[Where to board in early May?]

Hi,

Can any-one recommend a resort that will still have at least half decent snow in early May? I know that's right at the end of Japan's season, but that's when I'll be visiting and I'm hoping that there'll be a resort up in Hokkaido or somewhere that will still be ridable.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

[Best boarding resort area in the world?]

I agree that Whistler is great, but if you want to know where to go in Europe then Avoriaz in France wins hands down. A lot of people claim it to be the snowboard capital of the world, and it was certainly one of the first places to welcome boarders and even to have dedicated snowboard slopes, areas and lifts. It's part of a linked area of resorts called the Portes de Soleil which stretches from France across over into Switzerland and is one of the largest linked areas in the world, and the back-country riding is amazing.

 

Another good and large resort is Les Arcs (France) which claims to be the birth-place of boarding, but I was out there last month and the snow wasn't too good - although it's supposed to be pretty good right now.

 

Chamonix (also France) is very popular with serious bc riders, but I've never been. I've ridden in most European countries and France definately has some of the best resorts and certainly the biggest selection, but St Anton in Austria and Sauze d'Oulx in Italy are both very good as well.