There are so many good reasons why you should try snowboarding, in fact, there are too many good reasons why snowboarding is superior to its ski counterpart. First of all, there are not any poles and the boots are much more snug than the sky. Second, off-piste snowboarding is fairly easy, meaning you can try it as soon as you get the basics down. Third, probably the most common arguments you will hear about snowboarding is that it emerged as a skiing innovation. Finally, you need to remember that there’s an old saying that skiing is simpler to learn but harder to master, whereas snowboarding is harder to learn but easier to master.
With all this in mind, it is hard to find an argument against snowboarding. However, your overall snowboarding experience will rely on the location you choose, irrespective of whether you are an experienced snowboarder or not. This means that you’re going to have a more quick sense of self-accomplishment if you continue down this path. With that in mind and without further ado, here are five astonishing spots for snowboarding that you should look at.
1. Queenstown, New Zealand
The first location you need to tick off on your list should be Queenstown, New Zealand, a place known for its many winter activities. Even the way this place has become a tourist paradise is quite epic, as it’s carved by glaciers, rivers and lakes. In other words, natural forces ruled this land by hand to make it the best ski resort.
The main reason why you need to snowboard here is Incredible Coronet Peak, which is the only place in New Zealand that enables night skiing. Needless to say, it gives you a completely unique and extraordinary experience. As well as having some of the best snowboarding trails in the world, it also has a vibrant nightlife and world-class dining options. Most importantly, even although it’s called the “adventure capital of the world”, it’s also a place where you can bring your whole family.
2. Niseko, Japan
For all the snowboarders out there, a ski vacation to Japan should find the must-do. The country has many astonishing snowboarding locations, such as Hakuba Valley or Nozawa Hot Springs. However, if we had to choose just one destination, it would must be Niseko, the island gem of Hokkaido. Although this place is currently very popular, it’s also a place with seven large ski areas, which guarantee the best snowboarding experience, irrespective of the season. Needless to say, it is also an incredible place to make friends from all over the world, which should absolutely be one of your top goals.
Most importantly, it’s a place with the highest average snowfall in Japan, however, it’s not only the amount but also the quality of snow that counts. As for the resort itself, it is a high-tech ski resort, which means you can track the status of the lifts via your smartphone and even look at some of the runs this way. Most importantly, it ensures a much greater level of safety of your entire skiing experience. One more thing that ensures this is your ability to get all the latest landslide information anytime you need it.
3. Blafjöll, Iceland
Located in the south of Iceland, Blafjöll is a paradise for snowboarders around the globe. This luxury resort is located at an altitude of between 460 and 700 m, which is a powerful feature in itself. Even so, with 15 lifts, the resort has a more efficient system for handling this impressive landscape. Previously, we talked about the chances of night skiing, well, those who are particularly interested in this phenomenon need look no further than Blafjöll.
Apart from that, you even have some impressive volcanic landscapes to admire, thus completing a complete and unforgettable snowboarding experience. One of the strangest aspects of this particular resort lies in the proven fact that it has a much larger percentage of local visitors than any of the locations listed above. This alone should make the Icelandic snowboarding experience more genuine, even semi-authentic.
4. Big Sky, Montana
Speaking of upscale resorts, it is impossible not to mention Big Sky, Montana. This astonishing place has an enormous number of ski grounds (over 5,850), covered with an astonishing 36 lifts. The magnitude of this can only be seen when compared to the other resorts mentioned on the list, even though lift count hardly serves as a measure of resort quality. Besides skiing and snowboarding, the area is also popular for mountain biking and zip line tours (provided you go there out of season). For lodging, it is a bit pricey, but worth every penny. Those who intend to visit this place in the fall might even decide to pick up a fall golf pass.
5. Val Thorens, France
Located in the French Alps, Val Thorens is, without a doubt, probably the most charming (if not the most charming) places for snowboarding in Europe. In fact, it isn’t only ideal for skiing and snowboarding, but for pretty much any winter sport you can think of. As for the magnitude of the resort, we are talking about 68 slopes (over 140 kilometers of ski surface) and 30 lifts. Another good thing here is that you have a broad range of various slopes, from those that are perfect for novices to those meant for experts. Most importantly, it also has a daycare and ski kindergarten, which makes it ideal for families looking to send their kids to school early.
In conclusion
As you can see, there are some astonishing places for you to snowboard in nearly every corner of the world. The only questions you need to ask are time, budget and effort. Some people just aren’t passionate enough about snowboarding to head to the other side of the world for the perfect slopes. For others, it is just a minor inconvenience.
Author: Emily Wilson
“Emily is a business psychologist with a passion for travel. Researching, exploring and writing are favorite things to do. He works as a consultant at Melted Snow Tour. Besides that, he likes animals and music.”
