Finally a Ski Area rating that rates a top expert area #1

We all seem to have a bone to pick with these magazine ski area ratings that always end up with the resort with the best village #1 when it should be about the skiing.

I have not yet seen the Ski Magazine Ratings but Jackson Hole is touting in an email today that they are #1.  Finally the skiing takes center stage.  They also have a rocking town but its more in the Lake Placid model since the town is 15 mins away from the ski area.

Cool video that they made too to promote it

Yeah, Jackson rocks. It's on the Mountain Collective pass.

Personally I think the Mt Collective pass is a cool idea but its really only for retired rich guys or vagabond ski bums

Jackson does rock!

Coach Z wrote

but its really only for retired rich guys

aka Benny next year.

Yup, but don't tell my stupid boss yet.

tBatt wrote

Coach Z wrote

but its really only for retired rich guys

aka Benny next year.

Benny remember the little people.

Cool video.

I don't think they use the same marketing firm as Gore!

Jackson's marketing guys rock

Totally spoke too soon

The magazine came today and they they crapped the bed after picking Jackson #1

Deer Valley and Park City rated 2 and 3?  Utah's worst skiing.

In the East  Tremblant, Holiday Valley, and the Balsams all ahead of Whiteface?  Are you kidding me?  If you stacked all 3 of them on top of each other they would barely have the Vert of Whiteface

I totally don't understand why Whiteface gets such bad accessibility ratings.  A friend of mine visits from NJ and he says it takes the same time to get here as Killington and you spend less time on two lane roads.

Gore also got screwed in these rankings.

Was this a reader poll?  Obviously those can go any way.

If it was it, then JHWY is probably more of an outlier than the rest of it.  

Link?  Probably not until the print has a chance to sit.

Coach Z wrote

In the East  Tremblant, Holiday Valley, and the Balsams all ahead of Whiteface?

Ouch. Beat by an area that isn't even operating. Did the magazine really rank Balsams? Even though it has been closed last season (has it been two?) and will remain closed this season?

Deer Valley is pretty good, actually. Especially when it snows. The Deer Valley skier can't ski powder.

Lunch is awesome, too.

Sorry meant Bretton Woods not Balsams
Aren't they the same place?
I've skied almost everywhere goes to show how far off these rankings are

Coach Z wrote

Sorry meant Bretton Woods not Balsams
Aren't they the same place?

That makes more sense. Two completely different areas, 1.5 hours apart. Both of grand hotels attached to the mountain. Balsams is significantly smaller and recently changed ownership and has been shut down now for two years or so.

One thing to consider is that this is a ranking of ski "resorts", not just ski mountains. There's a lot more to a ski resort than just terrain and snow quality.  For a lot of people, it's a big deal to go skiing, involving long drives or plane rides, hotels, restaurants, rentals, ski school, etc.  The quality of these things, or lack thereof, can make a big difference in a vacation, even for dedicated skiers.  It's true that some of the best "resorts' don't have the absolute best skiing, but they can make for a really fun vacation.  If I lived in SLC, I probably wouldn't choose Deer Valley for my Saturday day trip, but coming in from NY with family in tow, it's my #1 choice.  They do a phenomenal job of making my life easier, which is exactly what I want on vacation.

I don't care how great the skiing is, if I have to sleep in a yurt and eat canned beans, I'm not going.

I agree with Poindexter.  Mostly because I'm married to her and the thought of sleeping in a yurt with her after several cans of beans is, well, unappealing to say the least.  

poindexter wrote

I don't care how great the skiing is, if I have to sleep in a yurt and eat canned beans, I'm not going.

Post of the month.

And that is coming from a guy who sleeps in a yurt and eats canned beans!

Now this thread is getting somewhere. Yurts, beans, next thing you know we'll be telemarking!

poindexter wrote

One thing to consider is that this is a ranking of ski "resorts", not just ski mountains. There's a lot more to a ski resort than just terrain and snow quality.  For a lot of people, it's a big deal to go skiing, involving long drives or plane rides, hotels, restaurants, rentals, ski school, etc.  The quality of these things, or lack thereof, can make a big difference in a vacation, even for dedicated skiers.  It's true that some of the best "resorts' don't have the absolute best skiing, but they can make for a really fun vacation.  If I lived in SLC, I probably wouldn't choose Deer Valley for my Saturday day trip, but coming in from NY with family in tow, it's my #1 choice.  They do a phenomenal job of making my life easier, which is exactly what I want on vacation.

I don't care how great the skiing is, if I have to sleep in a yurt and eat canned beans, I'm not going.

  I hear ya. I liked Vail a lot as a tourist, before I lived in Summit County for a season. Then I hated it. Nice, self sufficient village, and, if you get a bed walkable to the lift or bus stop, you're set. Add in Beaver Creek on a bus if you like. But, for a local, it's a crowded, expensive mess (30 or 40 bucks for parking, to start).