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Did you know that we get upwards of 50,000 comments from survey respondents during the six-week period that our annual Reader Resort Survey is open? Most are helpful, some are, er, colorful, and a few are downright hilarious. All of them make the resulting Top 50 rankings more insightful.
In honor of the 2024 Reader Resort Survey that’s now live, we’re playing a little game. Below, we share 10 reader comments about resorts that made the cut in last year’s Top 50 rankings—find the resorts listed here (West) and here (East). Guess the ski area that each comment is about. We’ll update this post with the correct answers tomorrow (4/28/23) so you can see if you’re as resort savvy as you think.
Enter to Win Skis: Take the SKI Magazine 2024 Reader Resort Survey
When you’re done, please take the 2024 survey, linked above, and weigh in on the resorts you’ve skied at over the last couple of seasons. Who knows, you just might read your own words when we release the Top 50 rankings in the fall.
Can You Guess the Resort?
Match the reader comment to the resort about which it was made.
“Lift lines can get long but they reinvest every year to make the lifts better. They have more high-speed detachables than a lot of resorts out West.”
- Okemo, Vt.
- Holiday Valley, N.Y.
- Bretton Woods, N.H.
“Unique mountain experience in a world of large corporations pricing people out of the sport.”
- Whitefish Mountain, Mont.
- Crested Butte, Colo.
- Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
“Has certainly earned its reputation as one of the best resorts in the East for skiers who really want to ski. There may not be much going on around the area, but the snow and terrain are second to none in the East.”
- Mad River Glen, Vt.
- Holiday Valley, N.Y.
- Jay Peak, Vt.
“[Blank] is one-of-a-kind. It has an untarnished, local feel, a cult following of raving fans, and isolated, scenic, highly technical terrain. It is a true skier’s mountain.”
- Alta Ski Area, Utah
- Crested Butte, Colo.
- Telluride, Colo.
“It really does have everything, including its own satellite resort, which would rank as a full-fledged ski mountain anywhere else. I can be challenged anytime I want on the black/double-black slopes or take it easy on some mellow blues when I’m ready to relax. The improvements to the infrastructure over the past few years are just awesome. The management clearly cares about the user experience and it shows.”
- Killington Resort, Vt.
- Sun Valley, Idaho
- Jackson Hole, Wyo.
“This is a true skier’s resort. There are things I’m willing to give up for great skiing, and that’s all I ask of [blank]. It provides what I want.”
- Alta Ski Area, Utah
- Big Sky, Mont.
- Palisades Tahoe, Calif.
“It has a variety of terrain for all and it remains affordable for a family. Like everyone else, I wish the lifts were a tad bit faster.”
- Mt. Snow, Vt.
- Wachusett, Mass.
- Smugglers’ Notch, Vt.
“I hate to rate it so well because it’s getting too crowded and I don’t want to encourage others to go there. But the vibe is the best, the wide variety of terrain is awesome, there are plenty of options for lodging, and a great transit system. It’s a great town!”
- Powder Mountain, Utah
- Breckenridge, Colo.
- Beaver Creek, Colo.
“A whole different vibe. [Blank] is modernizing but still holds on to its roots. Great terrain. Starting to get a little pricier.”
- Taos Ski Valley, N.M.
- Snowbird, Utah
- Arapahoe Basin, Colo.
“This is a great mountain for those looking for a few days away. It’s not a day trip by any means, but it has great terrain for all abilities. With a single base area, it’s easy to meet up with your group if you have different abilities. They have great tree skiing, and you can spend the whole day just skiing the trees.”
- Jay Peak, Vt.
- Hunter Mountain, N.Y.
- Sugarloaf, Maine