55 replies to this topic

[jdubu]

I'm looking for a non crowded resort over winter break. Either in Canada or in Western US. I would like the resort to be big enough for 1 week of snowboarding without boredom. Also i am an intermediate to advanced snowboarder. Can you help me with a resort to go to???
Here is a list of some of my considerations, Please refer resorts not on my list too.

Powder mountain
Durango
Fernie
Sun Peaks
Silver Star Resort
Kicking Horse


PLEASE HELP

This post has been edited by jdubu: 11 June 2007 - 02:08 PM

[SkiBachelor]

Do you have plans on visiting other resorts while you're in the area or just sticking to one particular resort?

I can probably help narrow your selection down and provide you with some other choices if your interested, but I'll need to know your skiing ability since this plays a huge role on choosing where to go, along with how much you want to spend for lift tickets and lodging.

If you plan on sticking to just one resort, I would scrap Solitude as it will require a lot of snow to be enjoyable, but it probably isn't big enough for an entire week.

[jdubu]

I would mostly be interested in a single resort, and i will take solitude off the list. Groups of resorts close together could be considered though. I would like to keep a low budget too.

This post has been edited by jdubu: 11 June 2007 - 01:29 PM

[skier2]

DEFINITELY remove Copper from the list if you don't want crowds.

[jdubu]

removed copper

[JustJeepIt]

I'd vote for Powder Mountain, Ogden Valley is a beautiful area, you have Powder Mountain there, Wolf Mountain, and of course, the best, Snowbasin. Avoid Snowbasin on the weekends, but definitly get her on the weekdays, then you can have fun at Powder Mountain and Wolf during the weekends. Just keep in mind if you want the night life, You will have to drive up into Ogden or maybe even Salt Lake City as there is not much to offer in Ogden Valley other then peace and quiet :)

[Snoqualmie guy]

I'm strange, I could stay at Snoqualmie for weeks and still be finding new things. Heres what I would do for a week.
MONDAY visit Central for the day and try out the park
TUESDAY go to Alpental for its first day open
WEDNESDAY ski day at Central then check out West at four when it opens
THURSDAY try out Alpental for night skiing
FRIDAY try out West's park at four
SATARDAY hang out a at Hyak becouse nobody ever goes there
SUNDAY try the crossover from West to Hyak and back
I still can't get enough of this place!

[Allan]

jdubu, on Jun 11 2007, 01:50 PM, said:

I'm looking for a non crowded resort over winter break. Either in Canada or in Western US. I would like the resort to be big enough for 1 week of snowboarding without boredom. Also i am an intermediate to advanced snowboarder. Can you help me with a resort to go to???
Here is a list of some of my considerations, Please refer resorts not on my list too.

Powder mountain
Durango
Fernie
Sun Peaks
Silver Star Resort
Kicking Horse
PLEASE HELP

You've got the resorts on all sides of us... if you don't want crowds, come to Red. I've been skiing here for 25 years and I'm not bored of it. Big White would be a good choice too - though I'm not sure of crowds - I've only ever skied there in the late fall and late spring!

[Peter]

I'd say check out Big Sky, it is an incredible resort. Biggest skiing in America and most vertical!

[mikest2]

Money and fun would be well served by hitting Apex (stay in Penticton), then Big White (stay in Kelowna), then Silver Star (stay in Vernon), then hit Sun Peaks(stay in Kamloops) then on the way home hit whichever resort you liked the best again. I did that on a road trip in the seventies and as they say; the rest is history !

[EagleAce]

Badger's little, but we're not crowded. Also consider Dodge Ridge and Kirkwood.

[jdubu]

Red sounds fun and deep :) but is it a little small for 1 week of snowboarding???
Also isn't there almost not nightlife?, it would be nice to party a little- otherwise red sounds great!
How would steamboat stack up???
What do you think about Big Mountain???

This post has been edited by jdubu: 12 June 2007 - 11:15 AM

[SkiBachelor]

Big Mountain might be a good choice too.

Considering that you want to stay away from crowds, what's the average time you want to wait in a lift line or do you consider slope congestion for being crowded?

I hit up Silver Star, Sun Peaks and Big White over winter break two years ago and Silver Star was pretty empty. While Big White had short lift lines, most of the mountain was closed due to lack of snow, which put major strain on the slopes since no one was able to spread out.

Another choice is Mt. Bachelor if you're willing to drive up to the mountain every day from Bend, OR. You can get a 5 day pass for $210 at JOE's sport good stores (except the one in Bend). The Outback and Northwest Express lifts are always empty during peak season.

[skierdude9450]

Depending on your budget, there are plenty of great deals in CO, but crowds will be horrible, and there might or might not be much snow. I like the idea of going to Canada.

[poloxskier]

skierdude9450, on Jun 12 2007, 02:55 PM, said:

Depending on your budget, there are plenty of great deals in CO, but crowds will be horrible, and there might or might not be much snow. I like the idea of going to Canada.

Someday you will learn where in ski in CO where you never wait in line.

There are good deals to be had in Colorado and plenty of resorts that will not be busy, plus you are at the mercy of Ullr regardless of where you go skiing.

I would recomend:

Colorado-
Purgatory
Vail (good deals are available if you book at the right time, and no lift lines if you ski it at the right times)
Steamboat
Beaver Creek

Other parts of the west-
Big Sky

Canada-
Lake Louise
Banff

This post has been edited by poloxskier: 12 June 2007 - 04:10 PM

[jdubu]

I think I have narrowed down to the following choices but any new additions will be welcomed:
(My family wants to stay in one area and we are NOT driving)
Trip to Powder Mountain
Trip to Silver Star/ Big White
Trip to Big Mountain
Maybe a Trip to Red but shuttle transfer is $180 round trip per person :(
Trip to Sun Peaks
Trip to Fernie
Which trip would be less crowded, have better boarding and better nightlife??
PS I live in California so i would like to get out of the area

This post has been edited by jdubu: 12 June 2007 - 05:15 PM

[Peter]

I would definately look into Big Sky over Big Mountain, although both are great, they are not to be confused.

[jdubu]

i remember hearing that big mountain has better coverage in December than big sky in bad years (hopefully next year is good)and that the nightlife is much better at big mountain. Thats the only reason i chose big mountain over big sky but neither are out of the running.
Also i love tree skiing and Big mountain looks great for that, but i love the sheer size and vert of big sky.

This post has been edited by jdubu: 12 June 2007 - 07:48 PM

[SkiBachelor]

When I went to Big Sky in December, there was a lack of snow and only 50% of the mountain was open.

[jdubu]

Good to know the information was true-
How is Fernie for nightlife and terrain- i heard it is getting really commercialized though.
Has anyone skied Sun Peaks is it Good/Bad (I heard the FGQ named Burfield is 21 minutes long!!!)