As the Australian and New Zealand seasons come to a close it's time to look north for your next snow fix. Skiing overseas for Australian skiers and snowboarders akin to a sugar addict in a Willy Wonker factory. First timers can expect an adrenal rush like no other as the size of international resort terrain, the depth of powder snow, the price of lift tickets and the on mountain food offerings sink in.
There are some things that the northern hemisphere simply does better, though coffee isn't one of them. We've compiled a list of some of our favourite things you'll find skiing overseas that you won't get back home.
Imagine a world where wi-fi is not only fast but it's free. That's the world you will enter when you fly north over the equator. You can pick your jaw off the floor as most hotels, cafes and restaurants across the US, Canada and parts of Europe offer fast and free wi-fi.
Vail Resorts even has free wi-fi throughout the town of Vail. Yes, that's right, you can update your social media while on the street. You can also do it on the main gondola as you travel up the mountain.
Jackson Hole in Wyoming offer all Australians free beer on Australia Day. Need we say more?
Beaver Creek in Colorado give away free freshly baked cookies to skiers coming off the slopes each afternoon at 3pm. Every day.
There are some places that are just easier to access by helicopter. Places that have millions of hectares of untouched virgin powder waiting for your skis and snowboard to make their mark. Commercial heli skiing was created in 1965 by Hans Gmoser of Canadian Mountain Holidays, a company that now offers 11 multi day remote heli ski lodges in the powder haven of Interior British Columbia in Canada.
From Le Chabichou and Le Kintessence in Courchevel to the restaurants of Rosa Alpina in Alta Badia, the European Alps offer a host of Michelin stars restaurants on which to chow down on. Le Trois Vallees region alone has twelve restaurants with various Michelin stars.
Ski in Japan and put your money in the slope side slot for hot coffee in a can, ramen noodles, fried potatoes, grilled octopus and rice balls.
You heard right. There are mountain destinations that receive ten or more metres of snow each season. Fernie in Canada boasts an average 11 metres snowfall a season, Snowbird in Utah has over 12 metres as does Grand Targhee in Wyoming.
No need to imagine vertical metres in the thousands, they actually exist. Revelstoke Mountain Resort in Canada boasts 1700 metres of vertical, Whistler also in Canada has over 1500 metres. Jackson Hole in Wyoming USA has over 1200 metres of vertical and so does Snowmass in Colorado.
Join a private club or make friends with a member and you could be dining during private members hours at Allreds on Telluride Mountain, Game Creek Club on Vail Mountain, Yellowstone Club at Big Sky Montana and The Aspen Mountain Club on Aspen Mountain.
Hot mineral spring onsens are in almost every ski town of Japan to sooth the weary ski muscles. You'll also find them at Dunton Springs near Telluride in the US, Lava Hot Springs in Utah, Bormio in Italy and Banff in Canada.
You can literally ski into the High West whiskey distillery in Park City for local made whiskey and vodka or try the 10th Mountain Whiskey Tasting Room at Vail for locally distilled whiskey, bourbon, vodka and moonshine.
It's not a distillery but the ski in ski out Bloody Mary Bar on the deck at the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch at Beaver Creek is one of the best things in Colorado. Bloody Mary's in the US take on a religious style status with bacon, burgers and pickles as accoutrements and mini beer bottles as chasers.
Guests at The Limelight Hotel and The Little Nell in Aspen have the exclusive opportunity to 'sweep the mountain with ski patrol' at the end of a ski day. Guests spend the last runs of the day after the lifts close with Aspen Mountain Ski Patrol to ensure everyone is down safely and the mountain. Get a behind the scenes look at how a mountain is put to bed each night.
Vail Resorts leads the RFID Technology that all other mountains have followed. The Epic Mix online app now offers Epic Time so you can see the wait time for a chairlift while on the mountain and choose your ski route accordingly. Epic Mix also offers bespoke itineraries just for you based on how many groomers, beginner, blue or black runs you fancy and how many places you'd like to stop for a hot chocolate.
Park City in Utah has one of the best outlet malls around with serious discounts on big name brands from Vans to Calvin Klein. Keystone in Colorado has access to Silverthorne outlet malls. Aspen in Colorado has something for every Hollywood starlet wanting Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Mammoth Mountain in California has a sports outlet with up to 70 per cent off all big brands.
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INSTAGRAM WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Congratulations to Alice Adamson who won the #misssnowitall #skimaxholidays Instagram2Win competition. Alice and a friend will be travelling in style thanks to Ski Max Holidays with return flights from Sydney to Vancouver, a week at the lush Fairmont Whistler ski in ski out hotel plus lift passes.
Congratulations also go to Camilla Rutherford who won the Sony HD Action Cam for her #pro entry as judged by professional snow and action photographer Darren Teasdale from Niseko Photography.
Thanks to everyone who entered this year's competition. Check out a gallery of all of this year's finalists here.
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The massive storm that saved ski season, but came at a deadly cost
Unusual skiing destinations: Ski resorts you have never heard of
Norquay in Alberta, Canada: King of the mountain
