Industry News
Snomad, a ski resort comparison website, launched the 2024 Ski Resort Awards which awards top three places in 20 different categories to international ski resorts. Snomad was founded by Dan Lever, a keen skier that has a background in data analytics and marketing, who built a comparison websites for ski resorts where users can rate their experience at over a thousand ski resorts across the globe. The 2024 Ski Resort Awards are based on over 78,000 ratings left by the Snomad community in its first 2023-24 season. There were 20 different categories with the top three resorts nominated in each one.
One of Snomad’s primary aims is to create an engaged community of skiers and snowboarders who support each other in finding resorts and hidden gems based on the factors that are important to them, using data across 20 distinct categories. Currently there’s 1,204 ski resorts listed on the website with over 78,800 community led ratings built up over one winter season.
Along with the ratings, Snomad brings a wealth of resort stats and information from each destination, highlighting the skiing, accommodation options, après ski, and restaurants, as well as pros and cons. Detailed resort stats are updated with the latest ski runs, lifts and lift pass costs. But the user generated reviews and ratings has driven significant engagement to the website and the Snomad Ski Resort Awards have now been launched following months of work behind the scenes.
The winners for the 2023-24 season in each category are:
- Best Overall Ski Resort: Lech Zürs am Arlberg (Austria)
- Best Ski Resort for Groomed Runs: Val Gardena – Gröden (Italy)
- Best Ski Resort for Off Piste-Terrain: Alta Ski Area (USA)
- Best Ski Resort for Tree Runs: Smugglers’ Notch Resort (USA)
- Best Ski Resort for Snow Parks: Copper Mountain (USA)
- Best Ski Resort for Moguls: Winter Park (USA)
- Best Ski Resort for Quiet Slopes: Sainte Foy Tarentaise (France)
- Best Ski Resort for Powder: Jackson Hole (USA)
- Best Ski Resort for Efficient Ski Lifts: 3 Peaks Dolomites (Italy)
- Best Ski Resort for Ski Schools: Livigno (Italy)
- Best Ski Resort for Après-Ski: St. Anton am Arlberg (Austria)
- Best Ski Resort for Families: Montgenèvre (France)
- Best Ski Resort for Eating Out: Livigno (Italy)
- Best Ski Resort for Accommodation: Sölden (Austria)
- Best Ski Resort for Value: Bolton Valley (USA)
- Best Ski Resort for Beginners: Avoriaz (France)
- Best Ski Resort for Intermediate Skiers: Heavenly (USA)
- Best Ski Resort for Advanced Skiers: Lech Zürs am Arlberg (Austria)
- Best Ski Resort for Expert Skiers: Crested Butte Mountain Resort (USA)
- Best Ski Resort for Snowboarders: Avoriaz (France)
Although Lech, Austria, has taken the very first Best Overall Ski Resort Award, many others have had the opportunity to shine in the twenty different categories that the awards are listing.
Dan Lever, founder of Snomad, said: “When we launched last winter season, we always planned to create an awards system based on user ratings, but we didn’t expect it to take off this fast! It has been amazing to see the number of skiers and snowboarders that joined our community, wrote detailed resort reviews and left over 78,000 resort ratings, in just one season. With this level of engagement, it’s clear there’s a real demand for unbiased, authentic information. Due to factors such as the rising costs of skiing and less reliable snowfall, consumers are becoming increasingly selective about where they choose to ski. This data has enabled us to launch truly impartial awards, and we’re thrilled with the results. Each winner justifies its position in each category, we believe it’s hard to argue with the outcomes”.
For the full details on runners up, visit the Snomad Ski Resort Awards website at gosnomad.com/ski-resort-awards. The Snomad website also includes an AI Skier Generator, a fun and free tool that uses AI to transform users into ski legends. gosnomad.com/ai-skier (and yes, it’s a ton of fun to play with).
