Ski The US Rockies

14th September 2024

Last modified on September 23rd, 2024

America resorts and ski states have been attending a special event in London, The American Rockies Party, hosted by the Ski Club of Great Britain. PlanetSKI reports on what the USA has to offer.

It took place at the White Hause in Central London.

Ski the US Rockies. Image © PlanetSKI

Ski Utah & Colorado Ski Country USA were in attendance.

Between them they represent around 40 resorts including Park City, Deer Valley, Alta and Snowbird in Utah that are popular with UK skiers.

Utah has 15 resorts, with ten less than an hour from Salt Lake City International airport.

Utah sees an average of 13m of snow each season.

Image c/o Ski Utah

The big news from Utah is the huge expansion of Deer Valley that we posted about earlier on PlanetSKI:

Deer Valley expands next winter with much more to come

Colorado has Steamboat, Winter Park and Arapahoe Basin and many more.

21 resorts are represented by Colorado Ski Country USA.

Image c/o Colorado Ski Country USA

In Colorado there has been some early dustings of snow with areas looking forward to opening.

Loveland is planning to fire up its snow guns in 20-days.

It aims for an opening day between mid-October and early November.

It typically takes about two weeks of continuous snowmaking to get the mountain ready.

It has an annual battle with A-Basin to open first.

The first snow fell at the beginning of September.

Individual resorts on hand at the London event included Jackson Hole in Wyoming, Big Sky in Montana and Sun Valley in Idaho.

“Jackson Hole should be on every skier’s bucket list with our legendary powder, iconic tram and of course our cowboy heritage,” said Allie Ziegler from the resort.

Allie Ziegler, Ski the US Rockies. Image © PlanetSKI

See here for more about Jackson Hole.

“The quality of the ski experience and the quality of the snow are the main reasons for going, but there are so many other reason too,” said the Chief Operating Office of the Ski Club GB, James Gambrill.

“There are the number of options and runs from the top of lifts, the lack of queues, the altitude, the safe in-bounds skiing and simply skiing on mountains and slopes that are completely different from the Alps.”

James Gambrill, Ski the US Rockies. Image © PlanetSKI

See here for more about the Ski Club of Great Britain.

The Ski Club GB has a rep in Jackson Hole in January, February and March.

In recent years it has taken its Freshtracks Holidays to Park City, Alta and Snowbird in Utah.

Plus Telluride, Crested Bute and Silverton in Colorado.

It is drawing up plans for more US holidays in the coming years.

See here for more about Park City.

“Any person that skis or snowboards on a regular basis should visit North America. It is not necessarily better than the Alps or other European mountain ranges, but they are different and offer a whole new mountain experience,” said PlanetSKI’s James Cove who has skied in the USA many, many times.

He has been a regular visitor for over 25-years, whether on individual resort visits or month-long roads trips taking in multiple ski areas.

“I love skiing in the USA simply for the different experience, whether it be skiing off piste safely in-bounds in Alta, hammering down perfectly groomed slopes in Deer Valley, sinking deep into the powder in Jackson Hole or hitting less trodden paths in places like Sun Valley.”

“The US Rockies are a must-visit ski destination in my book,” added James.

Here are some links to just a few of his visits that he has reported on for PlanetSKI:

Also at the event were the UK ski travel agents, Iglu Ski and Ski Solutions that are specialists in holidays to North America.

We leave the last word to the President and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA, Melanie Mills.

“You should put us on your list of regular places to visit along with Japan and other iconic destinations.

“You should return to your favourite ski resorts in Europe but put us on you list too for a new experience and you might just discover a new favourite.”