The global resorts overrun by Australians

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This was published 9 years ago

The global resorts overrun by Australians

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With the option of four resorts, a party village and celebrity filled streets, no wonder Aussies love to ski in Aspen, Colorado.

With the option of four resorts, a party village and celebrity filled streets, no wonder Aussies love to ski in Aspen, Colorado.Credit: Aspen Skiing Company/Jeremy Swan

Thanks to Canada and Australia's working visa arrangement (Australians aged 18 to 30 can travel and work in Canada for up to a year) and the convenience of non-stop flights from east coast down under to west coast Canada, Whistler is overrun with Aussie accents. My last trip I counted five before I heard a Canadian.

Australian dollars were equally responsible for putting Niseko in Japan on the world ski and snowboard map, and it shows with meat pie outlets alongside Aussie ski and snowboard retail brands on the main street. But none of that changes the impressive metre loads of dry Niseko powder and natural onsens you just can't get back home.

Don't get me wrong.

Blue sky skiing and super groomed runs: Aussies can't get enough to the off piste powder on Aspen Mountain, Aspen, Colorado.

Blue sky skiing and super groomed runs: Aussies can't get enough to the off piste powder on Aspen Mountain, Aspen, Colorado.Credit: Aspen Skiing Company/Scott Marke

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Niseko, Japan - similar time zone to Australia so no jet lag, lower altitude so no altitude sickness, fifteen metres of super dry snow per season, even split between beginner, intermediate, advanced and cheaper lift tickets.

Cardrona, New Zealand - Australians owned Cardrona until last year when it was bought by Real Journeys in New Zealand, uber groomed runs, stand alone day care centre and impressive kids ski school, FIS half pipe, terrain parks and close to both Queenstown and Wanaka.

Not all Australians know about

Crested Butte, Colorado USA - think of Crested Butte as the Byron Bay of skiing in Colorado. Over nine hundred metres of vertical, six hundred and twenty six hectares of skiable terrain, over five hundred acres of inbound double black diamond terrain, over seven and a half metres of snow each season and a groovy alternative mountain town.

Revelstoke, Canada - if Revelstoke was easier to get to it would be as busy as Whistler. Boasts North America's biggest vertical 1713 metres, 1263 hectares of skiable terrain that is mainly intermediate, advanced and expert plus purpose built ski in ski out accommodation.

Nozawa Onsen, Japan - a feudal onsen town from 924 AC that is the 'home of Japan skiing' with cobbled laneways, an annual fire festival, traditional ryokans and fifty private and public onsens. Did we mention the Japanese powder?

Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand - you will have to travel to get here, a few hours from Auckland or Wellington, but you will be skiing an active volcano and two ski fields - Turoa and Whakapapa. Combined they over 1050 hectares of skiable terrain and more than seven hundred metres of vertical.

Whitefish, Montana USA - this is cowboy skiing country and comes with some of the best tree skiing around, super dry powder, a mountain Jesus, crazy locals and the Hidden Moose Lodge which is reason enough to stay.

Grand Targhee, Wyoming USA - an hour from the more well known Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee boasts seriously good powder, great skiing and boarding, a cat skiing operation and a rustic day lodge and mountain village with old fashioned home style hospitality.

INSTAGRAM COMPETITION

We are so excited about our #misssnowitall Instagram competition this year and with a trip to Japan up for grabs who wouldn't be?

Thanks to the Japan experts at Liquid Snow Tours and Hakuba Hotel Group we have a trip for two to Hakuba in Japan flying direct with Jetstar from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne with seven nights at the conveniently located Hakuba Springs Hotel, daily breakfast, five of nine day multi-resort lift passes for the Hakuba Valley, welcome drinks, transfers, in resort assistance and concierge service. Now that's how you do Hakuba in style.

To enter just tag your winter inspired Instagrams with #misssnowitall.

We will choose five winners each week for our gallery above, and come September, our guest judge will choose our finalists from the gallery and you get to judge the ultimate winner of this fantastic week in Japan. Click here for full terms and conditions.

Follow Miss Snow It All on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Email Miss Snow It All rachael.oakesash@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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