Best Summer Snowboarding Destinations
With American Ski Resorts recording record snowfalls and European resorts having epic powder days in April, maybe, like us you are not quite ready to apply the storage wax. If you are not ready to put that snowboard in storage for summer then you are in luck. Here is our list of some of the top places you can head when most lifts have stopped turning.
TIME TO GET EPIC
Australia might not be the first place to come to mind when you are dreaming of heading to the snow, but it should definitely be on your list. None more so than if you are an Epic Pass holder as you will get unlimited slope time at three of Australia’s best-known resorts; Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek. Be prepared to rub shoulders with some of the best skiers and snowboarders in the world who often use Perisher as a summer training base.
It is also worth considering a trip to Thredbo. Thredbo has the largest vertical drop in Australia meaning that it offers some of the longest runs down under. A trip to Thredbo means more time snowboarding and less time riding lifts. That coupled with a great park set-up and some easy access backcountry makes Thredbo a viable option for some summer snow.
HEAD SOUTH FOR WINTER
South America is on pretty much every skier and snowboarder’s bucket list with Argentina and Chile offering a number of top-quality resorts to choose from. To this day, Cerro Catedral remains the most scenic place I have snowboarded and would recommend the experience to everyone. Cerro Catedral also has some incredible lift-accessed backcountry. A short walk accesses La Laguna area, which is memorable and the inbounds chutes of Nubes chair are incredible for a powder day.
Other notable resorts to consider in Argentina would be Las Lenas for some pretty extreme lines and great snow quality due to its high altitude and Cerro Castor on the southern tip of Patagonia. Once you have filled yourself with as much Argentinian steak as possible you should also consider heading to Chile where Valle Nevado and Portillo rank extremely high on the list.
EUROPEAN ALPS
Europe is home to some fantastic summer snowboarding options with the possibility to snowboard 365 days per year. With glacier snowboarding possible in; France, Switzerland and Italy and longer seasons in Scandinavia, there are plenty of options to extend your season.
Les 2 Alpes is a major base for European summer skiing and its 11 glacier runs make it one of the largest summer ski areas in Europe. Les 2 Alpes is the perfect place to practice freestyle through the summer months and it boasts a slopestyle course, big air as well as a half-pipe and parks suited to all abilities. The summer season runs from June through August.
Zermatt is a year-round resort and can be accessed from Switzerland or the Italian resort of Cervinia. The glacier offers over 20km of summer slopes that are mainly intermediate-focused. Of course, as with most summer options, Zermatt offers a terrain park but unlike most, it offers incredible views of the Matterhorn.
Saas-Fee is another European resort that keeps the lifts turning throughout the summer months. With 20km of pistes open, a terrain park with features suited to beginners and professionals alike, it’s easy to see why so many athletes base themselves on the Saas-Fee glacier during the summer months. The Glacier opens in July and closes in October.
Passo Stelvio in Italy sits at the top of a high mountain pass which remains closed throughout the winter. Because the area is inaccessible during the main winter ski season, the snow piles up and the resort opens in May when the road re-opens. Snowboarding at Passo Stelvio remains one of the most unique ski experiences in Europe.
NEW ZEALAND
With internationally renowned resorts and smaller ski fields accessible on both the North and South Islands a New Zealand ski trip presents plenty of variety.
The South Island has some really interesting options with the parks at Cardrona, the steeps of Treble Cone or the multi-access lift pass that gives access to Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt. When a season pass for three resorts sets you back £335 there is very little to consider. New Zealand lends itself to adventure and road-tripping this incredible country is a great way to see the resorts during the summer months.
NORTH AMERICA
North America had to have somewhere that would stay open through the summer and there are two big hitters.
Whistler is a destination on many hardened ski and snowboarders’ wish list. But did you know they are open for summer shredding? Although a relatively short season when compared to the European resorts on this list, Whistler will be open from June 8th to July 14th in 2019. Another benefit of being in Whistler during the summer months is the plethora of other activities on offer. A visit to the Whistler Bobsleigh where you can ride the Olympic track should not be missed!
The PNW looks for all intents and purposes to be an incredible place to live. Those lucky enough to call this home get the pleasure of snowboarding year-round in addition to; forests, coastline and huge lakes. Mt Hood will be the destination with the longest US ski season running into September! A trip to the Pacific North West will have you throwing a method in the morning and barbecuing by the lake as the sun goes down.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There really are so many options that can keep you on snow throughout the summer months. A summer snowboarding experience can be a much more rounded experience with mornings spent shredding before relaxing in nature throughout the afternoon.
I would love to hear from you! What is your favourite summer snowboard destination? Do you have a favourite month of the year to ride? Let me know in the comments and on my socials.
