 Poster: A snowHead
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Negatives...
Visa palaver.
Long expensive flights often with at least one connection.
Most flights leave from London airports.
Seemingly paranoid immigration involving long queues.
Jet lag.
Often really cold.
Risk of altitude sickness (especially in places like Breckenridge.)
Few resort towns directly at the base of the skiing areas.
Poor night life by alpine standards.
Mediocre food, quantity not quality.
Poor mountain cafés, a preference for large self service refuelling stations.
Lifts start closing at 3pm
Mostly small skiing areas.
The few larger skiing areas have expensive lift passes.
Expensive tuition.
Over zealous piste patrolling (slow skiing areas and clipping lift tickets.)
Piste grading unique to America.
Insurance twice the price.
Litigation worries.
Can't drink until you're 21.
The stuff they sell as beer (and weaker stuff in high altitude states.)
Constant exhortations of 'have a nice day' by overly cheerful staff.
Positives...
Snow sure (may not apply to New England?)
Good snow.
Empty weekday pistes.
Quality piste bashing.
They speak a version of English.
I can't see the attraction.
Can anyone convince me otherwise?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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safe, massive offpiste skiing possibilities in resort boundaries, frequent powder days.
another negative to add - a lot of chair lifts
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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+ tree skiing. not many places in Europe you are alowed to (wildlife protection in Switzerlad for example) an not too many trees at the higher altitudes.
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They speak American.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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No cross border skiing in USA?
Here in the Alps one can ski to another country and back, like La Rosiere/La Thuile, Ischgl/Samnaun, Zermatt/Cervinia, Montgenerve/Claviere, Avoriaz/Champery etc.
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e.g., Try Canada instead.
No Visa
Direct flights
No altitude sickness
Ski-in, ski-out at some resorts
Some great Bars
Good quality food, cheap and large portions.
Great coffee on hill
Book lift ticket through TO and they become affordable.
Piste grading same as USA, but who needs pistes
Can't drink till 19, keeps kids out of the bars.
Beer is great, brewed by micro-breweries.
'Have a great day, Eh!' and they mean it.
Empty slopes and lifts.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Visa palaver.
No visa issues for GB citizens, never had any problems getting into the states
Long expensive flights often with at least one connection.
True
Most flights leave from London airports.
Get a connecting flight, you can fly manchester - JFK, or go via Schipol or Paris
Seemingly paranoid immigration involving long queues.
See above, I've queued longer to get on the plane in Heathrow than to get into the states
Jet lag.
Not usually a problem going out, it hits me when I get back
Often really cold.
Can be cold in Europe too
Risk of altitude sickness (especially in places like Breckenridge.)
There's a risk, yes, but with higher altitude comes better snow
Few resort towns directly at the base of the skiing areas.
True, are you going to ski or party?
Poor night life by alpine standards.
See above
Mediocre food, quantity not quality.
I'd agree with this one, in fact if anything I'd say it might be generous to describe some of the food as mediocre - a lot of the food we had in Utah was awful. Having said that the on-mountain food is far better and *TONS* cheaper than france
Poor mountain cafés, a preference for large self service refuelling stations.
It depends if you are there to ski or eat, If I'm stopping at lunch I want to get food and go, so the quicker I can get served and eat the better. It's also usually far easier to fins somewhere to eat your own food
Lifts start closing at 3pm
Ski hard enough and you'll be knackered by 3 anyway. If you don;t stop for lunch as theon-mountain restaurants are so terrible, you'll be ready top quit by 3.
Mostly small skiing areas.
Yes, but they pack more skiing in. Alta is about the size of the Arc 2000 bowl, but has about as much skiing as the whole of the Les Arcs domain I reckon
The few larger skiing areas have expensive lift passes.
Yes, true
Expensive tuition.
Can't comment
Over zealous piste patrolling (slow skiing areas and clipping lift tickets.)
Never been clipped or told to slow down, but then I'm a considerate skiier. Have been grateful for "over zealous" patrollers picking us up when a mate snapped his binding off his ski at the top of a mountain though
Piste grading unique to America.
Every resort's piste grading is unique, but in any case Canad shares the same grading system as USA - they're different countries remember
Insurance twice the price.
Well, more expensive, but there you do
Litigation worries.
That's why you pay more insurance?
Can't drink until you're 21.
Not a problem, it's a while since I was 21 
The stuff they sell as beer (and weaker stuff in high altitude states.)
it's passable, especially if you can find stuff from local micro-brewieries. Anyway are you there to drink beer or to ski?
Constant exhortations of 'have a nice day' by overly cheerful staff.
Yes, it can grate after a while, but hey, you could mention the surly ignorance of euro-staff?
Snow sure (may not apply to New England?)
If I was flying to North America to go skiing, I wouldn;t go East Coast - personally I'd go to Western Canada, in the Rockies or the Okanagan, but not East Coast.
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e.g., can't speak for USA as have never been (boarding) there, but of all the places I've ever been, Western Canada rings my bell. For most, and more, of the reasons already outlined.
But from your point if view, and bearing in mind your already preconceived idea of somewhere you've never been, I'd stick to the Alps if I were you. Most of your listed positives you can already find there, with few of the negatives.
John.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I would love to ski in North America BUT always have a fantastic time in Europe. Travelling is the biggest PITA when skiing, so why make it longer?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Frosty the Snowman, for most of Canada it is longer but not much more of a pain in the ar*e, just the flight is a little bit longer. Unfortunately you can't drive to the States 
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Frosty the Snowman, exactly. Went to Fernie once (Yes, I do know that's Canada not the USA). Resort height 1065m - so less than many Alpine resorts. However rain in January, on some days, making for melting snow at resort level, and no sign of champagne powder - though there was some good tree skiing with powder - but no better than one would find in Europe. A long flog for not a lot of point. Great accommodation, though.
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You know it makes sense.
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Frosty the Snowman, comparing flying, if you actually work out the time it takes to travel, it's only really the flight time itself that's any longer, between NA and Europe. Seven hours longer (six coming back), granted, but when I factor that into the trip as a whole, particularly the quality of the slope time, it's small change. The transfers are often a touch longer, but not as makes much difference.
Most people in the UK can't drive to the Alps as quick as you can fly to NA. So then it becomes an issue on the mode of transport, rather than the time length of the journey itself.
Personally I'm a great believer that if you really fancy trying something, go for it. Within reason.
John.
p.s. Abd though some will disagree, 10/11 days is the minimum, two weeks or more is better.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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achilles, I would suggest that you were very unlucky indeed.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| arv wrote: |
| achilles, I would suggest that you were very unlucky indeed. |
Seconded. Having been about ten times now, the weather has not really been any more of a factor than the times I've spent in the Alps.
John.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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it's all the faff leading up to getting onto the plane, not the flight itself, which i find painful
i do a bit of skiing in north america mainly because i find myself there anyway (in-laws living in vancouver etc) and I enjoy it. not sure i'd make the effort otherwise. however, snow quality/quantity is the biggest differentiator for me
i don't know where nbt is going to in France but if you try things other than the self-service caffs, the food can be very good indeed
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| arv wrote: |
| achilles, I would suggest that you were very unlucky indeed. |
Maybe. I don't want to go through another trans Altlantic flight to check. At least when one gets diappointing conditions in Europe (it happens, of course) one hasn't endured the long flight and jet lag.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Of the negatives you list, the only one which is an unavoidable problem, IME, is jet lag (I'm not up on drinking ages in the various US states, as however high they are, they' are unlikely to cause me a problem). Avoidance of some of the other problems requires planning (if you don't like sleeping at altitude, avoid Brekenridge), and going to Canada avoids any risk of several of them (go to Alberta not BC if you're between 19 and 21 and want to drink). The biggest downside IMO is that most resorts have a single base area and you can't ski to other places for lunch, as you can in the larger Euro ski areas.
I've had some of my most enjoyable skiing hols in Canada and USA, and it's as daft to say, 'There's no point in going to N.America to ski.', as it would be to say, 'There's no point in going to Austria to ski.', (or France, or Italy, or Europe). If you can't have a good time skiing in USA or Canada, God help you.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| BCjohnny wrote: |
| arv wrote: |
| achilles, I would suggest that you were very unlucky indeed. |
Seconded. Having been about ten times now, the weather has not really been any more of a factor than the times I've spent in the Alps.
John. |
If you go anywhere once you can have poor snow conditions. Maybe I'm lucky, but in the 25 weeks or so I've skied in Western Canada it's nearly all been excellent with more than our fair share of fresh powder and virtually no ice or rain. Certainly on average significantly better conditions than I've experienced in Europe. One of the reasons I rarely ski in Europe now.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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cbr7, yeah, in boundary 'off piste' and tree skiing is going to be a positive for some people. Lots of chair lifts I would also count as a positive. Do all US chairs have foot rests and restraining bars, think read somewhere it's not always the case.
abc, you mean crochet? Knitting's so boring.
saikee, Cross border skiing would be a huge USP in the States. But would you have to stop and show your passport? Is there even any cross state border skiing?
Boredsurfing, Hmm. Should really go and see if my prejudices and views are correct. It's the hours and hours of travelling to get to a long list of negatives that put me off.
Spyderman, have thought about Canada. Better but still not all good, more likely to be really cold.
nbt, do you have to fill out a visa waiver online? Just another thing to do. Connecting flights are a negative. Fewer the better. What does US border control entail. Good food, beer, mountain cafes and nightlife are all part of the holiday. If I wanted to just ski I could spend a week at Tamworth Snowdome. So the snow on the east coast is rubbish!
BCjohnny, Thought this would be a good way of getting views of the US from people that have actually been.
Frosty the Snowman, Agree with you. Also have a great time in Europe.
So far it looks like the recommendation is to ski in Canada.
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Drinking age in BC is 19, Alberta 18, unless they changed it since I got back.
Like others here, not that it's any kind of problem for me, and the people I tend to go with.........................
John
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I've queued as long at passport control at Birmingham and Gatwick as I did at immigration at LAX the 2 times I've been to the US.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| e.g. wrote: |
| If I wanted to just ski I could spend a week at Tamworth Snowdome. |
So you're not exactly fussy about the quality of your actual skiing then?
With your attitude toward the hassle of long flights, US immigration and other long list of pre-conceived negatives, are you really seriously thinking about skiing in the US or just trying to convince yourself that Europe is better?
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e.g., No problem.
Gotta admit that your OP has some pretty negative observations, for someone who hasn't been there. Or maybe it's just the way I read it?
And by "there" I mean NA, as most people who ask about skiing in the US often generally mean NA, which includes Canada.
Anyway, I'd go, to Canada. I'd be surprised, unless the conditions were really bad, you wouldn't enjoy it. Book two weeks, if you can.
John.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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uktrailmonster, Tamworth's great! Scraped ice and then slush at the bottom. Being serious for a minute, it's a holiday for me not just about the skiing. Mainly the skiing but the other things matter.
Have looked into Squaw valley and SF flights for next year. If I'm going to fly a long way a bit longer won't matter. I can live with some of the negatives if the positives are worth it or people here can convince me my pre-conceived views are wrong.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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e.g., yes that's true about chairs. better go to Canada as well to my mind.
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What's the deal with chairlifts? I regard them generally as a plus over cable cars/ gondolas/ drags. The former two may be faster and protect the wussies from the wind but the general faff factor involved and the chances of just missing a departure with a CC increase irritation factor if its a "get in some laps" day.
Best thing to say is your experience won't be identical to your fave Euro resort. My experience says that very few places are the same visit to visit even so I don't tend to judge in terms of better to worse.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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e.g., I have skied extensively in the USA and can confirm it's not very good. If you find yourself over there for another reason then try to fit a couple of days in, but only the most rabid yank-o-philes would make the trip especially considering all the nagative points you have rightly flagged up.
Perhaps the only reason to go is (as others have mentioned) if you are a really high-end couloir/powder/heliski junkie then there are further opputunities for interest there once you have exhasted those in the Alps.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| e.g. wrote: |
| uktrailmonster, Tamworth's great! Scraped ice and then slush at the bottom. Being serious for a minute, it's a holiday for me not just about the skiing. Mainly the skiing but the other things matter. |
Some might say why fly all the way to Hawaii when one can swim in a hotel pool! 
I think you've answer your own question. If you don't mind or can't tell the difference between skiing ice and powder snow, skiing in NA really isn't worth it.
I'm of the opinion people shouldn't be "talked" into doing anything they don't want. And it sounds like you really don't want to ski in the US.
So, just stay where you are.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
Visa palaver.
Long expensive flights often with at least one connection.
Most flights leave from London airports.
Seemingly paranoid immigration involving long queues.
Jet lag.
Often really cold.
Risk of altitude sickness (especially in places like Breckenridge.)
Few resort towns directly at the base of the skiing areas.
Poor night life by alpine standards.
Mediocre food, quantity not quality.
Poor mountain cafés, a preference for large self service refuelling stations.
Lifts start closing at 3pm
Mostly small skiing areas.
The few larger skiing areas have expensive lift passes.
Expensive tuition.
Over zealous piste patrolling (slow skiing areas and clipping lift tickets.)
Piste grading unique to America.
Insurance twice the price.
Litigation worries.
Can't drink until you're 21.
The stuff they sell as beer (and weaker stuff in high altitude states.)
Constant exhortations of 'have a nice day' by overly cheerful staff. |
Only 4 of these are problems in the Canadian resorts I have skied. You should do it once then you can decide for yourself. Make sure you do a few resorts if that is your intention.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Cost and travel insurance issues aside, my main feeling about crossing the pond to go skiing is that is one heck of a journey for only a week's holiday. I've not done it yet and not likely to in the foreseeable future. But I can see the point about doing it once and deciding for myself. New Zealand is on that list too, but even less likely.
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queen bodecia, if you could fly from your local airport direct in to Calgary (for example) it would probably only be an 8 hour flight with a fairly standard 2 hour transfer on the other end. The only difference is that you are travelling another 5 or 6 hours over a Euro flight, I don't think that is a substantial amount of time. 5 hours isn't much out your life. What have you done since dinner time? I know I haven't done a whole lot which I could have spent flying to Canada
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Alta chairlifts have neither safety bars nor footrests. Most places have at least safety bars but ALt's the only place I recall without safety bars - footrests are not always there, but some lifts have them
queen bodecia, do it. a two week break makes so much more sense, it take 3 or 4 days to get back into the swing of skiing. on a per-day basis, I reckon on north america being the same price as europe. lift passes are more expensive but accomodation and food are cheaper
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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queen bodecia, neither would I go for one week only, it's a days travelling either end, and the basic economics just don't stack up.
arv, only flown MAN/YYC last seven years or so, direct. Nine hours out, eight hours back, normally. queen bodecia I would guess lives a similar distance, maybe closer, to MAN. So a direct flight to Calgary, from an airport around an hours drive away......................
New Zealand I'd love to do, but it doesn't quite (judging by the reports I've read) have the scope of Western Canada (no disrespect), and is a hell of a longer jaunt. One day though...........................
John.
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A two week break isn't really feasible with my job. I only get three weeks' holiday from work in a year. I think Manchester is my nearest airport for US/Canada flights but it's nearly two hours away by car, flying from local airports (East Mids or Doncaster) I can be in a European resort within six hours from shutting my front door.
The other thing I've noticed when looking through TO brochures for US/Canadian resorts is that there doesn't seem to be any single rooms and even catered accommodation seems rare (mostly 'room only' basis). Also few of the TOs seem to have transfers, they throw in car hire instead, which doesn't really appeal to me (I like driving but alone on another continent when I've just got off a long flight is another issue).
Have any  s found ways round these issues?
It's several years off (i.e. I need to be able to get full travel insurance first not to mention save up rather a lot) but I'd love to do it one day.
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queen bodecia, we've had a couple of one week hols in Banff. One week is nowhere near such good value (the second week is almost free so far as accommodation is concerned), and two weeks is always better than one wherever you go, but it's still well worth the trip. 10/11 day trips are offered by most TOs in most hotels, and if you DIY, you can do what you like.
The single room thing is a problem. Many N.American hotel rooms have two doubles, and most (not all) TOs' headline prices for accommodation assume 4 to a room. Under occupancy charges usually raise the price horribly, but not always; the cheaper hotels in particular are much more reasonable on under occupancy. Apartments are likely to be a better bet, especially if you go out of peak times; we had a two bedroom apartment, with a huge living area and kitchen, in Mammoth late season for a very decent price a few years ago (through Virgin). If you have someone to travel with, you might be able to get your own room at a reasonable price. TOs sometimes have specials on under occupancy charges. Some N.American resorts offer chalet type accomodation, which is likely to be a better bet for a single traveller. DIY might help with under occupancy, as hotels usually assume two to a room, rather than four. If you're able to share a room with one other, you'll do much better.
Trawling the web or even using a travel agent (generally a complete waste of time IME) should throw up some deals which are are not too pricey for the single traveller.
Plenty of transfers are offered - TOs going to Banff certainly offer them - but the further afield resorts, such a Mammoth may not, although shuttles are usually available from airports to even quite distant resorts. We always took car hire, partly to avoid the horror of the transfer and to get (sometimes) an extra day's skiing, and partly for convenience in the resort. Driving in N.America is usually a pleasure, and I never had any problem doing so after a long flight.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Good to hear other peoples views, especially those that have actually been. Looks like 10-14 days in Canada would be best then. abc, I can just about tell the difference, ice is a lot harder when I fall over!
queen bodecia, Crystal offer transfers to most places. Also quote km's of piste for most NA resorts, although not sure how good a comparison this is I found it interesting.
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e.g., everything within the resort boundary (apart from closures obviously) is skiable and patrolled. Doesn't make for a great comparison.
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FAQ
