Best places to snowboard in Western Europe

Here's our opinion of the best 10 places to snowboard in Western Europe.

  1. Davos, Switzerland

    The best overall resort in Switzerland offering something for everyone. Huge pisted area and excellent freeriding spread across 5 mountains, and not to mention the terrain park and 2 halpipes. Direct train services and good local services complete the package, but go mid-week to avoid the masses.
    Freeriding: 90% - Trees and excellent off-piste
    Freestyle: 80% - Good pipes and parks
    Pistes: 85% - Huge and varied run selection

  2. Verbier, Switzerland

    Extremely good resort with some of the best extreme terrain in Switzerland And the world for that matter. Some great summer riding too.
    Freeriding: 100% - Freeride paradise
    Freestyle: 60% - A solid terrain park
    Pistes: 90% - Pistes in all shapes and sizes

  3. St Anton, Austria

    By far the best freeriders resort in Austria and backed up by a world class village. It all comes at quite a price and the British invasian is leaving it less Austrian every year.
    Freeriding: 95% - Awesome off-piste but don't hang around
    Freestyle: 60% - Small park but plenty of natural hits
    Pistes: 85% - Wide, long and some very testing slopes

  4. Serre Chevalier, France

    One of the best resorts in France. Great freeriding with powder and full-on, freestyle terrain. Shame it's pricey and packed with skiiers.
    Freeriding: 80% - Great tree runs & good off-piste
    Freestyle: 72% - Parks & 2 halfpipes
    Pistes: 76% - Lots of trees & open pistes

  5. Chamonix, France

    Chamonix offers some truly excellent freeriding and great natural freestyle terrain. It's not great for beginners and can suffer if there's not much snow. It's rough round the edges - but therein lies its charm. If you can, wait until there's fresh snow then jump in your car.
    Freeriding: 95% - Tree runs & amazing off-piste
    Freestyle: 70% - Half-pipe but great natural
    Pistes: 60% - Spread out & ungroomed slopes

  6. Avoriaz, France

    Good resort with excellent freeriding and carving areas. The main problem with Avoriaz are the crowds and long lift queues.
    Freeriding: 80% - Tree runs & some good off-piste
    Freestyle: 85% - Excellent Parks & half-pipe
    Pistes: 80% - Plenty of good slopes

  7. Flims, Switzerland

    Excellent riding area
    Freeriding: 85% - Trees & some good off-piste
    Freestyle: 80% - 2 terrain parks & 2 halfpipes
    Pistes: 80% - Great condition & variety

  8. Laax, Switzerland

    Excellent snowsure resort with a good long season. The slopes are great for freestylers and freeriders alike, as well as suiting beginners. The resort can be slack at opening lifts and the off-piste gets tracked out within hours of a dump.
    Freeriding: 80% - Trees & some good off-piste
    Freestyle: 85% - 2 terrain parks & huge halfpipe
    Pistes: 80% - Great condition & variety

  9. Les Arcs, France

    A great freeriders resort with lots of off-piste and powder, plus natural hits to explore. A major tourist spot with lively nightlife.
    Freeriding: 76% - Tree runs & excellent off-piste
    Freestyle: 70% - Park & half-pipe
    Pistes: 85% - Pisted to perfection

  10. Ischgl, Austria

    Ischgl has plenty of good wide intermediate slopes, and hidden off-piste stashes. A super fast lift system, a season that lasts until May, great terrain park, and the most full on apres in the Alps, completes the package.
    Freeriding: 75% - Trees & some good off-piste
    Freestyle: 75% - Great Park
    Pistes: 80% - Nice wide, well maintained
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