Ski & Snowboard Destinations with a Hook

I was recently planning a snowboarding trip for the up-and-coming winter season when I was pleasantly surprised by the website quality associated with several well-known destinations. For the most part, a quick look under the hood (the client side code) left much to be desired, but to the average Joe user, the experience, design, and functionality of a majority of these sites is quite impressive.

At any rate, if I was to determine which resorts I was going to visit this year based off my initial reaction to their website, the following would be the order in which I would visit those destinations. Which one is your favorite?

1. Jackson Hole
2. Deer Valley
3. Keystone
4. Steamboat
5. Copper
6. Breckenridge
7. Brighton
8. Aspen/Snowmass
9. Beaver Creek

1.   #1 Comment Posted by Nathan Logan on Oct 19, 02:05 PM
   Dislike Deer Valley, but the rest are pretty cool.
   
   Keystone and Jackson Hole (in that order) rock. A lot.
   
   Gracias for the links. It’s nice to see some sweet designs that don’t fit the everyday ‘blog’ look.
2.   #2 Comment Posted by Tim Varcak on Oct 19, 03:39 PM
   You snowboard? nice =] I’ve been skiing for years, but now this winter is going to be the year I convert over.
   
   I haven’t been to many of the places on your list, but a couple years ago I headed out to Colorado with some friends and we hit up Keystone, Brekenridge, and Aspen.
   
   Here’s what I remember from that trip:
   Aspen: didn’t really like. Seemed like most of the time was spent just traversing to the next slope/lift, and the lifts didn’t seem all that well placed (ie hard to get to where you wanted to go). I also didn’t really find the mountain to be all that good.
   
   Keystone: Liked it. Great trails, good lifts. If you go to here, make sure you get some time on the outback.
   
   Brekenridge: Like it. Good trails, good lifts. Here you’ve got to head all the way up on the t-bar and take some of the runs starting from the north bowl. Very quality
   
   Between Brekenridge and Keystone I’m not sure which one I liked better. Both were quality mountains.
3.   #3 Comment Posted by Nathan Logan on Oct 19, 04:45 PM
   Just for the record, I meant the web sites, not necessarily the mountains…although they probably rock, too.
4.   #4 Author Comment on Oct 19, 05:21 PM
   Tim – Good to hear, we have decided upon both Breckenridge and Keystone for a trip in January.
   
   I’ve been skiing since 5th grade, made the switch a couple years back. The ride is very different and arguably much better in the pow pow.
   
   We’ll have to hit the hill this year…
5.   #5 Comment Posted by marko on Oct 21, 08:26 PM
   OK, as first, i’m jealous. My son is too young for skiing, so this is 3rd year in a row without winter vaccation.
   
   Appart from my egocentric whining, i’m happy you have such great resorts near you, and presented well. Look what we (don’t) have:
   http://www.bjelolasica.hr/eng/novosti/novosti.php
   http://www.sljeme.hr/index.php?s=sport
   so we have to go abroad:
   http://www.plandecorones.net/brunico_e.htm
   http://www.sappada.info/en/winter.php
6.   #6 Comment Posted by Paul Carew on Oct 29, 03:28 PM
   Hey Cody,
   
   Getting the itch for snow to fly? Me too. Mammoth Mountain opened last week…
   
   Of the sites listed, I’m quite fond of the Keystone website. It’s well designed, I love the random images, and it doesn’t feel stuffy or overdesigned like a few the others. It’s about the experience of the resort, not creating an “upper crust” feel.
   
   I’m also fond of the Jackson Hole site (and the resort). It has a unique feel that really fits with the brand. As far as information design, holy smokes is that a lot of content on the homepage…
   
   Let’s make some turns when snow flies…