Top 10 resorts in Eastern North America according to SKI Magazine's readers

[eastcoastpowderhound]

No way dude :smash: My orginal post was referring to what people usually reply to this thread not what the reality is.

How come Silver Springs made it and Blue didn't?

ahh, so you're not the cynic, just quotting the usualy cynical comments...my bad, was just trying to get you going anyway. ;-)

 

[EPB]

I hit up Tremblant last year and can say, as a life long "true" expert skier, that Tremblant has an adequite selection of challenging runs as far as one can use the word 'challenge' in the east. Anything there with a double black rating aside from the Flying Mile trail is fun and definately worth checking out in my opinion. Their terrain doesn't quite stack up to the snowfields at the Loaf or the front face at Jay, but they have an array of good so called expert terarain. Also, they have tons of fairly steel cruisers that as a former racer, I love..... The canadian version of AZ also has an article up highlighting the top 10 of almost everything terrain wise up in Quebec, and if anybody has a basic understanding of french, or good means of translating these pages into English, theyre pretty interesting/useful to look at too: http://www.zoneski.com/vivelaneige/tops2.php#un http://www.zoneski.com/vivelaneige/tops3.php#deux.

Side note: it would be interesting if this group could come up with similar ratings for NE/NY too although I fully acknowledge the fact that a consensus would never be reached.

 

[thetrailboss]

Another perrenial thread. This year's results:

1. Mont Tremblant
2. Stowe, Vt.
3. Sugarbush, Vt.
4. Sugarloaf, Maine
5. Whiteface, N.Y.
6. Sunday River, Maine
7. Smugglers Notch, Vt.
8. Okemo, Vt.
9. Holiday Valley, N.Y.
10. Seven Springs, Pa.

Seems a bit more in line with reality than in years past...

And as mentioned, NO Killington.

 

[thetrailboss]

Jay Peak and MRG did not make the list either. Sugarloaf had a higher rating than Sunday River. Interesting.

 

[RENO]

And don't you forget. This survey is the "definitive ranking of North American ski resorts". :lol:

So ridiculous, isn't it?! :lol: :lol: I haven't received my issue yet, but let me guess: There's about 50 pages of advertising for Vail resorts. I'd say about the same for Whistler. Deer Valley probably about 20. That leaves about 20 pages of articles and 2 of pictures. :lol: That is the worst ski magazine out there. I get it, but it's only because I get ski and skiing for $5 for 5 years. I'll just scan them real quick. Maybe a few good articles and pictures.

Holiday Valley and Seven Springs? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: uke:

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Whiteface made the top 10 ski area October Fests.

http://www.skinet.com/travel/2008-09/top-ten-ski-town-oktoberfests?10

You don't see Sundown in there now do ya?

 

[Greg]

So ridiculous, isn't it?! :lol: :lol: I haven't received my issue yet, but let me guess: There's about 5 pages of advertising for Vail resorts. I'd say about the same for Whistler. Deer Valley probably about 20. That leaves about 20 pages of articles and 2 of pictures. :lol: That is the worst ski magazine out there. I get it, but it's only because I get ski and skiing for $5 for 5 years. I'll just scan them real quick. Maybe a few good articles and pictures.

Holiday Valley and Seven Springs? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: uke:

You know, I was kinda poking fun at that "definitive ranking of North American ski resorts" line in the SB press release, but it actually might be accurate. After all, as Geoff points out, most respondents are likely "intermediates who want a full-blown resort experience." No hard data, but this group probably does indeed represent the largest segment of the average skier demographic, so it's probably not that far off the mark to consider it an accurate ranking for the average skier. Good thing we all know better of what makes a good "resort". Nevertheless, I would consider the top 8 pretty realistic.

Jay Peak and MRG did not make the list either. Sugarloaf had a higher rating than Sunday River. Interesting.

MRG will never been on a list like this. See above.

AZ Rankings != SKI Magazine Rankings

 

[deadheadskier]

Seven Springs..wow..all the residents of Pittsburgh must have banded together..lol..I can't believe Killington didn't make the list..

Seven Springs doesn't surprise me that much. I'll take it over anywhere in the east for Apres Ski.....I haven't hung out in LP in the winter or Tremblant, but plenty in Killington and Stowe and when the lifts stop spinning, I'd rather be at the Springs than anywhere else in the east.

The party scene there seriously is out of hand. 90% of the lodging and all the bars and restaurants are in one GIANT, GIANT, GIANT hotel and people basically leave their doors wide open to their rooms and invite random people to party left and right....like a college dorm.

I'm guessing its the party reputation and that it gets I'm guessing close to 500K visits....thus lots of votes.

 

[Greg]

Whiteface made the top 10 ski area October Fests.

http://www.skinet.com/travel/2008-09/top-ten-ski-town-oktoberfests?10

You don't see Sundown in there now do ya?

Octoberfests are far from a critical factor for what I consider a good ski area. Nice way to take a jab a little feeder hill though. Pound for pound, I would put little Sundown up against just about anyone in terms of quantity of snow they make. I would also consider them among the best run ski areas in the Northeast. They make use of the limited terrain they have as well as anyone.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

No way dude :smash: My orginal post was referring to what people usually reply to this thread not what the reality is.

How come Silver Springs made it and Blue didn't?

Because all Blue has is skiing..no bowling alley, Karaoke bar, fine dining or nightclub like Seven Springs..Blue doesn't have any lodging and only has cafeteria food..they do have some of the best tubing within 20 miles of my crib..

 

[madskier6]

MRG will never been on a list like this. See above.

Actually MRG & Jay have both made the top 20 in previous years. You're right that they probably will never make the top 10 but they do get some lovin' from Easterners in these polls. Just not enough to make the top 10.

 

[nelsapbm]

I'm a subscriber and am asked to participate in the survey year after year. I give my love to MRG. The survey asks you to rate the ski areas you skied at during the past year. Greg and the other are right though...the average SKI subsriber is an intermediate skier who takes a couple trips a year. Thats why you see Tremblant and the likes at the top of the list.

 

[snowmonster]

Not a scientific survey by any means but I'll take it. Nice to see Sugarloaf holding at #4 and some Sunday River love. I'm more curious to see 11-20. MRG was up at 20 about 2 years ago.

 

[deadheadskier]

I want to say that Sunday River wasn't in the top ten last year. Boyne is probably very happy with their efforts.

If anyone has the actual magazine, did Mt. Snow or Attitash move up some due to Peaks investment?

 

[kcyanks1]

To be truthful I love this thread every year. Usually generates some great debate.

I'm sick of Mt. Tremblant being #1.

It's always fun, even though we know the way the list is generated is bound to lead to a list that most of us here would disagree with. And I agree with you about Tremblant.

 

[kcyanks1]

To be truthful I love this thread every year. Usually generates some great debate.

I'm sick of Mt. Tremblant being #1.

Have you ever been?

I have. Spent 5 days there on two different occasions during college. No way I would put it number 1. Perhaps the lower half of my eastern top 10, and I have never been to Sugarloaf and Smuggs, which almost definitely would knock it down on my list, and some other areas that might knock it lower.

I can see why someone who considers night life and on-mountain lodging to be especially important would rank it very high. But as far as the on-mountain experience goes, it's just not close, IMO.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Octoberfests are far from a critical factor for what I consider a good ski area. Nice way to take a jab a little feeder hill though. Pound for pound, I would put little Sundown up against just about anyone in terms of quantity of snow they make. I would also consider them among the best run ski areas in the Northeast. They make use of the limited terrain they have as well as anyone.

Give me a break will ya Greg? I wasn't taking a shot at a "little feeder hill", I was just kidin around with you guys. Of course no one cares about the top 10 Oct. Fest rankings. :roll:

 

[snowmonster]

I want to say that Sunday River wasn't in the top ten last year. Boyne is probably very happy with their efforts. QUOTE]
Yeah, SR was 12 or 14 last year.

 

[Greg]

Give me a break will ya Greg? I wasn't taking a shot at a "little feeder hill", I was just kidin around with you guys. Of course no one cares about the top 10 Oct. Fest rankings. :roll:

I understand. But keep it real willya, HPD? If someone cracks on Whiteface, you're the first one to protect your turf.

 

[Grassi21]

Give me a break will ya Greg? I wasn't taking a shot at a "little feeder hill", I was just kidin around with you guys. Of course no one cares about the top 10 Oct. Fest rankings. :roll:

I understand. But keep it real willya, HPD? If someone cracks on Whiteface, you're the first one to protect your turf.

CLITS and ANUSs get irritated easily if you rub them the wrong way. I suggest a soothing salve for both of you. ;-)