Whistler Blackcomb casts a shadow over North American resort skiing with its two mighty mountains. Soaring a mile into the British Columbian sky, Whistler stands like a monumental beacon ready to cast its effervescent glow on any skier who ventures north. With more vertical than almost any mountain, more acreage and varied terrain than any resort, and an unparalleled base village, Whistler Blackcomb takes the title of best resort in North America for 2011.

From powdery glades to death-defying steeps to sublime cruisers to hero-making cliffs, the one- two punch of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains offers up the finest terrain for every skier. Sprinkle in over 400 inches of Coastal Range fluffy white and Whistler is as close to perfection as any resort could hope to be. Yes, Whistler is a major destination, but with 5,280 feet of vertical and 8,170 acres to play on, crowds usually aren’t a problem.

What resort would be complete without an epic park and pipe scene? Besides hosting the Telus festival, Whistler and Blackcomb both house multiple terrain parks that range from beginner to TJ Schiller. Last year, Whistler also bolstered its pipe game with a 22-foot superpipe, which is still somewhat of a rarity. And don’t think about beach season, because throughout the summer, Blackcomb’s Horstman Glacier hosts a grip of ski and snowboard camps, making Whistler a massive summer ski destination.

Whistler Village shines as brightly as the mountains. Whistler is a melting pot of local rippers, countless pros, impressionable tourists and incredible artists that mix it up at the countless bars, restaurants, spas, shops, clubs, hotels and artistic venues that keep you entertained well into the night.

All of this combines to create the one destination that clearly rises above the rest, making it our top spot for skiing in North America.

     

THE TOP 12
#1 Whistler/Blackcomb, BC
#2 Aspen/Snowmass, CO
#3 Sqaw Valley, CA
#4 Jackson Hole, WY
#5 Mammoth Mountain, CA
#6 Alta/Snowbird, UT
#7 Breckenridge, CO
#8 Telluride, CO
#9 Mt. Baker, WA
#10 Big Sky, MT
#11 Copper Mountain, CO
#12 Park City, UT