San Francisco, CA…Liftopia, the largest online and mobile marketplace for lift tickets and other mountain activities, today unveiled its first-ever 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards honoring the most beloved ski areas in North America. Unlike other awards, the 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards, Powered By Liftopia is the only ranking that incorporates the largest dataset in the industry combined with feedback from thousands of skiers and snowboarders to determine ski areas they are most passionate about in North America.
The 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards, Powered By Liftopia, features winners across seven categories that Liftopia customers identified as most useful for choosing where to ski or snowboard, regardless of ski area size. These categories include Beginner-Friendly, Most Challenging, Family-Friendly, Best Snow Consistency and Quality, Least Crowded, and Best Value in addition to overall Best in Snow. Winners were compiled in five different regions: Northeast, West Coast, High West, Southeast and Midwest.
Magic Mountain in Vermont took the top spot as Overall Best in Snow winner in North America, with customers saying it’s “the best kept secret in the Northeast” and “a true skier’s mountain” that is “steeped in tradition” and “never overcrowded” with “awesome terrain,” “challenging runs,” and “the best staff in the business.” Crystal Mountain in Michigan, coming in second, received raves for their “great atmosphere,” “lifts and runs are fun and varied,” “people are very friendly” and “they’re always doing improvements at the resort.” Liftopia customers love the terrain at third place Mad River Glen in Vermont, saying “Nothing compares to the challenge of Northeast skiing and Mad River Glen. It is simply the best if you are up for it.”
The remaining Overall Best in Snow winners include Alta, Utah (#4); Jay Peak, Vt. (#5); Bretton Woods, N.H. (#6); Wildcat Mountain, N.H. (#7); Powder Mountain, Utah (#8); Snowbird, Utah (#9); and Sugarloaf, Maine (#10). Bretton Woods and Crystal Mountain took top spots as Beginner- and Family-Friendly Ski Areas as well as Ski Areas With the Best Snow Consistency and Quality in their respective regions (Northeast and Midwest); Magic Mountain is the Most Challenging Ski Area in the Northeast; Alta has the Best Snow Consistency and Quality in the High West; and Powder Mountain offers the Best Value in the High West.
“For years people have told us they wanted a ranking system that wasn’t based simply on which resorts were the biggest or relied on a handful of ‘expert’ opinions or advertising dollars. They want to find their next favorite ski area and to know which resorts are most beloved by other skiers and boarders,” said Evan Reece, co-founder and CEO of Liftopia. “We crafted the Best in Snow Awards with details from a consumer survey and combined the results with our proprietary data to uncover the ski areas people love most. We are excited that the findings show what we already believed to be true: consumers do have amazing passion for ski areas of all sizes.”
Methodology
Liftopia is the largest ski marketing and distribution platform with the most comprehensive and unbiased overview of the ski industry. To compile the 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards, Liftopia surveyed their customers to measure their enthusiasm on specific aspects of their favorite resorts such as family friendliness, challenging terrain, crowds, and snow consistency and quality. Respondents took into consideration criteria such as snow quality and conditions, grooming, accessibility, terrain variety and difficulty, vertical drop, learn to ski and snowboard programs, staff and instructors, resort size, crowds and lift lines, accessibility of lifts and beginner terrain, off-slope activities, the surrounding community, and cost of lift tickets, rentals and programs, among others. More than 10,000 responses were then weighted with a proprietary algorithm based on Liftopia’s exclusive dataset that includes skier and snowboarder visits annually, acreage, uphill capacity and average true cost of skiing to surface the best ski areas overall, across seven categories and five regions, based on what matters most to skiers and snowboarders.
Winners for the Overall Best in Snow, Beginner Friendly Ski Areas, Most Challenging Ski Areas, Family Friendly Ski Areas and Ski Areas with the Best Snow Consistency and Quality categories were determined by the total number of votes from survey participants for their favorite resorts in each category, normalized by skier and snowboarder visits annually. Winners for the Least Crowded Ski Areas category were determined by total number of skier and snowboarder visits annually divided by skiable acreage as well as participant feedback and votes on the least crowded ski area. Winners for the Ski Areas with the Best Value category were determined by total number of votes for ski area with the best value, normalized by skier and snowboarder visits annually and the average true cost of skiing based on effective ticket prices per resort, including ticket window, advance purchase and season pass data.
Complete List of 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards, Powered By Liftopia: The winning ski areas in each category and region can be found by visiting http://bestinsnow.liftopia.com/.
Video, photos and additional commentary from Liftopia customers about the 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards winners are available upon request. Please email press@liftopia.com.
About Liftopia
Liftopia operates the largest online and mobile marketplace and resort technology platform serving the ski and mountain activity industry. Skiers and riders can purchase lift tickets, equipment rentals, meal vouchers and more from more than 250 ski areas in North America on Liftopia.com and via the Liftopia mobile app, with savings of up to 85% off walk-up window rates when purchased in advance. Founded in 2005, Liftopia is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by leading institutional and angel investors. Visit the Liftopia blog or follow the company on Facebook and Twitter.
Liftopia 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards, Powered By Liftopia
OVERALL Best in Snow
- Magic Mountain VT
- Crystal Mountain MI
- Mad River Glen VT
- Alta UT
- Jay Peak VT
- Bretton Woods NH
- Wildcat Mountain NH
- Powder Mountain UT
- Snowbird UT
- Sugarloaf ME
Beginner-Friendly Ski Areas
North East
- Bretton Woods NH
- King Pine NH
- Belleayre NY
- Bolton Valley VT
- Bromley Mountain VT
- Cranmore Mountain NH
7. Black Mountain Ski Area NH
8. Pats Peak NH
9. Ragged Mountain NH
10. Smugglers’ Notch VT
West Coast
- Anthony Lakes OR
- Diamond Peak NV
- June Mountain CA
- Boreal Mountain CA
- Tahoe Donner CA
- Bear Valley CA
7. 49 Degrees North WA
8. Snow Valley CA
9. Homewood CA
10. Donner Ski Ranch CA
High West
- Eagle Point UT
- Snowy Range WY
- Sundance Resort UT
- Brighton UT
- Powder Mountain UT
- Discovery MT
7. Grand Targhee WY
8. Alta UT
9. Ski Cooper CO
10. Brian Head UT
South East
- Canaan Valley WV
- Snowshoe Mountain WV
- Cataloochee NC
- Timberline Four Seasons Resort WV
- Beech Mountain Resort NC
- Massanutten VA
7. Wisp MD
8. Bryce Resort VA
9. Winterplace WV
10. Sugar Mountain NC
Mid West
- Crystal Mountain MI
2. Buck Hill MN
3. Shanty Creek Resorts MI
4. Boyne Highlands MI
5. Caberfae Peaks MI
6. Devil’s Head WI
7. Chestnut Mountain IL
8. Alpine Valley Resort WI
9. Cascade Mountain WI
10. Nubs Nob MI
Most Challenging
North East
- Magic Mountain VT
2. Mad River Glen VT
3. Wildcat Mountain NH
4. Jay Peak VT
5. Cannon Mountain NH - Sugarloaf ME
7. Whiteface – Lake Placid NY
8. Killington VT
9. Stowe VT
10. Sunday River ME
West Coast
- Kirkwood CA
2. Kicking Horse BC
3. Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows CA
4. Revelstoke Mountain Resort BC
5. Crystal Mountain WA - Mammoth Mountain CA
7. Alyeska AK
8. Whistler Blackcomb BC
9. Red Mountain Resort BC
10. Mt Baker WA
High West
- Jackson Hole WY
2. Snowbird UT
3. Alta UT
4. Arapahoe Basin CO
5. Silverton Mountain CO
6. Big Sky MT
7. Taos Ski Valley NM
8. Crested Butte CO
9. Powder Mountain UT
10. Telluride CO
South East
- Canaan Valley WV
2. Snowshoe Mountain WV
3. Timberline Four Seasons Resort WV
4. Winterplace WV
5. Sugar Mountain NC
6. Beech Mountain Resort NC
7. Cataloochee NC - Wisp MD
Mid West
- Mount Bohemia MI
2. Crystal Mountain MI
3. Boyne Mountain MI
4. Nubs Nob MI
5. Caberfae Peaks MI
6. Wild Mountain MN
7. Granite Peak WI
8. Boyne Highlands MI
9. Cascade Mountain WI
10. Lutsen Mountains MN
Family-Friendly Ski Areas
North East
- Bretton Woods NH
2. Black Mountain Ski Area NH
3. Ragged Mountain NH
4. Bolton Valley VT
5. King Pine NH
6. Attitash NH
7. Smugglers’ Notch VT
8. Jay Peak VT
9. Bromley Mountain VT
10. Cranmore Mountain NH
West Coast
- Tahoe Donner CA
2. Diamond Peak NV
3. Snow Valley CA
4. Boreal Mountain CA
5. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe NV
6. Mammoth Mountain CA
7. Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows CA
8. Sierra-At-Tahoe CA
9. Sun Peaks Resort BC
10. Whistler Blackcomb BC
High West
- Sipapu NM
2. Powder Mountain UT
3. Sundance Resort UT
4. Grand Targhee WY
5. Ski Cooper CO
6. Brighton UT
7. Solitude Mountain Resort UT
8. Alta UT
9. Brian Head UT
10. Arapahoe Basin CO
South East
- Canaan Valley WV
2. Winterplace WV
3. Cataloochee NC
4. Bryce Resort VA
5. Snowshoe Mountain WV
6. Beech Mountain Resort NC
7. Massanutten VA
8. Sugar Mountain NC
9. Timberline Four Seasons Resort WV
Mid West
- Crystal Mountain MI
2. Shanty Creek Resorts MI
3. Caberfae Peaks MI
4. Boyne Highlands MI
5. Cascade Mountain WI
6. Wild Mountain MN
7. Alpine Valley Resort WI
8. Boyne Mountain MI
9. Mt St Louis-Moonstone ON
10. Devil’s Head WI
Best Snow Consistency and Quality
North East
- Bretton Woods NH
2. Jay Peak VT
3. Sunday River ME
4. Killington VT
5. Mount Sunapee NH
6. Okemo Mountain VT
7. Sugarloaf ME
8. Loon Mountain NH
9. Stowe VT
10. Attitash NH
West Coast
- Kirkwood CA
2. Mammoth Mountain CA
3. Whitewater BC
4. Revelstoke Mountain Resort BC
5. Mt Baker WA
6. Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows CA
7. Sugar Bowl CA
8. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe NV
9. Alyeska AK
10. Whistler Blackcomb BC
High West
- Alta UT
2. Grand Targhee WY
3. Powder Mountain UT
4. Snowbird UT
5. Wolf Creek CO
6. Arapahoe Basin CO
7. Lost Trail MT
8. Solitude Mountain Resort UT
9. Breckenridge CO
10. Brighton UT
South East
- Canaan Valley WV
2. Snowshoe Mountain WV
3. Beech Mountain Resort NC
4. Timberline Four Seasons Resort WV
5. Winterplace WV
6. Sugar Mountain NC
7. Bryce Resort VA
8. Wisp MD
Mid West
- Crystal Mountain MI
2. Mount Bohemia MI
3. Nubs Nob MI
4. Shanty Creek Resorts MI
5. Caberfae Peaks MI
6. Boyne Mountain MI
7. Wild Mountain MN
8. Devil’s Head WI
9. Mt St Louis-Moonstone ON
10. Cascade Mountain WI
Least Crowded
North East
- Big Squaw Mountain ME
2. Mt. Abram ME
3. Magic Mountain VT
4. Kissing Bridge NY
5. Snow Ridge NY
6. Oak Mountain NY
7. Hickory Ski Center NY
8. McCauley Mountain Ski Area NY
9. Saddleback ME
10. Sugarloaf ME
West Coast
- Anthony Lakes OR
2. June Mountain CA
3. 49 Degrees North WA
4. Red Mountain Resort BC
5. Homewood CA
6. Kicking Horse BC
7. Revelstoke Mountain Resort BC
8. Powder King BC
9. Alyeska AK
10. Panorama Mountain Resort BC
High West
- Soldier Mountain ID
2. Powder Mountain UT
3. Lost Trail MT
4. Silverton Mountain CO
5. Castle Mountain Resort AB
6. Maverick MT
7. Eagle Point UT
8. Tamarack Resort ID
9. Blacktail Mountain MT
10. Pebble Creek ID
South East
- Canaan Valley WV
2. Timberline Four Seasons Resort WV
3. Wolf Ridge NC
4. Beech Mountain Resort NC
5. Massanutten VA
6. Cataloochee NC
7. Snowshoe Mountain WV
8. Sugar Mountain NC
9. Bryce Resort VA
Mid West
- Mount Bohemia MI
2. The Whitecap Mountains WI
3. Terry Peak SD
4. Norway Mountain MI
5. Treetops Resort MI
6. Nordic Mountain WI
7. Snow Snake MI
8. Devil’s Head WI
9. Blackjack MI
10. Boyne Highlands MI
Best Value
North East
- Arrowhead NH
2. Magic Mountain VT
3. Mad River Glen VT
4. Abenaki Ski Area NH
5. Jay Peak VT
6. Wildcat Mountain NH
7. Sugarloaf ME
8. Bretton Woods NH
9. Loon Mountain NH
10. Cannon Mountain NH
West Coast
- Anthony Lakes OR
2. Kirkwood CA
3. Revelstoke Mountain Resort BC
4. Kicking Horse BC
5. Alyeska AK
6. Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows CA
7. 49 Degrees North WA
8. Tahoe Donner CA
9. Crystal Mountain WA
10. Diamond Peak NV
High West
- Powder Mountain UT
2. Alta UT
3. Snowbird UT
4. Jackson Hole WY
5. Arapahoe Basin CO
6. Grand Targhee WY
7. Big Sky MT
8. Lost Trail MT
9. Solitude Mountain Resort UT
10. Bald Mountain ID
South East
- Canaan Valley WV
2. Cataloochee NC
3. Snowshoe Mountain WV
4. Winterplace WV
5. Beech Mountain Resort NC
6. Timberline Four Seasons Resort WV
7. Sugar Mountain NC
8. Wolf Ridge NC
9. Wisp MD
10. Bryce Resort VA
Mid West
- Mount Bohemia MI
2. Crystal Mountain MI
3. Treetops Resort MI
4. Caberfae Peaks MI
5. Shanty Creek Resorts MI
6. Boyne Highlands MI
7. Alpine Valley OH
8. Boyne Mountain MI
9. Devil’s Head WI
10. Nubs Nob MI
Overall BIS quotes
- Magic Mountain VT
- Best kept secret in the Northeast. Low key, local mountain with retro lifts and an old school feel.
- There is no place like Magic. Never a wait for the lift, challenging runs and honestly the best staff in the business. Can’t say enough about this place!
- It’s steeped in tradition!! They let the mountain be what it is, never over-grooming with a large amount of natural snow.
- Great community and old-time, retro vibe.
- Awesome terrain, never any crowds due to no modern lifts or amenities. A true skier’s mountain.
- Crystal Mountain MI: “Great atmosphere! Lifts and runs are fun and varied, people are very friendly, and they’re always doing improvements at the resort.”
- Mad River Glen VT: “Nothing compares to the challenge of Northeast skiing and Mad River Glen. It is simply the best if you are up for it.”
- Alta UT: “High altitude with world class powder. Unmatched snow conditions virtually guaranteed.”
- Jay Peak VT: “New England-style skiing at its best. Tight, twisty runs, challenging glade skiing, and far enough from the coast that it gets tons of snow.”
- Bretton Woods NH: “Great beginner terrain, gentle and wide for intermediates, and amazing runs for the rest of the family.”
- Wildcat Mountain NH: “Never waited in line more than 5 minutes and I usually ski right onto the chair. The 7 minute high-speed ride to the top makes for excellent vertical opportunity each day.”
- Powder Mountain UT: “Utah’s best kept secret. Large acreage, lots of powder, little crowds – what could be better!”
- Snowbird UT: “Mineral Basin in the morning is the greatest place. Snowbird is in the sweet spot of the Wasatch, consistently with 400+ inches a year of “the lightest snow on earth.”
- Sugarloaf ME: “It offers a variety of steep terrain, with a lot of variable conditions. You’ve really got to be on your A game at Sugarloaf!”
Quotes – Resorts with a #1 spot
Beginner-Friendly
- Anthony Lakes OR – “Variety of runs and forgiving trail layout. Lots of runs without being intimidating.”
- Eagle Point UT – “Great Instructors. Excellent Beginners Packages. Beginner runs are very non-threatening and have less people.”
- Crystal Mountain MI – “Great atmosphere! Lifts and runs are fun and varied, people are very friendly, and they’re always doing improvements at the resort.”
- Bretton Woods NH – “Great beginner terrain, gentle and wide for intermediates, and amazing runs for the rest of the family.”
- Canaan Valley WV – “They have a good learning area away from the slopes, nice long green runs for new skiers, and it’s not overcrowded.”
Best Snow Consistency & Quality
- Kirkwood CA – “Tons of snow with many natural obstacles – steeps, cliffs, shoots, cornices, trees.”
- Alta UT – “High altitude with world class powder. Unmatched snow conditions virtually guaranteed.”
- Crystal Mountain MI – “Great atmosphere! Lifts and runs are fun and varied, people are very friendly, and they’re always doing improvements at the resort.”
- Bretton Woods NH – “Great beginner terrain, gentle and wide for intermediates, and amazing runs for the rest of the family.”
- Canaan Valley WV – “They have a good learning area away from the slopes, nice long green runs for new skiers, and it’s not overcrowded.”
Best Value
- Anthony Lakes OR – “Variety of runs and forgiving trail layout. Lots of runs without being intimidating.”
- Powder Mountain UT – “Utah’s best kept secret. Large acreage, lots of powder, little crowds – What could be better!”
- Mount Bohemia MI – “Pretty much all expert terrain, from chutes, cliffs, trees. It’s an adventure.”
- Arrowhead NH – “Lift tickets for $9!”
- Canaan Valley WV – “They have a good learning area away from the slopes, nice long green runs for new skiers, and it’s not overcrowded.”
Family-Friendly
- Tahoe Donner, CA – “Casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Kids love it.”
- Sipapu, NM – “It’s a beginner-friendly mountain that can take you from the bunny slope to the top of the mountain in a day. It is very welcoming, with good specials for beginners.”
- Crystal Mountain MI – “Great atmosphere! Lifts and runs are fun and varied, people are very friendly, and they’re always doing improvements at the resort.”
- Bretton Woods NH – “Great beginner terrain, gentle and wide for intermediates, and amazing runs for the rest of the family.”
- Canaan Valley WV – “They have a good learning area away from the slopes, nice long green runs for new skiers, and it’s not overcrowded.”
Least Crowded
- Anthony Lakes OR – “Variety of runs and forgiving trail layout. Lots of runs without being intimidating.”
- Soldier Mountain ID – “Local resort in a small town, yet still plenty of fun to be found in the trees.”
- Mount Bohemia MI – “Pretty much all expert terrain, from chutes, cliffs, trees. It’s an adventure.”
- Big Squaw Mountain ME – “Even with only the bottom half of the mountain open, the most crowded day is still measurably less crowded than any big mountain’s least crowded day.”
- Canaan Valley WV – “They have a good learning area away from the slopes, nice long green runs for new skiers, and it’s not overcrowded.”
Most Challenging
- Kirkwood CA – “Tons of snow with many natural obstacles – steeps, cliffs, shoots, cornices, trees.”
- Jackson Hole WY – “You can find any challenge you’re looking for at Jackson Hole: trees, steeps, backcountry, etc. No day is the same due to the differences in weather across the mountain.”
- Mount Bohemia MI – “Pretty much all expert terrain, from chutes, cliffs, trees. It’s an adventure.”
- Magic Mountain VT – “Best kept secret in the North East. Low key, local mountain with retro lifts and an old school feel.”
- Canaan Valley WV – “They have a good learning area away from the slopes, nice long green runs for new skiers, and it’s not overcrowded.”
Liftopia Unleashes Best in Snow Awards, The Preeminent Rankings of the Best Ski Areas in North America added by John_Hamilton on
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