Most Over/Under Rated Ski Resorts

[Nick]

We could compartmentalize this a little more ... What is over or under rated ... Snow conditions , difficulty, lift layout , etc

 

[Loaf Nut]

Overrated: Stratton
I've never liked overall ratings for ski areas, since there are so many different types of skiers. A flat or over-groomed ski area might be the best option for people who like to cruise. I've had fun days at Mohawk, which has less pitch than my backyard, because it's laid back and stress free. On the other hand, there are some ski areas that turn everything into a hassle, whether it's parking, lift lines, or finding a seat in the lodge. In my opinion, Stratton is the worst offender on almost all accounts...

Underrated: Whiteface, Berkshire East
If the goal is to relax with friends and get away from the craziness of the workweek, then Whiteface and BEast are almost always reliable, as long as there's some natural snow. I would've said Saddleback a few years ago, but the weekend lines for the Rangeley Double have been frustrating the past few times I've been there.

 

[bobbutts]

It all depends on what perspective I'm trying to answer the question from. Take Loon and Cannon. Look at the parking lots and crowds vs what each area offers in the real world and I'd say Loon is overrated and Cannon is underrated. Then look at the forums here, people almost universally love Cannon and hate Loon, so reverse it.

 

[gmcunni]

overrated - what you like

underrated - what i like

 

[Rogman]

overrated - what you like

underrated - what i like

Yeah, that about nails it.

Over rated:
Sugarloaf: Don't get me wrong, great mountain, love it. However, pretty much everything below the fold in the map is a pretty flat runout (although there are some gems). The lift infrastructure is old and antiquated. Needs a peak lift up the old Gondi line with a midstation. Bracket Basin might be the most over-hyped glade on the planet. Great self contained apres scene. Well, except for the aptly named Gypettos, they've short poured me too many times for it to be an accident.

Stowe: Again, another great mountain, but Geeze Louise. To be fair, I guess the good stuff is "off piste" (and for Steux you really have to use that term) and I certainly don't know the terrain. I wish I did, I admit I'd probably feel differently.

I will continue to ski both mountains, so what does it really matter anyway?

Underated:
Wildcat: Great terrain, super fast quad, nice view of Mt Washington and Tux when you feel like resting. Nice vibe. I hope Peaks doesn't mess too much with it.

As for Killington:
I can see why people hate it/love it. It's a mountain you really need to know to appreciate. There's a bit of chicken and egg thing: In order to know it, you have to ski it a lot. In order to like it enough to ski it a lot you have to know it. In the end, not the best at anything, but top 2 or 3 in a lot of things.

 

[drjeff]

It all depends on what perspective I'm trying to answer the question from. Take Loon and Cannon. Look at the parking lots and crowds vs what each area offers in the real world and I'd say Loon is overrated and Cannon is underrated. Then look at the forums here, people almost universally love Cannon and hate Loon, so reverse it.

Exactly! What's overrated for a good chunk of the AZ regulars probably is underrated by the masses who account for the majority of annual skier/rider visits. And what the masses think overrated is likely underrated by the AZ regulars.

Its all perspective

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[gregnye]

Over Rated (medium sized ski area in NH)

Gunstock: why do people obsess over this place???? I went there once thinking that it was at least the same amount of vertical as my home mountain, Waterville. I found soo much run out that I was unimpressed. Yes, the Panorama Express may be the 3rd longest lift in the Northeast--but that doesn't mean it has the most vertical--thats what matters! The views were great though, but no, I'll stick to my mountainous part of New Hampshire if you please, and you can take those lakes anyday!

Underrated (medium sized ski area in NH)

Definitely Ragged Mountain!! Much, Much better than Gunstock or Sunapee, has similar vertical and is less crowded!

 

[gregnye]

For out west...

Overrated

Deer Valley, The Canyons, Beaver Creek

All these places really should not even be up on the "top ski resort list" every year near Whistler and Vail---They have little to/no bowls--that is what matters in a western ski area!!

Under rated:

Copper Mountain: I always debate over whether I like this place better than Vail!! Its way cheaper but yet still has fast lifts (looking at you Loveland), good cruising terrain on the tree portion (looking at you vail), is easy to get to every part of the mountain (looking at you Breckenridge).

It also has that epic poma lift that goes up the ridge and then you can sneak to the back side with some awesome old double chairs without safety bars. It also has the best mid mountain lodge.

Oh yah, and the trail names are puns: like "treble cliff" and other funny things like that (I'm such a nerd lol :wink

 

[jaytrem]

For out west...

Overrated

Deer Valley, The Canyons, Beaver Creek

For the Aplinezone type person, I always thought of Beaver Creek as underrated. Some members are totally repulsed by the village with it's fancy escalators. However, once you're past them it's got some real nice terrain that doesn't get tracked out very fast (I assume that's due to it's groomer loving clientele). But yeah, no real bowls.

 

[Conrad]

For the Aplinezone type person, I always thought of Beaver Creek as underrated. Some members are totally repulsed by the village with it's fancy escalators. However, once you're past them it's got some real nice terrain that doesn't get tracked out very fast (I assume that's due to it's groomer loving clientele). But yeah, no real bowls.

I think the ticket price alone is reason to call Beaver Creek overrated.

 

[ss20]

How about MRG skiers trade with Beaver Creek's? I'd pay to see what would happen.

 

[drjeff]

I think the ticket price alone is reason to call Beaver Creek overrated.

Their Birds of Prey section of the mountain is some legit terrain for sure - Heck just the fact alone that one of the worlds best downhill tracks is there says plenty about it. And while not continuous, any mountain with over 4k vertical feet (and by the time you factor in the verts you'd end up adding from riding either of the 2 lifts you'd need to take to ski/ride from the summit to the base of Bachelor Gulch - you're close to 5k of descended verts!) warrants some solid credibility by most any standard.

True BC is lacking in the bowl department, but if you want bowls Vail is about 10 minutes up I-70 and is ski/rideable on most lift ticket options sold at BC. I doubt that most anybody would find Vail's back bowls overrated

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[ScottySkis]

How about MRG skiers trade with Beaver Creek's? I'd pay to see what would happen.

Beaver Creek was my favorite part of my Vail experience. It was my first trip out west so I was willing to spend money on that trip.

 

[drjeff]

For out west...

Overrated

Deer Valley, The Canyons, Beaver Creek

All these places really should not even be up on the "top ski resort list" every year near Whistler and Vail---They have little to/no bowls--that is what matters in a western ski area!!

Under rated:

Copper Mountain: I always debate over whether I like this place better than Vail!! Its way cheaper but yet still has fast lifts (looking at you Loveland), good cruising terrain on the tree portion (looking at you vail), is easy to get to every part of the mountain (looking at you Breckenridge).

It also has that epic poma lift that goes up the ridge and then you can sneak to the back side with some awesome old double chairs without safety bars. It also has the best mid mountain lodge.

Oh yah, and the trail names are puns: like "treble cliff" and other funny things like that (I'm such a nerd lol :wink

Personally I'd put Deer Valley and the Canyons into the underrated category, especially for advanced and experts ONCE THEY HAVE A FEW DAYS ON THE HILL THERE - I'll 100% grant you that if you've only got a couple of days on the hill at either of them that they can annoy/frustrate some advanced/experts. Once you get familiar with the MULTIPLE pods of "good" terrain at both mountains and how their elevation and exposure play into the mix, you can easily find some great steeps, bowls, trees and chutes that don't get nearly the "powder pressure" that terrain in Little Cottonwood Canyon gets because of the combo of the vast size of both areas and their more typical clientele

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[gregnye]

I think the ticket price alone is reason to call Beaver Creek overrated.

Yes, Vail itself is less expensive and you have more bowl skiing there!

 

[ADKme]

Underrated - Gore = as good as many Vermont ski areas, but doesn't get the recognition. Arguably better than Whiteface.

I second Gore. Terrain for all, short lift lines everywhere but the Gondola, a TON of tree skiing (excellent this year). Gore may lack long, sustained steep runs, but you can make laps on the double diamonds off the Straight Brook Quad without much interruption. On a powder day with decent coverage, I have no regrets getting off the Northway at Warrensburg rather than traveling to VT.

 

[HowieT2]

Let me chime in on the sugarbush debate. LP does have groomers but they are spaced out more than north. Whereas at north, you can lap most of the cruisers off the north ridge lift, at south the cruisers are divided off all the lifts. so its more of 1 or 2 cruisers off each chair. That's why I feel North skis more vertical/narrow and is better if you're looking to lap the cruisers. Its not that south doesnt have the cruisers, its that they are spread out and divided by the lifts. Also, since the spring fling lift is no more and the valley house double is slow/old, the snowball/spring fling/racers edge cruiser terrain is not conducive to doing laps. That being said, I think they will have to replace the valley house double sooner rather than later, likely with a fixed grip triple, and that will make lapping that set of cruisers, more manageable.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Underated:SIKSKIER
Uverated:The rest of you AZers.:flame:

 

[dlague]

The idea of over and under rated is kind of bizarre! My family skis all over New England and each ski area has its own unique quality! Not everyone is an expert and not everyone is a beginner! Most of us lie in the middle of those two.

I find that people who like a particular resort are focused on a specific type of skiing and will like a mountain because that is their strength. For example:

• When combining Trees and Powder – many like Jay Peak or Saddleback!
• I think those who like a bigger mountain feel and variety have a tendency to look at Killington, Sunday River and Sugarloaf.
• Those skiers that like to cruise groomers lean towards mountains like Waterville, Okemo and Bretton Woods.
• Those who like parks gravitate towards Stratton, Mount Snow or Loon.
• If you are looking for something a little more classic with terrain for most everyone then there are places like Ragged, Burke and Bolton Valley.
• If you are a family starting out then there is Cranmore, Pats Peak or Crotched! If you want old school try MRG, Black Mountain NH, or Magic.

BTW – I am not saying these are the only reasons!

I could go on! Do I have favorites – absolutely! Are there places I dislike for one reason or another – absolutely! So experience them all and I bet most of you can find something or some part of any mountain that they will like. We skied 17 different mountains this year and many of them multiple times! There were bad days and great days not because of the resort but the role weather plays! But right now I would take the bad days hands down!

Overrated and underrated are determined the day I decide to go skiing and the deciding factor is who has the best deal for our family! We do not like season passes since it locks you down to one mountain for the most part and we can ski 30-35 times per season for less than the cost of having season passes for all of us! So if I can ski 70+ trials for under $35 or ski 100+ trials for $90 – it is a no brainer!

My two cents - So for this year from my experience (cost not considered) - Attitash was Overrated and Burke was Underrated!

 

[4aprice]

I would like to add my vote for Bretton Woods being underated. Always had a good time there. Nice to hear Cannonball say Cranmore is underated since its still on my to do list. Loon and Waterville take a lot of bashing here but I like them too. I should note that I only get to them late season after the crowds have gone home. Gore is another that is underated.

Okemo, Whiteface and Windham would be my overated list. The wife loves Okemo so I usually do get there. Still waiting for that day at Whiteface that could change my mind. Its an incredible mountain but has always been hard as a rock when I was there.

Out west Big Cottonwood Canyon is really underated. Love Solitude and Brighton. The Park City Valley is overated in my opinion.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ