Snowboarding
Pros Pick 5 of the Best Powder Spots in the World
We asked the pros where they go to ride powder and they gave us the inside dirt ... or rather, snow.
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Sebi Geiger lost in the woods of Silvretta
© Christoph Schöch
The world's most gifted snow athletes know a thing or two about good powder.
We asked the pros to pick their favorite destinations around the world. From Japan and Switzerland to a couple great spots in North America, these guys have you covered.
Take some notes and get pumped to plan your next cold-weather getaway.
Eero Ettala: Asahidake, Japan
“My favorite powder resort is Asahidake in Hokkaido, Japan. It only has one gondola going up the mountain, multiple tree runs filled with fresh powder and not too many riders on the hill. We always get lodging right next to resort, so we can walk to the lift every morning and no need to stress about renting a car. Last three times that I have been to Asahidake, the snow has been all time in February and we have had fresh powder for every day of our trip. I highly recommend this place!”
Asahidake is on the highest mountain in Hokkaido, and is not really a resort, but a national park area served by a gondola — zero facilities and nightlife, but does it get any better for powder riding? Not really!
Seb Toots @ Freestyle.ch
© Danny Burrows
Seb Toots: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
“Whistler is probably my favorite place to ride powder because the terrains are so big and it has some sick ass tree lines. Like any other resorts, it's better if you hike up so you can ride more fresh tracks. You can have some of the best food on hill and the people are awesome.”
Whistler is regularly voted best ski resort in the world, because it has it all — tons of snow, a huge area with a wide variety of natural terrain, one of the best snowparks on the planet and all the fast lifts and fast living you expect from one of the world’s mega-resorts.
John Jackson 2013
© Tim Zimmerman/Red Bull Content Pool
John Jackson: Happo One, Japan
“You can find some of the best resorts in Japan. It doesn't stop snowing, it's not crowded, and for some reason, a lot of the riders stay on groomed runs so you are almost guaranteed to find powder by venturing off a short way — and most of the time, it's right in front of you. A new favorite I just rode is called Happo on the South Island. There is amazing terrain, it holds a lot of vertical and you can access some of the most incredible mountains in Japan's backcountry from the resort. I didn't know Alaska was in Japan until riding here.”
Four hours' drive from Tokyo on Japan’s main island, Happo One (pronounced Happo On-Ay) is the biggest and most westernised resort in the "Japanese Alps," with access to plenty of gnarly above-the-tree line terrain in the surrounding backcountry.
Markus Keller @ Art of Flight premiere
© Lorenz Richard/Red Bull Content Pool
Markus Keller: Davos, Switzerland
“My favorite resort for pow days is Davos/Klosters. Having lived there for seven years, I would still call it my home resort and for sure the one I know the best. As it consists of a few different mountains and valleys, it offers you all sort of aspects with trees or protection, if needed. There’s a full spectrum of terrain, from big lines to kicker spots to tree runs, and the big selection of mountains and lifts always helps for escaping the crowd. Definitely my all-time favorite!”
According to the World Snowboard Guide, Davos is the "best overall resort in Switzerland" with every kind of natural and man-made terrain spread over a huge, five-mountain area. Besides being a haven for epic powder, Davos is also the preferred winter destination for Europe’s rich and famous, so pack your fur coat and Chanel goggles.
Pat Moore - Portrait
© Marv Watson/Red Bull Content Pool
Pat Moore: Squaw Valley, California, USA
“I would pick Squaw simply for the terrain, Granite Chief is like a skatepark, tons of little hits and cliffs make it all-time and you can heckle from the lift!”
Located in California, Squaw Valley is one of the larger resorts in the Lake Tahoe area, with a wider variety of terrain than most of its neighbors. Being in The Golden State, Squaw’s highly shred-able terrain is blessed with both high annual snowfall (11m) and sunshine — 300 days a year — so if you’re the kind who loves bluebird powder days ... this is the place for you.
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