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European trying to decide where to go in NA

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irishski90
Posts: 2
A group of us (6 guys) are looking to do a 10 day trip to NA. It'll involve about 7 days skiing. I have done a lot of research on the various areas and resorts but I'm still torn as to where to go. I'll outline what we're looking for, and what my thoughts are so far.

- Guys who only have piste experience to guys who have some back country experience.
- The better guys are looking to take advantage of NA's in bounds area to get better in the deep stuff. As you know, in Europe anything off a marked piste is at your own risk so it's more difficult to do.
- Some nightlife. 6 lads are not going to last sitting in with each other every night
- Europe and NA skiing is different so we want to get that NA experience, with the biggest difference being the in bounds area that allows you to ski in what would be considered off piste in Europe.

With that here's my understanding of the different areas in NA

Utah - One of the best for snow and terrain but pretty bad nightlife
Colorado - More expensive, less snow than Utah but has a good social scene.
Whistler - Is this the best mix between both?

Lift passes need to be accounted for too. So for Colorado it would probably be the Epic Pass, unless there's a better option?
Utah would been the Ski City pass.
Aug 9 2018 12:53PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 5286
I recommend looking into interior BC (Kootenays). Whitewater, Red Mtn, Revelstoke. All usually have good snow mid season and gnarly in bounds big mountain terrain.Whistler is good too, but it isn't as direct to get to a lot of the bigger mountain skiing. Your Euro or GBP will go farther in Canada, so I'd recommend that over the states. California would be good if you do want to go to the US. TRhe weather tends to be great and the Sierras get lots of snow, albeit heavy wet stuff. Mammoth is great, from personal experience. I think you'd be pretty well set up going to Squaw as well.
Aug 9 2018 1:16PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 4999
Come out to Oregon if you want to experience the freedom of America. Presuming you are 21+ you'll have more freedom here in terms of entertainment than almost any other state. Also we don't have sales tax so once you get here it's less expensive. For park skiing you can't beat the spring pass at Timberline. Pretty much the best deal in skiing. Bend a really good destination for a guys trip if you want a town with lots of stuff to do that is really close to the mountain and Bachelor has a lot of really fun terrain.
Aug 9 2018 1:45PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 8145
When are you guys going? If youre doing epic pass then theres blackout dates for certain resorts, gotta take that into account as well.

From your list:
Utah - Skiing is good if the snow is bountiful, i personally found the hills to be too small (didnt ski PC)
Colorado - Too many people
Whistler - Too many people

I'd suggest either doing japan or if you really wanna do NA then go to some interior BC mtns
Aug 9 2018 1:47PM
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irishski90
Posts: 2
We plan on going in or around the start of February.

That heavy snow is what puts me off California, I can get that in Europe! Part of the draw of NA is to experience the drier snow too. Is the nightlife in Utah as bad as they say?

I think we're pretty set on NA. Some of the guys wouldn't have any interest skiing deep powder so Japan wouldn't suit then at all.
Aug 9 2018 1:51PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 4999
irishski90We plan on going in or around the start of February.

That heavy snow is what puts me off California, I can get that in Europe! Part of the draw of NA is to experience the drier snow too. Is the nightlife in Utah as bad as they say?

I think we're pretty set on NA. Some of the guys wouldn't have any interest skiing deep powder so Japan wouldn't suit then at all.


If you really want dry pow in early February you will need to be flexible. If you make sure that you can reschedule your airfair etc. and lodging then you can pick your top choices and then finalize your decision in late January. Some airlines will let you get full credit and reschedule your ticket up until the day of your flight so then you can buy your ticket without any real risk. Make your reservations directly with the Hotel and you shouldn't need to put anything down so you can make reservations in several places and then cancel the ones you don't need. Usually you need to cancel a certain amount of time in advance but sometimes it's just like one day. Holidays hotels usually book up so we always do this for our family coast trip. We have a bunch of condos already reserved for the holidays in case we have friends or family that want to use them and then in December we'll figure out exactly what days and how many beds we need and then cancel the rest.
Aug 9 2018 2:29PM
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johnblaze
Posts: 1096
irishski90A group of us (6 guys) are looking to do a 10 day trip to NA. It'll involve about 7 days skiing. I have done a lot of research on the various areas and resorts but I'm still torn as to where to go. I'll outline what we're looking for, and what my thoughts are so far.

- Guys who only have piste experience to guys who have some back country experience.
- The better guys are looking to take advantage of NA's in bounds area to get better in the deep stuff. As you know, in Europe anything off a marked piste is at your own risk so it's more difficult to do.
- Some nightlife. 6 lads are not going to last sitting in with each other every night
- Europe and NA skiing is different so we want to get that NA experience, with the biggest difference being the in bounds area that allows you to ski in what would be considered off piste in Europe.

With that here's my understanding of the different areas in NA

Utah - One of the best for snow and terrain but pretty bad nightlife
Colorado - More expensive, less snow than Utah but has a good social scene.
Whistler - Is this the best mix between both?

Lift passes need to be accounted for too. So for Colorado it would probably be the Epic Pass, unless there's a better option?
Utah would been the Ski City pass.


It's only been in the summer, but Whistler is the most fun place I have ever been. Also look at Reno/ Tahoe. The heavy snow thing isn't a big deal.
Aug 9 2018 2:35PM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3527
Whistler is an excellent pick. Everything is right there at the resort. Clubs/bars/restaurants etc. Nightlife is excellent. I don't know if this is true, but it is probably the biggest resort you can get with a single pass. Skiing the same mountain for 7 days isn't ideal, but its so massive that you could get away with it.

Epic Pass is probably the way to go. You can check out several different mountains. It will probably be more difficult to plan and a bit more expensive since you will need to rent a car.

Utah dosen't sell booze over 3.2%. American beer already taste like water so whatever they have will be even worse.
Aug 9 2018 2:41PM
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LordDigBick
Posts: 6
irishski90A group of us (6 guys) are looking to do a 10 day trip to NA. It'll involve about 7 days skiing. I have done a lot of research on the various areas and resorts but I'm still torn as to where to go. I'll outline what we're looking for, and what my thoughts are so far.

- Guys who only have piste experience to guys who have some back country experience.
- The better guys are looking to take advantage of NA's in bounds area to get better in the deep stuff. As you know, in Europe anything off a marked piste is at your own risk so it's more difficult to do.
- Some nightlife. 6 lads are not going to last sitting in with each other every night
- Europe and NA skiing is different so we want to get that NA experience, with the biggest difference being the in bounds area that allows you to ski in what would be considered off piste in Europe.

With that here's my understanding of the different areas in NA

Utah - One of the best for snow and terrain but pretty bad nightlife
Colorado - More expensive, less snow than Utah but has a good social scene.
Whistler - Is this the best mix between both?

Lift passes need to be accounted for too. So for Colorado it would probably be the Epic Pass, unless there's a better option?
Utah would been the Ski City pass.


If you aren't going to go to Alaska, imho, you should hit Revelstoke
Aug 9 2018 2:49PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 4999
DirtYStylEUtah dosen't sell booze over 3.2%. American beer already taste like water so whatever they have will be even worse.


This part just isn't true. They have micro-breweries out there too. I actually drank a Unita IPA just the other day and it was pretty good.

I think Utah is pretty much the same as Colorado. In Colorado they have special low alcohol beer, 3.2 beer, that they can sell everyplace but you have to go to a liquor store to buy real beer or liquor. I think a couple of states are like that.
Aug 9 2018 2:55PM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3527
OregonDeadThis part just isn't true. They have micro-breweries out there too. I actually drank a Unita IPA just the other day and it was pretty good.


Have I been lied to? Do they spread false information to keep alcohol enthusiast like myself away?

I thought 3.2% is the cap no exceptions
Aug 9 2018 2:59PM
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JoeF2661
Posts: 1580
DirtYStylEHave I been lied to? Do they spread false information to keep alcohol enthusiast like myself away?

I thought 3.2% is the cap no exceptions

No, I just googled it and the everyday everywhere beer location like supermarkets have a cap but you can go to state run liquor stores and get higher percentages. This is what I do while on break, google Utah alcohol limits.
Aug 9 2018 3:09PM
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rudolph
Posts: 586
DirtYStylEHave I been lied to? Do they spread false information to keep alcohol enthusiast like myself away?

I thought 3.2% is the cap no exceptions


Beer bought from the liquor store is real beer, but if you get draft beer, even an IPA its still capped at 4% by volume. All beer in grocery stores and gas station have this same limitation. In addition, this about the same amount of alcohol as a PBR or any other light beer and Colorado after 2019 is removing 3.2, so that leave Utah as the last state with low volume alcohol beer, since Oklahoma switch to real beer last year. With all that being said, Utah night life will never be half as fun as Whistler.
Aug 9 2018 3:29PM
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PB1
Posts: 98
Jackson Hole has some of the best inbounds stuff in NA imho.

Just really exspensive.
Aug 9 2018 4:01PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 5286
irishski90We plan on going in or around the start of February.

That heavy snow is what puts me off California, I can get that in Europe! Part of the draw of NA is to experience the drier snow too. Is the nightlife in Utah as bad as they say?

I think we're pretty set on NA. Some of the guys wouldn't have any interest skiing deep powder so Japan wouldn't suit then at all.


If you want light snow, Castle mountain, AB, Fernie BC or interior BC.
Aug 9 2018 5:52PM
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k3ndall.g
Posts: 201
spend most of your time at whistler and a few days at kicking horse.
Aug 10 2018 9:26PM
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