SKI Magazine 2016-17 Eastern Resort Rankings

[cdskier]

No such thing as "hands down." That's an entirely personal opinion. I have only been once and as such I couldn't qualify as better or worse than Stowe. I know people who think N. Conway is better than Stowe. I don't and N. Conway is my primary hang these days. Some prefer the MRV to Stowe. There are others who prefer the Killington access road vibe.

Yes, it is very subjective. I myself enjoy the low-key MRV style vibe.

 

[cdskier]

But there again is the issue--what is the metric they are using? Best ski area? Best resort? Who is doing to assessment?

Isn't it usually based off reader surveys for Ski and/or Skiing? I know back when I subscribed they sent me the survey once or twice. That right there limits your potential pool of where the results are coming from and potentially skews the results certain ways.

 

[crank]

Whiteface always ranks high in terrain because of it's long steepish groomers. Not my thing but some folks seem to like that. I have been when conditions were quite good, but never on a true powder day. It would be a lot of fun skiing those groomers with a foot of pow on top! I like LP but what makes it special, IMO, is the olympic facilities and the history.

I would definitely rank Ste. Anne and Le Massif in the top 10. For a really fun ski trip stay in Quebec...just bring lots of layers! Or fur, fur is big there.

 

[JimG.]

I would definitely rank Ste. Anne and Le Massif in the top 10. For a really fun ski trip stay in Quebec...just bring lots of layers! Or fur, fur is big there.

Heh, last season we noticed that very European touch with the fur. Fur coats, fur boots, etc.

 

[xwhaler]

1st season since I can remember that Saddleback is not on one of these lists :sad:

 

[Smellytele]

Saying Whiteface is to Lake Placid is like saying Cannon is to Lincoln. Both about 10 miles apart.

 

[sugarbushskier]

I never put much faith into these rankings as they're driven by marketing etc, but top ten looks pretty good from a skier's perspective, with the exception of Okemo. Oh wait, did I say that out loud....LOL

 

[steamboat1]

Saying Whiteface is to Lake Placid is like saying Cannon is to Lincoln. Both about 10 miles apart.

It's 8 miles from Stowe the ski area to Stowe the town.

 

[thetrailboss]

Isn't it usually based off reader surveys for Ski and/or Skiing? I know back when I subscribed they sent me the survey once or twice. That right there limits your potential pool of where the results are coming from and potentially skews the results certain ways.

Exactly. I know one of the lists is based on a survey...which is really why Holiday Valley was always on the list (not to take away from them). Holiday Valley always actively encouraged their skiers and riders to do these surveys.

 

[Smellytele]

It's 8 miles from Stowe the ski area to Stowe the town.

But there is lodging at the ski area unlike Whiteface. Actually there is even lodging at Cannon (mittersil)

 

[4aprice]

Interesting that the 3 I have not been to on the list are 3 I will probably never get to as they are outside my comfortable driving range. When the drive gets longer then a flight, I opt for the flight. The other 17 are quite doable for a weekend warrior out of the NYC area.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[benski]

Many people stay off mountain at every resort so why disqualify Whiteface for having only off mountain lodging.

 

[benski]

Snowshoe should be in a separate category since its so far away from the other resorts that I doubt many people are choosing between Snowshoe and New England/ADK.

 

[Jully]

Snowshoe should be in a separate category since its so far away from the other resorts that I doubt many people are choosing between Snowshoe and New England/ADK.

Yes and no. For those who live in PA, Maryland, and even southern NJ the drive time is either equivalent or shorter to Snowshoe than say, Stowe. For many flying is not an option, and while the skiing is certainly not comparable between the two, that matters less for your average family.

I do generally agree with you though.

 

[x10003q]

Yes and no. For those who live in PA, Maryland, and even southern NJ the drive time is either equivalent or shorter to Snowshoe than say, Stowe. For many flying is not an option, and while the skiing is certainly not comparable between the two, that matters less for your average family.

I do generally agree with you though.

I would say practically nobody from Philly, NE PA and all of NJ ever heads to Snowshoe. Philly to Snowshoe is approximately 7 hours - same time to MRG. That only leaves about 16 better skiing choices many hours closer than Snowshoe. Depending on where you are in Philly, Hunter/Belleayre/Windham/Plattekill are only around 4 hours away and have way better skiing than Snowshoe.

After finally eliminating Holiday Valley and Seven Springs, they still couldn't help themselves and put Snowshoe on the list.

 

[joshua segal]

Snowshoe should be in a separate category since its so far away from the other resorts that I doubt many people are choosing between Snowshoe and New England/ADK.

Agree. That being said, how did Snowshoe make it and Holiday Valley not? They both seem like similar areas with similar "out-of-ski-country" markets.

 

[deadheadskier]

Agree. That being said, how did Snowshoe make it and Holiday Valley not? They both seem like similar areas with similar "out-of-ski-country" markets.

I haven't been to Holiday Valley, but I don't think people in New England appreciate how big time of a resort Snowshoe is. The slopeside village feels like you're at a Colorado resort, not east coast. To give an appreciation of scale, it's probably five times the size of the development at Stowes Spruce Peak. Great restaurants, bars and apres ski, loads of special events, 200" of snow and a legit 1500 vertical off the back side. 500k skier visit a year destination. A large amount of the clientele I met were wealthy people from Atlanta or Charlotte metros who would do a Snowshoe week and Western week each season. With those kinds of attributes it's surprising to me that Snowshoe doesn't make the top 20 every year.

 

[Smellytele]

Many people stay off mountain at every resort so why disqualify Whiteface for having only off mountain lodging.

It says "Resort" not "Ski area"

 

[Breakout12]

I haven't been to Holiday Valley, but I don't think people in New England appreciate how big time of a resort Snowshoe is. The slopeside village feels like you're at a Colorado resort, not east coast. To give an appreciation of scale, it's probably five times the size of the development at Stowes Spruce Peak. Great restaurants, bars and apres ski, loads of special events, 200" of snow and a legit 1500 vertical off the back side. 500k skier visit a year destination. A large amount of the clientele I met were wealthy people from Atlanta or Charlotte metros who would do a Snowshoe week and Western week each season. With those kinds of attributes it's surprising to me that Snowshoe doesn't make the top 20 every year.

I'm in Toronto and one of my dreams is to go to Snowshoe. I'd never heard of it until a few years ago, but relatives in NC sure know of it. As you said, the village looks awesome. Just Street View it. It just looks like a really cool, upscale place. That, and it's one of the few places where you start at the top.

 

[cdskier]

That, and it's one of the few places where you start at the top.

I learned to ski at a place where you start at the top...nothing special! :razz: