a beautiful turn on skis made on fresh snow steeps
Snow Report

The New Year Snow Report

Wishing all our readers and followers a very Happy New Year and a snow filled winter holiday wherever you may be heading in 2024.

New Year, New Snow

Welove2ski’s editor, Nicola, brings in the New Year skiing the 15cm of fresh snow that fell overnight in Chatel in the Portes du Soleil.

a skier taking a little air off a rock on fresh snow

New Year, New Terrain

Gaustablikk, Norway’s mountain tunnelling funicular railway is up and running, providing access to freeride hill Gaustatoppen and its advanced headwall terrain. Read more in this article from our sister publication, Fall Line Skiing, outlining the new terrain open this winter throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

Yesterday saw Keystone, Colorado open the Bergman Express for the first time giving access to 555 acres of new high alpine terrain in the Bergman and Erickson bowls.

Steamboat’s new Mahogany Ridge expansion is set to open when the next storm system rolls through. With extreme terrain, including cliffs, chutes, and steeps, decent snow coverage is needed for the terrain pod to open, as well as extensive avalanche mitigation work for the newly in-bounds off-piste area:

‘What was supposed to be a 6–8-inch storm wound up dropping over two feet of snow at our mid-mountain snow stake,’ Steamboat (headline image) writes on its blog page, its opening imminent at 2024’s advent. 

Whistler Blackcomb continues to struggle with warm temperatures and the ‘Pineapple Express’ causing havoc to the base from mid-mountain down. But there’s still great skiing to be had up high in the massive ski area.

Mikaela Shiffrin took the last Women’s World Cup Slalom race of 2023 in Lienz, Austria by a massive 2.34sec margin for 93rd career win.

Meanwhile in the men’s competition Marco Odermatt of Switzerland continues his dominance of the overall men’s standings with a win in the Men’s Super G race in Bormio, Italy.

Unfortunately there was an avalanche fatality near the Mont-Joly chairlift located in the Saint-Gervais-les-Bains ski area, France last Thursday. Two British skiers (mother and son) and one French ski instructor were buried by the avalanche, with only the French ski instructor recovered alive.

The avalanche risk was reported as 2 / 4, but it shows that tragic events can happen off-piste at any time.

If you are venturing off-piste this winter, go with a professional and/or a very experienced group and ensure you have all the avalanche safety equipment and the knowledge and training on how to use it.

If you’re out in resort drop us a line via our social media channels to share your ‘on the snow’ experiences and photos.

We’ll be posting twice weekly snow reports on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the 2023/24 winter season, so bookmark us or, better yet, subscribe to get the latest snow news and our tips for where the snow will be.

Between snow reports please visit the ‘Stories’ section of our Instagram account to see the latest images and videos from ski resorts around the world.

A wooden chalet village is lit up at dusk, roofs covered in snow
La Rosiere shining at dusk

Forecast for the Next 3-4 Days

After 10-20cm overnight to start the New Year, the freezing level will fluctuate between 850m – 2,000m in Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland through Thursday bringing light rain down low and snow up high with a mix of sunshine and cloudy skies.

The big winners will be Chamonix, La Rosiere, Tignes, Val Thorens in France (15-25cm); and Verbier, Switzerland (15-20cm).

It will be warmer in the Pyrenees, Andorra and Southern Spain with above freezing temperatures and sunny skies through to Thursday, with the next snow cycle not set to return until the weekend.

The Nordic countries will see temperatures remain at minus double digits maintaining the excellent conditions. There will be light snowfall, the exception being Gaustablikk, Norway which is forecast to receive between 30-40cm of powder.

Outside of the big four European destinations (Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland), central and eastern Europe will see light rain down low and snow up high with a mix of sunshine and cloudy skies.

snow drops are caught like blobs on the camera lens, behind a Christmas scene outdoors in a resort square under snow
Christmas scenes at Spindleruv Mlyn

Špindlerův Mlýn in the Czech Republic is set to receive 20-30cm up high.

Further east, the Georgian and Turkish resorts will remain cold and are forecast to receive between 10-15cm of new snow.

The Scottish resorts will see freeze-thaw conditions through Thursday with little precipitation.

Below freezing temperatures have returned to the East Coast of the US with sunny skies forecast through to Thursday.

It’s a similar situation in the Mountain States of the USA with sunny skies forecast through to Thursday.

The western states of the USA will see a mix of weather in the next 3-4 days with 5-10cm snow forecast for California.

a chairlift under snow, with people on the chairlift, though it's seemingly shot at dusk
Alyeska dusk runs

A big storm system will be moving into Alaska from Tuesday with Alyeska forecast to get 50-70cm through Thursday, and more beyond.

Eastern Canada will see below freezing temperatures and 5-10cm snow forecast Wednesday into Thursday.

The mountain provinces of Alberta and BC will see temperatures well below freezing through Thursday with a combination of sunshine and cloud.

Whistler Blackcomb is still wrestling with warm, wet conditions down low and light snowfall up high. But colder temperatures and snowfall are on the way by the weekend.

The resorts on Japan’s main island Honshu received between 20-30cm overnight with the next storm rolling in on Wednesday evening.

The Hokkaido resorts are set to receive between 5-15cm of new snow with temperatures well below freezing top to bottom.

a snowboarder against a backdrop of very snowy birch trees, and flat lands covered in snow in the distance (screams Japan)
Tracked out Rusutsu, Japan

What’s Open Now

Austria

Ski Arlberg [St. Anton, ​St. Christoph, ​Stuben, ​Lech, Zürs, ​Warth, ​Schröcken] (83/85 lifts; 269/301km piste; 60-325cm base)
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental (77/82 lifts; 215/270km piste; 40-80cm base)
Silvretta Arena [Ischgl, Samnaun] (39/46 lifts; 206/239km piste; 80-160cm base)
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (38/38 lifts; 203/214km piste; 30-150cm base)
Ski Circus [Saalbach Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn] (67/70 lifts; 200/270km piste; 40-110cm base)
KitzSki [Kitzbühel, ​Kirchberg] (58/58 lifts; 188/188km piste; 60-85cm base)
Zillertal Arena [Zell am Ziller/, Gerlos, Königsleiten, ​Hochkrimml] (51/52 lifts; 139/150km piste; 100-200cm base)
Snow Space Salzburg [Flachau, Wagrain, ​St. Johann-Alpendorf] (38/45 lifts; 101/120km piste; 50-170cm base)
Gurgl [Obergurgl, Hochgurgl] (22/25 lifts; 99/112km piste; 50-125cm base)
Hochkönig [Maria Alm, ​Dienten, ​Mühlbach] (32/34 lifts; 90/120km piste; 40-100cm base)
Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau (37/46 lifts; 87/97km piste; 35-110cm base)
Ski Optimal [Kaltenbach, Hochzillertal, ​Hochfügen] (34/39 lifts; 80/86km piste; 10-85cm base)
Dachstein West [Gosau, ​Russbach, ​Annaberg] (21/22 lifts; 51/51km piste; 25-100cm base)

Axamer Lizum (7/9 lifts; 23/38km piste; 80-100cm base), Bad Gastein (16/18 lifts; 72/82km piste; 40-130cm base), Bad Kleinkirchheim (21/22 lifts; 100/103km piste; 50-90cm base), Damuls Mellau (20/20 lifts; 75/81km piste; 110-160cm base), Hintertux (18/21 lifts; 56/62km piste; 35-225cm base), Katschberg (17/17 lifts; 70/80km piste; 90-180cm base), Kaunertal (2/7 lifts; 11/55km piste; 210-335cm base), Kitzsteinhorn (21/21 lifts; 54/61km piste; 40-180cm base), Kuhtai (12/12 lifts; 41/47km piste; 150-210cm base), Mayrhofen (44/44 lifts; 140/142km piste; 5-100cm base), Molltaler (8/9 lifts; 28/36km piste; 15-160cm base), Nassfeld (27/30 lifts; 77/110km piste; 10-70cm base), Nauders (11/11 lifts; 75/75km piste; 50-120cm base), Obertauern (26/26 lifts; 100/100km piste; 140-200cm base), Pitztal (7/7 lifts; 35/41km piste; 30-265cm base), Schladming (45/47 lifts; 120/123km piste; 40-120cm base), Silvretta Montafon (36/36 lifts; 127/140km piste; 5-165cm base), Solden (29/31 lifts; 140/147km piste; 30-275cm base), Stubai (21/26 lifts; 65/68km piste; 70-280cm base), Tauplitz (15/17 lifts; 40/44km piste; 70-190cm base), and Zell am See (25/28 lifts; 69/77km piste; 25-130cm base)

a viewing room juts out over a mountain scene, skiers on a cat track far below
Val Thorens viewing

France

Les 3 Vallees [Val Thorens, Les Menuires, ​Méribel, Courchevel] (130/156 lifts; 478/600km piste; 100-160cm base)
Les Portes du Soleil [Morzine, ​Avoriaz, ​Les Gets, ​Châtel, ​Morgins, ​Champéry] (120/165 lifts; 325/580km piste; 25-100cm base)
Tignes / Val D’Isere (77/79 lifts; 230/300km piste; 70-270cm base)
Les Sybelles [Le Corbier, ​La Toussuire, Les Bottière, ​St Colomban des Villards, ​St Sorlin, ​St Jean d’Arves](47/68 lifts; 220/310km piste; 30-60cm base)
Le Grand Massif [Flaine, ​Les Carroz, ​Morillon, ​Samoëns, ​Sixt] (48/62 lifts; 195/265km piste; 25-320cm base)
Le Grand Domaine [Valmorel, ​Doucy, ​Celliers, ​St François Longchamp] (32/47 lifts; 130/165km piste; 10-100cm base)
Espace Diamant [Les Saisies, ​Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, ​Praz sur Arly/, Flumet, ​Crest-Voland] (41/82 lifts; 105/192km piste; 55-85cm base)
Grand Tourmalet/​Pic du Midi [La Mongie, ​Barèges] (20/29 lifts; 100/100km piste; 30-40cm base)
Espace San Bernardo [La Rosière, ​La Thuile] (27/38 lifts; 90/144km piste; 60-285cm base)
Espace Lumière [Pra Loup, ​Val d’Allos] (15/36 lifts; 76/180km piste; 25-90cm base)

Alpe d’Huez (62/70 lifts; 140/250km piste; 60-240cm base), Chamonix (15/17 lifts; 51/56km piste; 10-250cm base), Font Romeu (17/23 lifts; 30/58km piste; 50-50cm base), La Clusaz (28/49 lifts; 73/125km piste; 5-170cm base), La Plagne (67/74 lifts; 163/225km piste; 30-240cm base), Les 2 Alpes (33/44 lifts; 180/200km piste; 20-180cm base), Les Arcs (47/53 lifts; 180/200km piste; 35-330cm base), Les Contamines (19/24 lifts; 100/120km piste; 10-140cm base), Megeve (72/81 lifts; 190/263km piste; 15-90cm base), Serre Chevalier (51/59 lifts; 185/250km piste; 20-105cm base), Val Cenis (27/29 lifts; 105/125km piste; 30-85cm base), and Vars/Risoul (30/36 lifts; 105/185km piste; 15-120cm base)

In the foreground is a hill, with a dusting of snow, shrouded in shade, the backdrop is the focus of a rock mountain face, shone with light, with a decent snow covering
Gressoney shade and light

Italy

Via Lattea [Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, ​San Sicario, ​Claviere, ​Montgenèvre] (51/69 lifts; 250/400km piste; 15-35cm base)
Monterosa Ski [Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney-La-Trinité, ​Champoluc, ​Frachey] (19/20 lifts; 91/132km piste; 20-60cm base)
3 Zinnen Dolomites [Helm, ​Stiergarten, ​Rotwand/​Kreuzbergpass] (19/20 lifts; 74/86km piste; 15-30cm base)
Latemar [Obereggen, ​Pampeago, ​Predazzo] (18/18 lifts; 49/49km piste; 20-45cm base)
Civetta [Alleghe, Selva di Cadore, Palafavera, ​Zoldo] (16/23 lifts; 32/72km piste; 5-20cm base)

Alpe di Siusi (21/21 lifts; 62/63km piste; 10-30cm base), Alta Badia (53/53 lifts; 116/130km piste; 30-45cm base), Arabba/Marmolada (26/26 lifts; 55/63km piste; 10-40cm base), Bardonecchia (12/23 lifts; 60/100km piste; 30-50cm base), Bormio (11/14 lifts; 50/50km piste; 25-85cm base), Courmayeur (18/18 lifts; 35/42km piste; 70-110cm base), Cortina (22/27 lifts; 100/120km piste; 10-25cm base), Kronplatz (31/31 lifts; 120/121km piste; 20-60cm base), Livigno (31/32 lifts; 115/115km piste; 60-100cm base), Madesimo (10/10 lifts; 30/37km piste; 25-45cm base), Madonna di Campiglio (57/58 lifts; 124/155km piste; 35-60cm base), Meran 2000 (8/8 lifts; 40/40km piste; 50-90cm base), Passo Tonale (30/30 lifts; 90/100km piste; 40-250cm base), Pila (11/12 lifts; 40/50km piste; 30-50cm base), San Martino di Castrozza (20/21 lifts; 50/60km piste; 10-35cm base), Solda (11/11 lifts; 44/44km piste; 100-180cm base), and Val Gardena (79/79 lifts; 175/181km piste; 45-60cm base)

Switzerland

4 Vallées [Verbier, ​La Tzoumaz, ​Nendaz/, Veysonnaz, ​Thyon] (66/68 lifts; 390/412km piste; 30-180cm base)
 
Aletsch Arena (35/35 lifts; 77/104km piste; 95-120cm base), Andermatt (8/13 lifts; 45/70km piste; 50-80cm base), Arolla (5/5 lifts; 40/47km piste; 70-160cm base), Arosa Lenzerheide (43/43 lifts; 197/225km piste; 60-100cm base), Champex-Lac (4/4 lifts; 15/15km piste; 80-180cm base), Crans Montana (16/19 lifts; 100/140km piste; 100-180cm base), Davos Klosters (18/18 lifts; 95/95km piste; 70-175cm base), Engelberg-Titlis (17/17 lifts; 76/80km piste; 10-230cm base), Flims Laax (28/28 lifts; 188/214km piste; 35-180cm base), Glacier 3000 (5/11 lifts; 9/31km piste; 5-260cm base), Grimentz Zinal (21/21 lifts; 114/115km piste; 40-130cm base), Grindlewald Wengen (22/23 lifts; 64/102km piste; 5-60cm base), Leukerbad (13/13 lifts; 48/48km piste; 40-185cm base), Murren (16/16 lifts; 36/54km piste; 40-155cm base), Saas Fee (21/23 lifts; 81/100km; 45-260cm base), St Moritz (23/23 lifts; 152/155km piste; 10-90cm base), Scuol (12/12 lifts; 62/70km piste; 30-100cm base), Villars (22/25 lifts; 64/84km piste; 5-85cm base), Zermatt (45/51 lifts; 275/322km piste; 10-200cm base)

Andorra

Arcalis (12/17 lifts; 16/30km piste; 30-50cm base), Grandvalira (58/74 lifts; 87/215km piste; 20-40cm base), and Valnord (26/32 lifts; 30/63km piste; 20-30cm base)

Spain

Baqueira Beret (35/36 lifts; 111/165km piste; 40-50cm base), Candanchu (4/24 lifts; 4/50km piste; 20-40cm base), Formigal (12/21 lifts; 21/143km piste; 20-45cm base), La Molina (15/33 lifts; 45/145km piste; 15-30cm base), and Sierra Nevada (11/24 lifts; 15/113km piste; 20-40cm base)

pink sky in Nordic ski area
Norwegian winter light

Nordic Ski Countries

Levi (20/26 lifts; 21/38.5km piste; 25-60cm base), Pyha (6/9 lifts; 11/13km piste; 30-40cm base), Ruka (21/22 lifts; 16/19km piste; 30-40cm base), and Yllas (18/26 lifts; 33/53km piste; 65-65cm base) in Finland

Beitostolen (4/6 lifts; 9/12km piste; 50-50cm base), Gaustablikk (10/14 lifts; 17/35km piste; 65-70cm base), Geilo (20/20 lifts; 31/34km piste; 40-70cm base), Hafjell (18/18 lifts; 49/50km piste; 50-70cm base), Hemsedal (19/21 lifts; 27/44km piste; 35-60cm base), Kvitfjell (13/14 lifts; 39/39km piste; 20-80cm base), Myrkdalen (9/9 lifts; 28/32km piste; 95-150cm base), Oppdal (12/16 lifts; 40/56km piste; 15-30cm base), Trysil (31/32 lifts; 72/78km piste; 35-55cm base), and Voss (10/11 lifts; 30/45km piste; 70-100cm base) in Norway

Are (32/35 lifts; 82/91km piste; 45-75cm base), Idre Fjall (22/24 lifts; 36/41km piste; 50-70cm base), Salen (40/40 lifts; 42/45km piste; 60-75cm base) and Vemdalen (16/16 lifts; 19/19km piste; 70-85cm base) in Sweden

Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Bjelasnica (2/7 lifts; 2/6 piste; 25-25cm base) and Jahorina (4/17 lifts; 15/52km piste; 20-20cm base)

Bulgaria

Bansko (12/14 lifts; 36/75km piste; 10-70cm base), Borovets (11/13 lifts; 50/58km piste; 90-120cm base), and Pamporovo (11/13 lifts; 25/30km piste; 70-80cm base)

Czech Republic

Špindlerův Mlýn (7/17 lifts; 19/28km piste; 50-100cm base)

Georgia

Bakuriani (4/20 lifts; 11/29km piste; 45-70cm base), Gudauri (10/15 lifts; 26/35km piste; 45-70cm base), and Tetnuldi (5/5 lifts; 14/14km piste; 45-70cm base)

Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen-Zugspitze (18/18 lifts; 34/40km piste; 30-90cm base), Oberstdorf (12/14 lifts; 34/34km piste; 40-130cm base), Spitzingsee (10/10 lifts; 11/15km piste; 30-80cm base), and Sudelfeld-Bayrischzell (12/13 lifts; 23/31km piste; 25-90cm base)

Liechtenstein

Malbun (7/7 lifts; 23/23km piste; 50-80cm base)

Poland

Białka Tatrzańska (17/19 lifts; 14/18km piste; 60-150cm base) and Zakopane (3/4 lifts; 3/3km piste; 15-65cm base)

Romania

Poiana Brasov (4/10 lifts; 5/14km piste; 20-30cm base)

Serbia

Kopaonik (16/26 lifts; 20/55km piste; 10-20cm base)

Slovakia

Jasna (17/19 lifts; 43/45km piste; 40-100cm base) and Tatranska Lomnica (8/9 lifts; 12/12km piste; 50-80cm base)

Slovenia

Kanin-Bovec (4/10 lifts; 11/30km piste; 15-100cm base), Kranjska Gora (3/15 lifts; 1/20km piste; 20-20cm base), Krvavec (7/13 lifts; 4/30km piste; 0-30cm base), Maribor (7/14 lifts; 9/35km piste; 10-30cm base), and Vogel (5/9 lifts; 2/22km piste; 0-35cm base)

Turkey

Ejder 3200 (13/13 lifts; 36/42 piste; 10-110cm base) and Erciyes (5/19 lifts; 6/34 piste; 10-80cm base)

red sky over a chairlift on a Scottish hill
Red sky at night, Glenshee

United Kingdom

Cairngorm Mountain (2/11 lifts; 0.2/32km piste; 0-15cm base), The Lecht (1/13 lifts; 0.2/18km piste; 10-10cm base), and Glenshee (1/21 lifts; 0.1/40km piste; 10-10cm base) in Scotland

United States

Alyeska (7/7 lifts; 30/62km piste; 110-250cm base) in Alaska
Heavenly (15/27 lifts; 19/94km piste; 5-55cm base), June Mountain (6/7 lifts; 30/41km piste; 30-40cm base), Kirkwood (8/13 lifts; 28/65km piste; 35-65cm base), Mammoth (17/25 lifts; 50/90km piste; 50-70cm base), Northstar (11/19 lifts; 16/97km piste; 10-75cm base), Palisades Tahoe (23/43 lifts; 58/200km piste; 45-60cm base) and Snow Summit (6/11 lifts; 11/29km piste; 40-45cm base) in California
Arapahoe Basin (6/9 lifts; 20/105km piste; 40-60cm base), Aspen Highlands (5/5 lifts; 107/135km piste; 50-75cm base), Aspen Mountain (8/9 lifts; 75/103km piste; 20-50cm base), Beaver Creek (22/25 lifts; 60/150km piste: 40-90cm base), Breckenridge (27/35 lifts; 51/153km piste; 45-65cm base), Copper (19/24 lifts; 97/126km piste; 40-65cm base), Keystone (20/21 lifts; 59/135km piste; 25-60cm base), Loveland (7/10 lifts; 23/93km piste; 30-55cm base), Snowmass (15/20 lifts; 142/237km piste; 35-85cm base), Steamboat (17/20 lifts; 124/165km piste; 40-60cm base), Telluride (14/19 lifts; 30/88km piste; 25-55cm base), Vail (25/34 lifts; 168/234km piste; 60-95cm base), Winter Park (21/25 lifts; 106/143km piste; 60-85cm base) and Wolf Creek (9/11 lifts; 100/100km piste; 70-85cm base) in Colorado
Schweitzer (5/10 lifts; 21/95km piste; 25-75cm base) and Sun Valley (12/18 lifts; 55-70cm base) in Idaho
Sugarloaf (4/15 lifts; 16/87km piste; 10-35cm base) and Sunday River (7/20 lifts; 28/85km piste; 60-70cm base) in Maine
Big Sky (17/38 lifts; 40/250km piste; 30-40cm base), Bridger Bowl (6/11 lifts; 41/71km piste; 25-35cm base), and Whitefish (9/14 lifts; 36/91km piste; 25-90cm base) in Montana
Mt Rose (6/8 lifts; 48/60km piste; 60-120cm base) in Nevada
Attitash (6/8 lifts; 14/37km piste; 40-45cm base), Loon (10/11 lifts; 29/49km piste; 15-30cm base), and Wildcat (2/5 lifts; 4/25km piste; 5-30cm base) in New Hampshire
Taos (9/14 lifts; 19/113km piste; 40-80cm base) in New Mexico
Mt Bachelor (10/15 lifts; 54/100km piste; 50-80cm base) and Mt Hood (6/12 lifts; 45/90km piste; 45-75cm base), and Timberline (2/7 lifts; 10/31km piste; 50-90cm base) in Oregon
Alta (8/8 lifts; 61/71km piste; 90-140cm base), Deer Valley (18/25 lifts; 64/103km piste; 60-60cm base), Park City (34/42 lifts; 134/250km piste; 55-80cm base), Powder Mountain (6/9 lifts; 28/68km piste; 50-80cm base), Snowbasin (5/9 lifts; 115-115cm base), Snowbird (12/14 lifts; 91/103km piste; 70-100cm base), and Solitude (7/9 lifts; 46/64km piste; 45-80cm base) in Utah
Killington (11/22 lifts; 48/121km piste; 5-35cm base), Mount Snow (17/26 lifts; 30-30cm base), Okemo (18/20 lifts; 40/70km piste; 25-40cm base), Smuggler’s Notch (4/8 lifts; 15/78km piste; 20-60cm base); Stowe (9/12 lifts; 18/70km piste; 45-60cm base), and Sugarbush (11/18 lifts; 30-95cm base) in Vermont
Crystal Mountain (7/11 lifts; 32/50km piste; 30-45cm base) and Mt Baker (6/10 lifts; 45/100km piste; 65-90cm base) in Washington
Snowshoe (10/12 lifts; 18/31km piste; 45-120cm base) in West Virginia
Grand Targhee (6/6 lifts; 33/35km piste; 70-110cm base) and Jackson Hole (13/13 lifts; 62/116km piste; 10-90cm base) in Wyoming

telemarker off piste
Tele turns in Keystone

Canada

Castle Mountain (5/6 lifts; 33/94km piste; 25-50cm base), Lake Louise (11/11 lifts; 94/139km piste; 45-90cm base), Marmot Basin (6/7 lifts; 37/91km piste; 25-45cm base), Mt Norquay (5/5 lifts; 13/16km piste; 50-75cm base), and Sunshine (11/12 lifts; 96/109km piste; 45-85cm base) in Alberta

Big White (11/12 lifts; 25/105km piste; 30-105cm base), Fernie (10/10 lifts; 83/142km piste; 55-110cm base), Kicking Horse (4/5 lifts; 76/100km piste; 40-90cm base), Kimberley (5/5 lifts; 45/80km piste; 0-50cm base), Panorama (10/10 lifts; 98/100km piste; 40-65cm base), Red Mountian (4/8 lifts; 14/120km piste; 60-60cm base), Revelstoke (5/7 lifts; 29/55km piste; 60-110cm base), Silver Star (7/10 lifts; 43/115km piste; 45-85cm base), Sun Peaks (12/12 lifts; 106/135km piste; 25-75cm base), Whistler Blackcomb (22/27 lifts; 120/200km piste; 0-105cm base), and Whitewater (4/5 lifts; 25/50km piste; 95-100cm base) in BC

Blue Mountain (1/11 lifts; 1/29km piste; 0-30cm base) in Ontario

Le Massif (5/9 lifts; 7/39km piste; 35-45cm base), Mont Saint Anne (6/9 lifts; 12/73 piste; 35-50cm base), Sommet-Saint-Sauveur (6/8 lift; 14/38km piste; 20-50cm base), Stoneham (4/6 lifts; 9/34km piste; 35-50cm base), and Tremblant (14/14 lifts; 42/82km piste; 5-185cm base) in Quebec

bamboo in shot, and a skier barely visible within powder
Rusutsu in Japan living up to the rep

Japan

Happo One Hakuba (13/22 lifts; 37/52km piste; 35-120cm base), Naeba (8/15 lifts; 7/19km piste; 30-50cm base), Nozawa Onsen (7/17 lifts; 8/44km piste; 30-75cm base), ShigaKogen (29/48 lifts; 51/83km piste; 40-80cm base), and Zao Onsen (29/35 lifts; 30/50km piste; 30-60cm base) on Honshu

Furano (7/9 lifts; 25/32km piste; 85-130cm base), Kamui (6/6 lifts; 22/24km piste; 90-145cm base), Niseko United (23/32 lifts; 36/51km piste; 80-210cm base), Rusutsu (14/18 lifts; 36/42km piste; 75-100cm base), Sahoro (6/8 lifts; 12/25km piste; 50-70cm base), and Tomamu (6/6 lifts; 16/22km piste; 60-140cm base) on Hokkaido

About the author

Mike Richards

Welsh valleys boy born & bred, Mike now lives between Cardiff and Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan where he's a pro ski instructor. Mike came to skiing later in life at 27, with his first ski season spent as a Chalet Host in Ellmau, Austria in 1993. He's skied every year since, notching up 100+ ski areas across 21 countries and five continents, including his home hill in Brecon Beacons National Park. His personal motto - "If it's snowing, I'm going..."

2 Comments

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  • Very cool! Your bio. Not skiing this year as hubby has a hurt knee.
    great to see all the snow reports of the world. Countries I never thought had ski resorts like Turkey.

    • Thanks for your kind words Joan.

      Hope your husband’s knee heals up good as new and you’re back on the slopes next season.

      There are so many ski areas waiting to be discovered.

      Turkey could well be the next big destination.

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