I got 100+ days at the 'Boat last season. I generally agree with your list, but as others have mentioned, I think Steamboat is too low. People who think it's flat haven't skied it right. Biggest unlock is Mahogany Ridge and Fish Creek Canyon, which just opened on 23-24 season. It's 650 acres of fall line skiing. It's like Highlands or Abasin. Huge drops, 100' cliff lines, and Wyoming / Utah snow quality without the lines you get on I-70 resorts. It also means the snow stays around for days. I lived in Summit County for a few years and Abasin was my home mountain, and while it's fun, it just doesn't get the same snow that Steamboat gets. Add the Denver crowds and it feel crusty and skied out on most days.
Thats fair I didn't ski Steamboat last season so Mahogany ridge wasn't open when i was there so guess I gotta go back and check it out!
@joeythenomad definitely do! Locals are pretty upset that this terrain got added to inbounds, but I personally prefer to have ski patrol available to help in the rowdiest of terrain in case I eat it. It was still knee deep on most days in the canyon last season, and if I had to distill steamboat’s magic, it’s that. Pow for days, some of the most fun steeps you can find if you know where to look.
you forgot marmot basin, jasper AB. its less known but its still a resort with 8 ski lifts its great
Heard good things but havent been able to get there yet so thats why I didn't include it
Whistler all the way. Maybe I'm biased. I love my PNW mountains. But I do have to agree with the weather on Whistler
However when conditions are right it's the best I have experienced. Also love Bachelor and Crystal. They are so much fun but Whistler takes the cake for me.
I grew up in Alaska and have worked at various resorts in the states and I can still say there’s something special about Alyeska.
The turrain in AK Is the reason to be there it’s so awesome. Girdwood is also a really cool vibe for ski towns. It’s definitely not the biggest mountain but the snow it gets is unreal. Definitely something you need to experience!
I’m headed to park city this winter for work and I’m so stoked for it. Only resort in Utah I’ve rode so far is Brighton and I fell in love. So stoked.
Brightons where i first started definitely agree, have fun in park city
Can't wait to ride Alyeska! Try and get a day in at Snowbird on your Utah trip, its the best in Utah in my opinion
Steamboat just opened a new lift that access some pretty extreme hike out terrain that would move it up on your list I would think.
I'll have to try and get out there this season and check it out to update the review
Sun Peaks ....agree. great family hill, some nice tree skiing, but if you love skiing steep and doubles, not great. Apex is amazing.
will you ever make the eastern resorts video?
The one thing about Steven’s pass is that there is a lot of hidden stuff that you can find and ski that is unmarked.
Excited to explore it more this year!
[World class skiing with high vertical, huge variation of terrian, good snow quality, beautiful views]
"I dunno, it's kinda flat (🙄), not a lot of challenge, it's just not for me."
Geez, hard to impress you. Sounds like at this point you need helli-skiing in Alaska, Argentina, or the Himalayas to impress you.
Which mountain is this referring to? But yes heli-skiing would be sick but theres plenty of resorts that are amazing! See the S and A tiers on this list
You should definitely check out The Chutes at Mt Rose in Tahoe if you're looking for expert level terrain
@@tristanaplaut I’ll check it out thanks!
I am not a westerner, but I took a trip to Crested Butte in January of 2023 with some college friends and I am happy to see that our ski resort made it to A tier. That is the only ski resort I have ever been to. I couldn't even tell you anything about any other ski resort on this list but I have a small sense of pride seeing CB at A tier. On the way down from the easiest route there, Houston, on the first day of the trip I ran into a few older gentlemen who were giving me tips on how to not wipe out. Funnily enough they were all talking to me like I was a native Coloradoan lol.
Great video! Thats me at 44:13! I haven’t been to most of the resorts mentioned but can confirm that Alyeska is A tier at the very least!
Thats awesome thanks for being in the video! You make Alyeska look sick!
@ Thanks, I do my best!
Im starting snowboarding this year and will be there 3-6 days a week do you recommend getting a pass for alpental and snoqualmie or just snoqualimie
Personally I like alpental more than snoqualmie so I think its worth it if you'll be going 3-6 days a week
Joey- Like you I have been living the overland lifestyle (DoubleNickelRoadTrip) for three years and have skied almost all the resorts that you have. Obviously your ratings prioritize steepness and I agree with most of your assessments based on that. A few comments- your only bad miss is your rating of Alta. There is no world in which Alta isn't S tier. Though I am an advanced skier, I prioritize consistent deep and light powder over absolutely gnarly terrain. To me only Alta and Taos are truly magical experiences for advanced/expert skiers. That brings me to Taos. For and Advanced/Expert Skier I would rate it S Tier. Their relatively lower annual snowfall amounts are tricky. Its true that you probably want to ski Taos After February 1 but the snow quality and preservation is top notch. Also, while many Colorado resorts get a consistent 2-4 inch refresh storms, Taos gets hit with big and dry dumps. So they may go two weeks with bluebird days on chalky packed powder, and then get hit with 40 inches in two days. There is not a mountain I'd rather ski in February and March than Taos. A couple other comments- if you like spring corn skiing, then A- basin should be bumped up a notch. I skied A Basin on May 25 in 2023 and had genuine winter conditions the top 800 vert and beautiful corn below. Sun Valley while lacking gnarly terrain has some of the steepest and longest Blue Runs in North America. As an advanced skier who is pushing 60, I have learned to enjoy long and steep Blue/Black cruisers. If I added that to your rankings- Snowmass would move up a notch and Sun Valley would move to A tier.
Overall though a great ranking based on the type of skier we are.
Personally I think steamboat should be upper B tier to A just because they have no lines most of the time and especially with the new area it’s super fun.
The no lines is great, much different than the 70 mountains lol. I can see how some people would like it but idk just wasn’t my cup of tea, but glad you enjoy it!
A Basin should be A. Steamboat B. I personally like Alta over Snowbird precisely because at Alta you have to know where the best lines are, so it keeps the powder more fresh. I totally agree with Taos at A. The terrain at Taos is the real deal.
I tend to agree with you. I love Steamboat and A Basin. Also like Alta over Snowbird. But I'm not an expert skier. More intermediate to advanced. I am also partial to Beaver Creek. Something about it.
Idk I just think that not allowing snowboarders should be an immediate D/Q from top rank like some groups gonna have a snowboarder and barring them from the mountain just seems harsh.
Next one your in Montana you should check out bridger bowl
Telluride not being S tier hurt a little. The other CO resorts make sense but Telluride is magnificent!
Telluride is a personal favorite in CO, I struggled with A vs S for it
I went to snowbird when I was 12 and was still a pretty inexperienced rider. Im by no means an expert now but I can ride some much harder terrain so I wonder how much more enjoyable it would be if I went back (you are right, I didnt really have a good time when I went lol)
the big sky tram didnt cost extra when I went in 2021. maybe they added that later because I did end up waiting an hour and a half for the tram
also pfft no Yellowstone Club? smh its the most accessible mountain in the US 😂
stone creek chutes and the backcountry glade skiing on the opposite side of beaver creek offer some really fun extreme terrain on a powder day. Beaver Creek B tier on powder days imo
Big white ski resort? That place is magical.
I've heard really good things! Just haven't been able to make it myself yet
No larger east coast mountains? Killington, Tremblant, etc.
East coast has some sick mountains and I grew up skiing there, didn't include it in this video though because it was already pretty long and didn't feel fair comparing a whistler to Waterville Valley... I'll make another video with East coast mountains only
Palisades over Mammoth? 👀 That's a hot take.
Also, hitting Red but skipping Whitewater was a missed opportunity.
Red was on a family trip so didn't have time to hit whitewater, but planning on heading there this season!
It's definitely worth it! It's not huge, but the snow quality and terrain are awesome. As a bonus, even though it has maybe the most barebones base area after Silverton, the food they serve is incredible.
What camera do you use when you ski? I am trying to find a good camera for skiing.
I record all my ski footage with the Insta360 X4 so that way I can reframe it in post for horizontal for youtube or vertical clips for social media. Also I don't have to worry about mounting at a bad angle or the camera getting knocked into a different position and missing the shot.
amzn.to/3LVVtvO
@@joeythenomad Thank you so much!
@@LKGTAG Happy to help!
Great video! Would you consider making a video about the day to day while living in the van during ski season? Curious how easy it is to find things like places to sleep, and fresh water to fill up with.
I have one from last season actually! Might remake it again this year
th-cam.com/video/fYx6QBmRO0w/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=JoeyTheNomad
Ah awesome, thanks for sharing that! Do you find it difficult to find fresh water fill up spots in the winter? What are your go to’s?
@@kylethompson6433 Ya winter is definitely harder for finding spots to fill up water because a lot places turn their water off in the winter to avoid freezing. Some of my go tos in the winter are truck stops (some still have water on), or I find or make a friend that has a water tap at their house, and as a last resort I'll usually ask a liftie if they know of anywhere to go
Ahh gotcha. Thank you for the ideas and your help! Cheers
Finally someone who wasn't afraid to rank Lake Louise higher than Sunshine Village😅☺
Exactly. I've never understood the delusional love for Sunshine.
@@liquidblueloft sunshine had the best snow I've ever skiied, but the flat spots... (at least Lake Louise is a real mountain)
LL is way more fun, got to ski them both last year and like its night and day
Lake Louise has been consistently the most Epic over the “years”!!!!!!!
great vid. van question for you as i am beginning van build. where and how do you store your skis? I did not see one of those ski lockers in the back of your van. thx.
thanks! I built a space for them in the back of my van underneath my water tank. Basically they slide in the back and i have space cut out for them to live all the way up to my cabinet.
Here's a video showing it
th-cam.com/users/shortsS2m1HGzTVIY
Is that you skiing and doing all the flips, etc? And great review also!
Some of the clips are me some of them are other people. The flips are usually not me, I'm not that good lol. The big mountain steep chutes and cliffs are what I usually do
@@joeythenomad Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Regardless, you're a badass, and not just on the slopes. I just discovered your channel and I need to subscribe now. Great content and lifestyle.
@@BobRossRulez thanks so much I appreciate it!
Good list...but Breck over A-Basin? Breck is bigger and has decent expert terrain, but I'd wager A-Basin has more legit expert terrain even though it's smaller. Certainly A-Basin has more sustained expert terrain. I've never skied Kicking Horse, but did mountain bike there. Insane terrain. I knew it was a good ski area, but was blown away the first time I took the Gondola up and saw it all.
I personally prefer A basin over Breck but I just felt like Breck had the full package and the expert terrain was easier than accessing when compared to hiking the East Wall at A basin, but I could be convinced to swap them I'm not super set on that ranking lol especially with how crowded Breck gets.
Kicking Horse is insane and definitely worth the trip! Pair it with a few days at Revy and if the snows good it'll be the best ski trip ever
I agree here, A Basin is cool but I much prefer Breck for it's ease of access. I was there in early April and I only needed to ride one fixed grip lift, which was only for accessing peak 6. Breck also has much more terrain to explore, even if it's tamer overall.
@@Custom_Stryfe_Mainbreck? ease of access? lol. it takes 30+ minutes to get from the parking lot to the top of the mountain…
abasin, park at the beach, up top within 10 minutes
@@nylla6161 That depends on how crowded it is, and what you consider "the top" to be. If you're talking about reaching the hike to the summit of peaks 6 or 8, then yes it will take a while, but that's because you're ascending an extra 800-1000 vertical feet compared to A Basin. If you're talking about just getting to the top of one of the out of base lifts, it only takes about 10 min when there aren't many crowds. And no, Breck won't be crowded if you pick the right time to go- those times being before mid December and after mid/late March.
@@Custom_Stryfe_Main it might be an extra 800 feet, but the bottom half of breck is flat and pointless. E, 6, imperial, t bar, & kensho are the only things worth skiing. 8 minutes on the gondola, 8 minutes on superchair, then you still have another lift or t bar to go
meanwhile, pali is 100 feet from my car. with the summit just an extra 4 minute chair.
like i love breck, i live in breck, but nothing about this place is easy to access, especially on weekends… couldn’t even imagine going out to ski here on the weekend. good god lol
I hope to visit all these some day! Especially the Canada S tier. I have spent many greats day in UT and agree with all you rankings except I think you should give PowMow another try especially after the new public lifts go in. PowMow stashes last for days and lift lines do not exist ...Snowbird is amazing but tracked out by noon on a fresh day and the red snake up and down takes away from then awesomeness. Baldy hike (very short) can make the fresh turns last till 3 lol. Thanks for the rankings! Helps to get the most from Ikon investment!
Revy and Kicking Horse have the same light Utah snow so thats where you'll wanna go if you like Utah. And I know powmow gets great powder and it sticks around, but i dunno it doesn't seem to have a lot of pitch but maybe i just haven't found where to go. the cottonwood red snake can be pretty bad though...
If you have the chance check out wolf creek near pagosa springs in colorado. Some of the best powder i’ve ever skied there
Heard really good things about wolf creek definitely wanna get there this season! Every time I look at opensnow theyre always getting dumped on lol
Man this was great! We did about half those mountains last season (also on ikon and epic) while camping in the RV full time. and YES Big sky deserves S ranking but totally dependent on the snow haha. You need to go to whitefish! Awesome little local mountain, some awesome steep runs on the outer lifts. Great video. We might make one like this soon.
Thanks whitefish is definitely on my list so I hope I can make it this season!
Nice video! Nakiska's main draw is it's close proximity to Calgary. While the mountain doesn't stack up well against Sunshine or Louise, it's excellent for a quick half day, or if conditions are not the best. The glades on the upper mountain are quite fun when they get enough snow.
For sure! If you're in Calgary its great for going and getting a few laps in. Just hard to compare with Sunshine and Louise right there
I’m a skier so It doesn’t affect me but could anyone tell me why some resorts are skiers only?
Its more of a culture and tradition thing, snowboarding didn't used to be a thing and when it first came on the scene a lot of skiers didn't like snowboarders so a few mountains didn't allow snowboarders. Now skiers vs snowboarders isn't that much of a big deal but some resorts keep it for what I'm guessing is tradition and more of a unique selling point to visit
Bro looks like you were ripping that Wiggle off Chair 3 about the same time I was last summer. That thing was Super fun sometimes I could Send a nice Spreadie off the bottom lip. No love for SugarBowl? It's my home resort since I've bailed on Sierra & NorthStar long ago. I go to Palisades late season can't dispute anything that place ROCKS. And it gets CROWDED, especially late season Pow day when everything else is closed, like May 5th last Sunday!
That is when I recorded that so you're probably there too! haha that thing was so fun. And I haven't been to SugarBowl or Sierra since I've mostly skied Ikon and Epic resorts. hard to justify paying for day passes when you've already spent $2k on passes lol. Tahoe in the spring is the place to be though!
Yup... Agree with your list for Canada... Fernie can be epic. Or it can rain mid winter sigh
That's a very solid list. Canadian resorts ranking seems precise.
Thanks I appreciate the feedback!
@@joeythenomadI’m really happy that such resorts as RED, Revelstoke, Fernie and Kicking horse get the credit they deserve.
Beaver mountain utah?😢
Waterville valley NH mentioned!
New Hampshire represesnt!
As a long time Coloradan, I’ve skied Breck too many times! In fact I learned to ski there and had to deal with tons of people from my inception😂 I think it doesn’t deserve A tier, and definitely not a peer of Highlands which is far superior in my book. The lower 2/3 of Breck is super flat and too many bottlenecks to get to the good terrain. And the volume of people! And the wind! I will say though, after spring break when all the crowds leave, I enjoy Breck enough. No lift lines, the terrain at the top is all open, less wind, and the elevation preserves the snow well into May.
Tbh I expected to see some arizona resorts in there. Recent has been really good too, past 2 years has been lasting damn near the end of May for snowbowl and Sunrise could have stayed open but sunrise closed early.
I'm surprised you didn't go to Big White. Although it sounds like it's not your type of terrain I think it's an unreal snowboarders mountain
I'd love to go to big white! Just didn't make it there this year so hopefully I can get there this season and update the list
If you were going to buy a vacation ski house, where would you buy?
Oohhh that’s a good question! If we’re not counting the effort it takes to get there probably revelstoke or telluride, including travel hassle probably Tahoe for the vibes and different mountain choices. Jackson is also a solid contender it’s hard to choose!
the whistler one isn't really accurate at all. if you go midweek you wont have any crowd issues at all. 4 hours from vancouver never happens unless it snows like 2 feet overnight
ya thats what I meant. midweek is fine, powder day on a weekend will be lots of traffic
I ski Whistler 40 times a year. It is the best mountain if you can pick your days. There are a lot of bad weather days and super crowded days. If you are planning a 5 day vacation I would not recommend it.
Great video! I lived 5 years in Colorado. This video makes me miss snowboarding/skiing
Thanks! Definitely hard to move away from being so close to the mountains
As a lifelong Squaw/Palisades skier, I grew up pissed off how every year the mainstream magazines like SKI magazine would always rank places such as Vail, Beaver Creek and Deer Valley at the top of their list of "best resorts". Like, who tf would rather ski there unless you were only there to buy a fur ski jacket and pay $100 for a steak? This video makes me feel vindicated.
Agreed! had to put the others in their place lol
No Purg?????
I took a week of lessons at Taos for 6 years and really improved my skiing.
Taos is a great place to learn and practice! They got some solid terrain
I always have pretty good luck at Snowbird,and the locals there always seem to make me feel welcome and some of them even remembered me from the season before. Kinds of coo the hear someone call your name at the bird when you live like 1500 miles away. I always just drive up about an hour before they open and usually get one of the first spots at the top of the parking lot nearest to the tram. Have a nice snack and get in the tram line early if I can to get at least one tram ride for the day because if it gets backed up I opt for laping the other lift beings is so easy to bounce around the resort.
I'm usually just ripping n my own so I can cover a lot of ground in only a few hours then call it a day around 1-2 and if its a epic day stay until close. but I try to listen to my body and not go to far. Took a heavy slam there one day only an hour into a foot powder day and had to call it because I injured my wrist pretty badly. I knew if I feel on it again nit would not be good andeven though it didn't seem like a wrist could take you out of snowboarding for the day, at snowbird you don't want to me messing around like that. Brighton is right up there for me too though being a snowboarder. there is some insane steep stuff if you hike the ridges and had a few mandatory airs. Lots of nice medium-large cliffs with good landings at Brighton.
You missed the wild west at sunshine, even better freeride area and you can do way more slackcountry at sunshine so that's why I generally rate it above lake louise
It wasn't open when I was there so couldn't try it, but would love to go back. Ya if you're doing the freeride stuff then I can see how it would be better than Lake Louise but tried not to include parts where you need a beacon and extra gear just to get to it in the ratings
@@joeythenomad as a local I've had the chance to talk to some of the people running sunshine and I've asked about the beacon/shovel&probe rule and what I understand is its kind of 2 fold. First it helps to ensure ability levels for entry, if someone screws up its hard for ski patrol and takes lots of them to get people out of delerium or the wild west so it presents a bit of a danger to the rest of the resort and the other reason is to limit people and guarentees you can always find a bit of powder in there.
I've noticed over the years way more people at Sunshine ride with avy gear than at most other resorts because of the gates but it's kind of nice because you know if something goes horribly wrong there are way more people to move snow and 2 years ago i watched a quarter of goats eye slide in an alvanche in late April🤣🤣
Great vid! You should break down each resort in detail... I would watch each one.
That's a great idea for a video series!
I love tha snowbasin's bathrooms always get a mention
Can't leave out the best ski bathrooms ever
On a good snow year with a short ridge hike Snowbasin is as good as snowbird in utah. Long steep pow runs that don't get tracked fast.
True that ridge and middle bowl can be awesome
I’d say you would find some knarlier lines at Snowmass than Highlands there’s some big lines there
I haven't had super great conditions anytime i've been to snowmass so maybe thats why I couldn't find the big stuff, open to trying again next season though and re-evlauate
Great list. Most of CO is overrated, overcrowded or just has poor snow compared to a lot of western and CA ski areas.
Where is New England????
Its another word for the Northeast. So New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
Awesome video.I live in co so a basin not being at least a tier is wild to me. Also telluride not being S tier is criminal to me. But I really liked your reviews on Canada resorts that I havnt been to yet.
Those are 2 that I went back and forth on. Personally A basin is one of my favorites in co, its just a lot smaller than others especially if you don't feel like hiking up the east wall. But there's still lots of good stuff and there and Copper is usually where I go when i'm around Denver. Telluride is super close to S tier to me too, I've only had one trip there though so maybe a few more days would bump it up for me lol
no mount baker??
Quiet man. Baker never gets any snow and it's super crowded mid week and lift tickets are more than Vail., don't go there.
Have u been to Wolf Creek? CO
Not yet! i've heard really good things and whenever I look at OpenSnow its always up there for snow totals
Where would Aspen Mountain rank for you on this list?
Which one? I have Aspen Snowmass in B tier and Aspen Highland in A tier on this list
@@joeythenomad Ajax
@@joeythenomad There's 4 seperate mountains in Aspen Snowmass
Ajax (in the town of Aspen)
Aspen Highlands
Snowmass
Buttermilk (Xgames)
It's "Al-as-ka" not "Ali-as-ka" How did you pronounce that incorrectly?
Alyeska.
Alaska is the state, Alyeska is the name of the ski resort
Great list. However, I always thought that vail was awesome. Blue sky basin has some super steep runs with a few pretty massive cliffs. I also thought high line is one of the hardest runs I’ve ever done because the moguls were some of the biggest I’ve ever done. I also do think this list focuses too much on how steep the areas are and not the variety ski areas have or the terrain variety they offer. For example, keystone has a much better terrain park and significantly more terrain variety and acres than Brighton does. But that’s just my opinion. I also enjoy some intermediate and advanced terrain when I go and not just expert so I like the variety of places like vail and breck a lot and feel that snowbird mostly caters towards people who wanna do expert terrain most of the day. Great list nonetheless
Vail is great and a very fun mountain, I just think its generally overhyped. But any day out there is a great day
@@joeythenomad I do agree with that. And nonetheless the video is your opinion too so it’s still a great list. I just have always liked Colorado skiing more than Utah for some reason. Which is an unpopular opinion haha. But great video all the same!
I constantly agreed with your opinions. Especially with Sun Valley, I didn’t get why it’s so hyped either.
Same like it’s a fun mountain but definitely overhyped in my opinion
No pa??
Just didn't seem fair to put all the east coast mountains in the same video as the bigger west coast ones. Planning on making an east coast video next
Decent reviews but I have to say your criteria is missing a handful resorts in Utah that’s if you have yet to experience, then you are limiting yourself from the best experiences in the world. I grew up skiing in Utah but the constant fight with crowds has made me ski less and less. It’s not like when I was young and on a Tuesday after school when you ran up a place like Provo canyon, my friends and I, late in the day, would be on fresh powder making some of the first 5 or 6 tracks of the day. Which leads to Sundance, if you haven’t skied it you haven’t actually skied Utah just alike Nordic Valley, Eagle Point,cherry point, Beaver, snowbasin and Brian head. All of them have expert runs and yes they may not be the little and big cottonwood canyon but they beat any of those four resorts gaining massive headway above of them in the past 15 years. Going skiing and waiting in Disney land lines is not experiencing the Rocky Mountains. Sky a powered day as you a sleekly glide across the top of the lightest and simply put “greatest snow on earth”. Skiing with lines and having to worry abóut getting hit or running into another skier is Disneyland and it’s exploiting the state with the greatest diversity and sheer beauty of any place on earth. I don’t care how good the runs are at snowbird, they are rides not skiing. Stop looking for thrills and explore what brings the greatest thrills in skiing. The feeling of being alone and feeling a connection with the power and wonder of nature as you cut lines across its face and feel a sense of peace Disneyland will never provide. Run into a moose chilling in pond as you ski by. I get it man you had to hit pass resorts. Redo your budget and go check out what skiing is and should be about. You missed some of the best CO resorts as well. Stop góing to the Hollywood spots, the secret is out and you are going to Disneyland. Utah and Colorado are two of the greatest most breathtaking places on earth. With Idaho’s, Nevada, Montana and Wyoming joining the back bone of the Rockies, the greatest range on earth. Skip Canada until you explore these place! I have been all over the world and stood on every continent, no place on earth compared to the call the Rockies sings óut when you approach places like Denver and salt lake international and you are welcomed home by towering giants. you are so right about star valley. That ranking must have been paid for and I had family with a cabin there for years. Fun in the summer but not where we went to ski in the winter, thanks for the video. I have a few years on you but I wish you could have gone to those places before they were rides. There are still gems out there that can connect all of us and help us understand and wrk towards preserving the gem we all call home, earth. It’s never to late but everyone must feels that connection if we really hope to save this wonder of the solar system for our children
I would definitely switch Telluride in S tier and Palisades in A tier
ya got highlands and Snowmass. Where's Ajax?
🤫
Have to disagree with Sun Valley. D? Really?
Ok, a few reasons its rated so high by others.
1. Consistently excellent conditions. It is called Sun Valley for a reason. Bluebird days are very common. And while they get less natural snow than the Rockies, they have very robust snowmaking. You can count on excellent grooming and perfect corduroy.
2. Excellent ski school/instructors
3. On mountain food is a cut above.
4. Breathtaking view from the top. 5 different ranges are visible.
5. A part of ski history
6. A personal reason, being in my 60s now I stay off the Expert terrain. The long, sweeping cruiser and intermediate trails at Sun Valley are just excellent. And You can cruise from the top of the mountain all the way to the base areas on greens and blues. Sun Valley is my "S" tier resort now that I don't chase the steeps. I guess it depends on what you are looking for.
My ratings are mostly based on availability of expert terrain and steeps, and snow quality so thats why its D. Based on what you've said it could definitely be higher but we have different criteria for what we want from ski resorts it sounds like. But if you love it and are getting out there thats all that matters!
Sun Valley can produce some serious Sierra Cement snow that's like gluey snot forcing you to do groomers.
missed all out east of Canada... yeah they aint nothing like BC/Alberta but missed a lot and Ontarios too which are pretty weak
Panorama is so slept on, only downside about it is the inconsistent snowfall
Agreed! The unpredictability of the snow really is the hardest part
Why did you speed up all the b-roll of you skiing?
Thats just how fast I ski
You were wrong about steamboat, it’s double blacks are the gnarliest stuff I’ve ever skied in CO
Really? I went all over that mountain and couldn't find anything super gnarly
Should be expert's ranking of ski resorts. That's the problem with all these, they are going to be biased towards your skill level and I think a lot of experts forget about those just getting into the sport. I'd love a "beginner's guide." In that case, I think Beaver Creek would be A or even S tier - where else are you going to find a green bowl?
True definitely more of an advanced/expert ranking, but thats what I like to ski so the rankings reflect that. Not saying there shouldn't be a beginners ranking, that sounds like a great idea for new people or someone with less skill, I'm just not the person to make that video. If you're thinking for new people though I do agree Beaver Creek is a phenomenal mountain
The clip at 9:52 is Bridger Bowl 🤣 not Vail. That dude just wants to keep Bridger a secret haha
sshhhhhh lol
@@joeythenomad haha didn't want people to think Vail actually has terrain that good
Fantasy ridge makes solitude crazy fun just have to time it
if you can get it when its open lol
I agree with most of your list. But Big Sky should be down in the B column and Grand Targhee should be in the A column. Park city should be in the B column and Bachelor should be in the C or D column.
Not a bad take, on a good snow year Big Sky is amazing and has some unmatched terrain (if you take the gondy), but ya on a bad snow years its not good
Can you kfed?
Bro what about Timberline!!?!?!!??
I haven't made it there yet actually! So didn't wanna rank it if I didn't ski it
I really think A-basin should be S tier. Its not just the ski trails that make Arapahoe basin so good it how the mountain ops have been running their mountain. Lift lines at A basin are always 10 minutes or less. You never feel like your cramped or so many people are around while you are skiing. Other ski areas in Colorado like Wp, Keystone, Breck, Vail, Eldora, and Baver creek feel like its Dodgeball trying just to ski down the mountain which realy isnt fun. Arapahoe basin is making sure they are carbon nutural by 2025 ( or something like that, correct me if i'm wrong😂). Arapahoe basin did just join alterra which people a say could be bad, but Alan Henceroth the cheif operating officer of a basin said nothing will change for arapahoe basin (just parking requirements which could be a good thing).
Arapahoe basin terrian is also on another leval. The east wall, pali and steep gullies area are all Phenomenal. Yeah, A basin isn't the best in October- late december with limited openings on the steepest terrian. During the peak season in January-Mid may it could be one of the best ski mountains in The U.S (maybe???) Of course it isn't alta averge of 530 inches a year but 325 inches of snow a year is still really solid.
Sorry if I made a mistake only 13yrs old. Still don't know much about Mountain ops of arapahoe basin .
Love the video ❤❤❤
A basin is one of my personal favorites so i don't disagree with you, tried to take my personal bias out of this video but ya theres so much good stuff at A basin its just a bit smaller, but everything thats there is amazing
Love the emphasis you put in the intro and trying to be unbias as possible can tell ur a good guy
Thank you I really appreciate that! Definitely tried to be unbiased and keep out my personal favorites
Heavenly and Steven’s pass that low is insane. You obviously haven’t skied at those places enough.
Skiing there more doesn't change the terrain
Hey Joey, if you ever want to shred up around Whitefish, shoot me a message. We get buddy pass tickets that are $45 and I'd love to show you around! Best in Montana IMHO.
That would be awesome! Might take you up on that, send me a DM on instagram
Forgot about bridger bowl mt
Great rankings
Thanks!
You are loved, I figured out why. Hmmmm
What a crazy misleading title...
I thought Taos Ski Valley was awesome too. Same for Ski Santa Fe. Both better than expected.
Right?? I was surprised how much I liked Taos!
Looks like you love standing in lift lines
its not too bad if you ski mid week
big sky was awesome this year dawg what
I didn't make it there this season but everyone I talked to said they hardly got snow
@@joeythenomad that is true, but the important thing to recognize about the northern Rockies is that even with little snow, the quality of that snow can still create incredible skiing. Cold smoke can hang around for up to a week without new snowfall and still be incredible as the day it fell.
poor big bear.... parks are really fun there