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SKI Magazine Releases Highly-Anticipated 2006 'Top 50 Resort Guide'

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BOULDER, Colorado — SKI Magazine's annual "Top 50 Resort Guide," the definitive ranking of North American ski resorts, names Deer Valley, Utah as the No. 1 ski resort in its October issue, on newsstands mid-September. Deer Valley takes the top spot after being ranked second in last year's survey. Perennial favorite Tremblant, Que. is ranked No. 1 on the East Coast for a record-setting ninth consecutive year.

SKI's readers move Deer Valley to the No. 1 spot on the 2006 survey, awarding the resort top marks for service, on-mountain dining, grooming and access. The resort, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, is described by one SKI reader as, "posh and wonderful," while another claims, "the service is so outstanding that you may be able to pay someone to wipe out for you."

Vail, Colo. ranks No. 2 on the list, heading a total of five Colorado resorts in the top ten, more than any other state. Whistler/Blackcomb, B.C. moves up two notches on the list from No. 5 last year to No. 3 in the 2006 poll. Park City, Utah displays the largest increase on the list, jumping three spots from No. 8 last year to No. 5 this year, while Sun Valley, Idaho breaks into the top ten following a No. 12 ranking last year.

"SKI's 'Top 50 Resort Guide' is the perfect forum for skiers to share their best ski experiences," says SKI Magazine's executive editor Greg Ditrinco. "It's no wonder why our readers named Deer Valley as their favorite resort. Their dedication to service is unmatched in the industry; last year's snow was one for the record books; and the mountain serves up skiing for all tastes."

In the East, in addition to SKI readers placing Tremblant, Que. at No. 1 for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year, there is plenty of news among other resorts in the region, with three previously unranked destinations rising to top ten spots, including Smugglers Notch, Vt. with a No. 2 ranking, Okemo, Vt. with a No. 8 ranking and Sugarbush, Vt. at No. 9. A total of six Vermont resorts were named in the top ten on the East Coast, up from four last year.

The top 10 resorts according to SKI Magazine's readers are:

1. Deer Valley, Utah
2. Vail, Colo.
3. Whistler/Blackcomb, B.C.
4. Snowmass, Colo.
5. Park City, Utah
6. Beaver Creek, Colo.
7. Breckenridge, Colo.
8. Aspen, Colo.
9. Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
10. Sun Valley, Idaho

The top 10 resorts in the East according to SKI Magazine's readers are:

1. Tremblant, Que.
2. Smugglers Notch, Vt.
3. Killington, Vt.
4. Sugarloaf, Maine
5. Holiday Valley, N.Y.
6. Whiteface Mountain, N.Y.
7. Stowe, Vt.
8. Okemo, Vt.
9. Sugarbush, Vt.
10. Stratton, Vt.

(For a complete look at the Top 50 Resort Guide, pick up a copy of SKI Magazine or visit skimag.com)

More than 20,000 SKI Magazine subscribers of two or more years are surveyed by an independent research firm for the "Top 50 Resort Guide." It is the most comprehensive and longest-running ski resort survey in the winter sports industry. Resorts are ranked in 17 categories: Region, Snow, Grooming, Terrain, Challenge, Value, Lifts, Service, Weather, Access, On-Mountain Food, Lodging, Dining, Apres Ski, Off-Hill Activities, Family Programs, Scenery and Terrain Parks by SKI subscribers who have skied the resorts for the past two seasons, skiing an average of 23 days a year.

SKI Magazine is published by Mountain Sports Media, a Boulder-based division of Time4(TM) Media. Time4 Media is a subsidiary of Time Inc., which is a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX).
 

JimG.

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The mere fact that Deer Valley is number 1 in the country shows how lame these ranknigs are.
 

awf170

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ALLSKIING said:
Has anyone ever skied Tremblant? I don't think I could pass by all the other places to hit that one. I have heard its a great family place though.

its freezing cold and never snows. I went there for 2 days and it was pretty horrible.
 

Vortex

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Sugarloaf, Killington, Sunday River, Loon and Waterville are places I make every year. I just got my magazine yesterday pony express is slow in NH. Anyway I though the explanation about Loon was good great place except some might find the expert terrain not quite enough and crowded, Great snowmaking and good grooming and good food. I love it here.

Waterville Great Activities off the hill nice family mountain. I spend my nights there with the kids in the winter at town square quite often. When we have guests with young kids or beginners We take them to Waterville. The crew there understands the needs of the young and learning.

Sunday River You go there to ski. Not much else going on. I find a little suff apres ski just got to poke around. Snow making and Grooming. I think its the best anywhere I have been. I do have a limited selection of resorts to pull from, but still the best IMO. I was angry about the secrets and where to go there, cause that's where I go. :dunce:

Sugarloaf. Its work to get there. You pretty much have to stay there. The Skiing is amazing the lifts are not good. The food is good. Each year its the best long weekend of the year.

Killington its the big event. To crowded for me , but something for everything. Snow making is well a huge deal. I go every year. I know the advantages and disadvantages.

Everyone has an opinion on these evaluations. The rankings don't matter to me, but the comments and info I gain does.
 

riverc0il

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Anyway I though the explanation about Loon was good great place except some might find the expert terrain not quite enough and crowded, Great snowmaking and good grooming and good food. I love it here.
loon actually has some fairly decent expert terrain. i tried mike's woods last season which was phenomenal and the east basin area has some good steeps. nothing extreme but definitely legit new england black diamond terrain for sure. loon's biggest draw back is the amount of traffic it receives, especially on it's expert terrain which i have noticed can get quite scraped off pretty quickly.
 

Vortex

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Fair statements Steve. I find Walking Boss,Upper Flume and LowerFlume, Angel Street and upper Rum Runner, fun and worthy of a single black rating. I'll get in the woods a bit more this year I believe. Value .. I think with my pass I ended paying 10.75 per day of skiing. I can live with lines during peak times. Ya being close if huge for me. It helps keep my days in. More than once did I drive home for a kids event and turn around and go back up in the same day the last couple of years. Quality days vs quanity I'm not sure, but if you get out enough you get some good days no matter what.
 

Skier75

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Also, I know of another little "secret" place to go, but yes it's a haul to get there. You pretty much need to plan a weekend to make it worth while, even when I lived in Maine, it was still a haul to get there. From where we used to live it was about 2.5-2.75 hours. Great trails, great prices, great grooming, very little crowds, even on weekends.....are you ready??? I hate to let the cat out of the bag....Okay, its Saddleback in Maine.

Now one thing about the mountain that may keep some people away are the winds and the cold. It's one of the coldest and windiest places in Maine, but the snow is the best all day. There are some pretty awesome trails there. :D Another thing we would do is go up on Friday, get a place to stay, ski Sugarloaf one day, then Saddleback the other, get a two-fer of great skiing. :beer:
 
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