If you are anything like me then you are a little heartbroken when spring comes and the snow melts at your favorite ski/snowboarding resorts. This year I spent a couple weekends in Park City, Utah and Lake Tahoe which has some of the best slopes for skiers and snowboarders alike. I just now recently got back into skiing as the girls have gotten old enough to be left with my sister for longer periods of time. I really got the skiing bug again after spending those weekends in Tahoe and now I am just itching to get back on the slopes.
I have also been itching for some international travel so I figured what the hell I might as well combine both of my cravings. I did a little bit of research and found that there are some great summer ski resorts abroad where you can experience a different culture and enjoy your favorite winter past time.
Coronet Peak- New Zealand
If you have the means then I definitely recommend visiting New Zealand in any capacity. There is a wide variety of ecosystems and the people there are some of the kindest I have ever met. I’ve heard about this ski resort in my other travels to New Zealand but I never got around to visiting as I made a simple drop by while I was in Australia. Coronet Peak is in close proximity to Queensland and has a wide variety of terrain that offers something for everybody. Beginner and intermediate skiers can enjoy some nice wide blue and red runs, while more advanced skiiers can use the terrain park or go down the longest run dubbed the “M-1” a 1.5 mile juggernaut. The resort is also known for it’s efficient high-speed chairlifts. Tickets cost $95 (NZD)
Les 2 Alpes- France
One the largest ski resorts in Europe. The Mont-de-lans Glacier is open within the coming weeks until early September. The resort features a funicular railway that transports the skiers up to the top of the largest skiable glacier in Europe. There are only 8 runs at the resort which are reached by both chairlifts and drags. However Les 2 Alpes has one of the best snowparks in Europe with a snowskate zone, slopestyle featuring Big Air, tables, kickers, rails as well as a 15 ft high half-pipe and a smaller pipe for beginners. Also lift tickets are fairly affordable 28 euro for a half day.
Zermatt- Switzerland
Zermatt has an enormous 16 miles of summer skiing on its Theodul Glacier and is open from May to November. The slopes can be accessed via the Klein Matterhorn cable car. A wonderful thing about Zermatt is that the summer ski area is shared with Cervinia in Italy so you can actually ski across the border for lunch. There are 13 runs on the glacier divided between blues and reds so this is a perfect place for an intermediate and beginner skier. Zermatt also has a standard park with a half-pipe, kickers, and rails. Who wouldn’t want to visit the actual Matterhorn?
Perisher- Australia
Perisher is located in New South Wales and is an enormous ski area in Australia. The resort is made up of four villages including Blue Cow, Perisher Valley, Sigmiggins Holes, Perisher Valley, and Guthega. All of the villages are connected through 49 different lifts including the state of the art high-speed 8 person lift. The resort consists of 7 mountain peaks and offers something from beginners to advanced skiers. Freestyle snowboarders and skiers will revel in the five terrain parks and super pipe. Lift tickets are a bit pricey at $112 Australian.
Cerro Catedral
One of the biggest ski areas in South America. It offers an incredible 75 miles of runs with a beautiful view of the Nahuel Haupi Lake. Boasting 38 lifts including a modern bubble and six-seater chairlift the slopes are peppered with mountain huts filled with Argentinean snacks and refreshments. The resort is mostly made for intermediate skiers with 25 blue runs and 15 red runs. I have never met anybody who has visited this resort so this is all the information I can provide.
