Couple of days ago we listed the top-ten ski resorts we have already visited.

However, there are a lot of top notch resorts we haven’t visited and would like to visit someday. Especially Northern America is a huge grey area for us and we’d like to correct that issue as soon as possible. This post is dedicated to our “wish-list” of ski areas.

Some of these resorts/ski areas are just legendary, “must” places to see for every skier. Some are, on the other hand, more exotic, wilder places that might have a cult status among a small group f skiers, or are probably almost unknown (so, don’t expect to read only about the most obvious ones here!)

1. Alta, Utah, USA

This one is almost a tie, like in the earlier list too. The second one is a rising star and a challenger but this one is an all time classic. Just a place every true skier should visit once in his/her life (in our very humble opinion of course).

Utah markets itself in words “the greatest snow on Earth”. That says it all.

The snowboard ban in Alta is IMHO pretty old-fashion thinking. But I kind of understand it. Alta is an old school ski area, so let it be like that. I love snowboarding but in Alta I’d be proud to catch a pair of fat skis and feel the history of skiing and modern age blend together.

2. Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan

Again, the biggest reason to go: snow. Plenty of it actually. Dry – even when located only thirty kilometres  from the sea, because it is often very cold! I love cold, dry snow…and who wouldn’t?

Couple of friends visited the place in the middle of February. Well, I’m trying to tell to myself I’m not jealous…well, the guys were swimming in the very light powder snow up to their chests…

Some say the terrain in Niseko is too flat but I guess those guys are jealous too. I see no reason to name Hokkaido and its resorts the best place to ski powder on earth (at the moment at least, you never know what the today’s weird weather has for us in the upcoming years though?)

Japanese culture is another reason to go. You won’t get bored in the down days. And the food is supposed to be  very delicious too. I dream about going Japan to “second honeymoon” with the wife some day (while leaving the kids to the grandparents…well, you can always dream!)

3. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

If you ever watched any Match Stick Productions film you gotta have dreamed about Whistler too. Everything is big there: the mountains, the lift system, the night life, the snow fall, the “scene”…

Of course big resorts have their downsides. But I guess in this case those are just minor details that won’t harm the essence: good skiing.

See the trail map, the place is huge: trail_map_whistler_blackcomb1.jpg (source: http://www.whistleroutfitters.com)

4. Krasnaya Polyana, Soviet Union

Another MSP joint(I don’t remember which one but MSP film a few years ago showed Eric Pollard in the trees of Soviet Union in Krasnaya Polyana). Powder article also described the place having probably the best tree skiing in the world, and about the any other type of terrain you can imagine too - the vertical meters are stunning.

I’d like to go and see what it is all about.

5. Powder King, BC, Canada

Only 640m of vert but check out the reports on their site: http://www.powderking.com/ -the “overnight”, “24h” and “72″ snow reports often show incredible figures!

6. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA

Home of the rowdy TGR. That says quite alot. Many people (here in Europe) who ski like a ten days a year also know lines like “Corbet’s couloir” in Jackson - that says quite alot of the Jackson’s legendary status too.

7. Kirovsk, Soviet Union

Many people probably haven’t heard about this one. No wonder, it is located in the middle of nowhere in the Kola Peninsula in Russia. However, it is actually relatively close to us Finns and can offer vertical meters up to about 900. Snowfall is great too and season long.

If you want exotic skiing this is the place!

Some info: http://www.kolatravel.com/downhill_ski_holidays.htm

And here is a nice gallery from some Finns who have visited the place: http://rinnetmaki.net/gallery2/v/Urheilu/Kirovsk2007/

8. Bansko, Bulgaria

You see, I have this weird fix for Eastern Europe skiing.

Terrain in Pirin mountains (sub range of the Balkan mountains) seems pretty similar to Slovakian/Polish Tatras. TGR filmed a pretty good segment few years ago from Bansko, showing skiing of world-record cliffhucker Jamie Pierre and Marc-Andre Belliveau.

Some info can be found here: http://www.kolatravel.com/downhill_ski_holidays.htm

9. Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, USA

Maybe not the highest and not the one with the best snow. But still having a “legend status” as a mecca of American style freeskiing. My wild guess is that Squaw is one of the most filmed places of skiing, starting from the age of the great Scot Smidt, Glen Plake &co…

10. Treble Cone, New Zealand

I actually don’t know much about New Zealand skiing and this one is just the one I remembered. However, going to skiing in summer is fun and everything I’ve heard about New Zealand has been compliments about its beauty and friendly people. So, having visited south America (see the earlier story about the top resorts we already have visited), this is the next one, if I ever get another opportunity to have a skiing trip in the middle of our summer…

Treble Cone site: http://www.treblecone.co.nz/

Some more info on NZ skiing.