In Britain, we don't get an abundance of either sun or snow, so it stands to reason we'll go elsewhere for it. Ski resorts are a popular holiday choice amongst the British, and while not as great a variety as there is with sunspots, there's still plenty of choice to suit any taste. This is the final part of our brief guide to the various ski resorts.
New Zealand
The island of New Zealand is probably the last place you'd associate with skiing and other winter sports, but it is becoming more popular with skiers who wish to go somewhere a little different. The volcanic region of Whakapapa comprises 1360 acres and is one of the largest ski areas in the country. Flanked by three volcanoes, two of which are active, it provided some of the locations used in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. On the other side of the volcanoes is the resort of Turoa which boasts a massive 722m vertical drop. Despite this, Turoa is popular with beginners, and snowboarders are in their element due to the unrivalled terrain parks.
For intermediate skiers, the region of Treble Cone is a good place to visit as it has more challenging slopes and terrains. It's also where the Austrian national ski-team stay for their pre-season warm-ups before the winter starts in the northern hemisphere. The aprÃ?s-ski in the Cone isn't as bustling as in other resorts, so if you base your ski holidays, you may wish to try a different region. But if you like a quiet relaxing mountain atmosphere, this is the place.
Switzerland
The traditional alpine ski region, Switzerland has huge mountains, huge glaciers, huge cable cars and a huge following to take advantage of them. This is only due in part to the spectacular views and ski runs. The hospitality is famous too, as the Swiss have been refining their skills in this area for over a century. Switzerland is known as a country which takes life seriously; their rules and regulations attest to that, but it all makes for a very efficient and relaxed atmosphere for anyone on ski holidays in this country.
The USA
Last but not least, America is the home of Aspen, the resort which conjures up images of skiing, sun and Jim Carrey with a silly haircut. But Aspen is by no means the only ski resort in the US. In fact, it boasts more than 30 resorts, all with different appeal. Many of these are in Colorado, such as Aspen and Beaver Creek, with the Rocky Mountains providing the perfect backdrop. California, Vermont and Utah, to name a few, are all destinations for ski holidays.
It's worth doing some research into American ski resorts as there is such variety. For the ultimate ski experience Aspen is the pinnacle, yet for the less confident skier the Colorado resort of Beaver Creek would be better as it has fewer lift lines and gentler slopes.
