5 Bucket List Ski Experiences
Words by EASTside Magazine Travel Editors
Originally a mode of travel created out of true necessity, allowing people to traverse snowy terrain with ease, the art of ski has evolved to encompass so much more than transportation. Around the world, sometimes in unexpected places, skiing has evolved to become synonymous with sport, recreation, thrill-seeking, and in some places, sophistication. Whether you’re an expert or just getting started, we invite you to explore the world straddling two planes with our travel editors’ picks of the world’s most enticing ski experiences.
Sustainable Slopes
For an unforgettably unique year-round ski experience, look no further than CopenHill, located in one of the world’s “greenest” cities: Copenhagen, Denmark.
There, globally acclaimed architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), in partnership with landscape architects SLA, created a one-of-a-kind artificial ski destination atop a new industrial waste-to-energy plant situated along the otherwise flat, coastal terrain.
Nearly 100,000 square feet of rooftop slopes are complemented by an impressive hiking trail, cross-fit area, environmental education hub, and a 280 foot climbing wall that offers views into the depths of the facility. There’s also an aprés-ski bar open to visitors and locals alike waiting to warm you up at the bottom!
As a guest, expect to enjoy not only high-flying, picturesque views of the medieval city but also the high-minded and novel ideals of urban sustainability. The plant not only produces next to zero environmental emissions, making it one of the cleanest facilities in the world, but also converts 440,000 tons of waste annually into clean energy for 150,000 homes.
Trailblazers with broad imaginations who appreciate the unconventional will adore the amenity-packed destination. In short, CophenHill is a must-ski.
The Afterglow
What avid skier hasn’t wished for just one more run at the end of the day? Most days it feels like the lifts stop running too soon, but you can keep making turns down the mountain after dark in Keystone, Colorado.
Take the River Run Gondola to the Summit House for dinner. From this restaurant at 10,000 feet in the air, watch the sunset in brilliant hues of purple, pink, and orange. \ While dining at the peak, the trails below are being groomed, getting prepped for the culmination of the evening.
Then in the afterglow, when the sun has given up its last glint, bundle up, and point your skis down the mountain. Feel the chilly air on your cheeks usher you back to base as you rip through fresh corduroy while the lights mingle with the stars above a deep dark sky.
Night skiing is just the tip of the iceberg at Keystone. The après-ski scene in Keystone is host to multiple four and five star restaurants and offers a wide variety of alternative activities like a scenic gondola or sleigh ride, ice skating on Keystone Lake, snow tubing, or a leisurely ride up and down the mountain on a guided snowmobile or cat ski tour.
Whatever the preference, you’re sure to carve a fresh trail of enduring memories night skiing under the heavens or enjoying the village at Keystone.
Les Trois Vallées
I never quite understood the breathless way people longingly uttered the word “chalet.” Until the day I skied by one with snowy eaves glistening in the morning sunlight as if it were a gingerbread house dressed up in diamonds and crystals. Several dozen meters later another one peeked out from behind snow-bedecked pine trees in the slopes of Les Trois Vallées in eastern France. Winding down skiable boulevards, families and competitive athletes drifted, some stopping and turning into the courtyards of a cozy chalet while others continued to the warm cafes at the foot of the mountain where vin chaud, raclette, and fondue are served.
It’s easy to assume that French resort Courchevel is an exclusive enclave for monied Europeans seeking Alpine powder amid a picturesque landscape defined by jagged peaks and quiet arboreal clearings. But the reality is that the world’s largest ski area is for everyone. Sandwiched between two of Europe’s premier ski destinations is one of Europe’s best-kept ski secrets: Méribel.
Sculpted by glaciers, these ancient slopes host international figure skating and skiing competitions that the public can attend. But it is perhaps off the slopes, dressed for an après-ski indulgence, that Les Trois Vallées shines. Wander the nearby villages in the Les Allues commune, stepping in from the veil of snow for a nip of génépis or a sampling of the wide variety of Alpine cheeses available at local specialty purveyors. Don’t worry about overindulging — home is just a ski lift away.
Cold & Steamy
Arriving at a nondescript airport that is only a little larger than a hangar in the middle of nowhere, you may think you’ve landed in the least magical place on earth. Yet, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, will soon change your mind.
This place is best enjoyed with friends. When we arrived, with 24 people in tow who literally filled the entire prop plane that flew us there from Denver, we quickly found a place to get lost in the crowd. Steamboat is full of live music spots where you can post up at a table, shed some layers, and unwind with a local brew in hand.
The skiing here is pretty much perfect for all levels of expertise (or lack thereof). The trails are wide, the snow is deep, and this is where the fun begins. When you’re with a group like mine, you build snow ramps that plunge you into snow banks to see who can get stuck the deepest. Or you race down the moderately paced slopes to see who can get to the base of the mountain the fastest.
Skiing and the people you bring along are not the only things that make this place magical. Steamboat has tubing, gondola rides, and snowmobiling for those who are not so keen on this wintery sport. And while the weather outside may be ‘frightful,’ a day trip to the 100-degree Strawberry Hot Springs set in the middle of the snow-capped rocks is sure to offer an experience that will not soon be forgotten.
Desert Snow.
As you’re speeding down the slopes, looking out at a sea of glistening white snow, you can’t help but smile in spite of the cold. Swerving and swooping through the course, the frigid air buffets your cheeks, but as soon as you come to a stop, it stills. There’s no sun beaming down on you or hiding behind gray clouds. Instead, you’ll look up and see that you’re sheltered from the desert elements, tucked away in the confines of Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort in the heart of the United Arab Emirates. Wandering through the over 242,000 square feet of the resort, you might spot a bright orange speck out of the corner of your eye. Upon closer inspection, to your delight, you realize that yes, I just saw a penguin. It’s the unexpected thrill of desert snow, of capturing the brilliant plumage of a rare bird on film, of feeling the Alpine air on your skin, that makes this indulgent experience worth the trip.
Ski Dubai’s curated indoor experience is tailored to adventurers big and small, with varying skill levels. Located within the Mall of the Emirates, these man-made slopes are sustainably maintained and ready for skiers no matter the season.
