Never judge a book by its cover - James Cove, Breckenridge
Thursday February 10, 2011 - Email this article to a friend

Our content editor rather reluctantly crossed the Atlantic to ski in North America. Breckenridge to be precise. So what is he making of it so far?

Humble pie has never tasted so good.

Deep powder snow, Wild West après ski and some of the best tree skiing I have ever experienced. I have also discovered inbound, off piste skiing American-style. The same slopes that you cannot venture onto without a guide in Europe are all assessed and declared safe by the authorities.

I haven't quite had a road to Damascus experience but I have shed a few prejudices and discovered a new mountain range and continent to ski in.

If you read my previous blog you will see that I am a bit of a fan of everything alpine and not particularly happy spending many hours in a tin tube at 29,000 feet.

But with my hand on my heart I can say that I am intrigued by Colorado and want more. I am not yet on North America but it is a distinct possibility.

It may of course have something to do with the fact that I am currently in the resort that has some of the best snow anywhere in the world.

In The Alps there is a snow drought and that is putting it politely.

Pretty good groomersHere we are wallowing in the white stuff.

Breckenridge has already surpassed it's annual average and more is set to come. The snow is not that deep but it is soft, utterly gorgeous and oh so sweet.

You may get a small idea of it in this video snow report on PlanetSKI.

So what is so special about the place?

Aside from the fact that we currently have the best snow of pretty much anywhere in the world, the ski terrain is Breckenridge is exceptional. Now I am not a fan of the mega-resorts with hundreds of runs all pretty much the same. I like variety.

Today I have skied gentle cruisers, steep chutes, knee deep untouched powder, mogul fields, deep snow tree skiing and wide open 45 degree slopes that at high speed you really do not want to fall on.

I have also taken the highest ski lift in the northern hemisphere, the Imperial Express Super Chair, at 3,914m.

The highest lift in northern hemisphere

It took me to one of the best high mountain faces I have skied this winter.

It was unimaginativley called Peak 7.

Many of the other runs and ski areas have names you asociate with American resorts; Sizzler, The Burn, Drak Rider, Mustang, Mach 1, Tiger.

I have rarely made such sweet high speed and fast GS turns.

Last night we headed into town and ended up in some bar utterly American. We shot some pool, drank some beer and were partially deafened by loud America rock music.

Strong alcoholI felt like I was in a film set, but it was real. Another night we headed to an absynth bar.

Yes an absybth bar in an American ski resort bizarre.

OK, so what are the problems with the place?

At the moment none that I can think of, but I am writing this as a bit of a stream of consciousness after one of the best day's skiing of my season so far and I have just received messgaes from friends in The Alps about conditions there.

I know where I would rather be.

So it is a little difficult to be objective.

I have skied for about six weeks this winter in well over a dozen resorts so far from Chamonix to Verbier. My day today in Breckenridge is right up there.

I promise I will balance this out with the downsides of the place in a later blog. It's just that at the moment I can't think of any.

Apart for the rather poor self service mountain restaurants, but all that meant was that we ate, left quickly, and went skiing.

Hardly a problem.

Tomorrow I am leaving Breckenridge and heading to Beaver Creek and then Vail.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Summit Seven