Our top five snowboard resorts

Not sure where to ride this year? We have put together a quick guide to our favourite resorts for snowboarding.

Part of the expansive Portes du Soleil ski area, Avoriaz has been a hugely popular snowboarding destination for years; however, recent developments have firmly cemented the resort’s place at the forefront of French snowboarding. In addition to the various terrain parks dotted around the area, Avoriaz was the first European resort to open the Stash, a revolutionary park featuring a variety of natural obstacles, such as rails, wall rides and jumps hidden amongst the trees.

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If you need proof of the resort’s credentials as a snowboarding destination, consider that in 2009 Laax will host the Brits (the UK’s premier snowboarding event) for the 5th consecutive year. Offering 4 terrain parks, a superpipe and over 220km of pistes, there is something for all ability levels. In the evening, the ‘Crap Bar’ is a popular hangout, before continuing into the night at the Riders Palace Club, which offers regular performances by top DJs.

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Les Deux Alpes is an ideal choice for those seeking a snowsure resort for early or late season riding. The resort’s glacier is open for summer and winter riding and during the winter season there is skiing and riding from 1,300m right up to 3,600m. In addition to the various funparks and half-pipe, the resort also boasts the Slide area with a variety of cliff drops, gulleys and boardercross courses, bringing backcountry elements into a controlled environment.

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One of the first European resorts to embrace snowboarding and made popular by the classic 'Apocalypse Snow' videos, Les Arcs offers some of the best freeriding terrain in the French Alps. With the link into the Paradiski domain now providing 425km of pistes and a variety of freestyle terrain, there is more than enough to satisfy even the most hardcore riders.

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Breckenridge's reputation as a great snowboarding resort is reflected by the fact that it is a regular stop on the competition circuit, hosting competitions such as the Vans Triple Crown and Dew Tour.  Its wide selection of freestyle terrain can regularly be seen in big budget snowboard movies and with recent extensions to the ski area, there is more than enough to keep the free-riders happy.

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