As winter storm cycles begin to spin across North America, the anticipation for the 2025 ski season is hitting its peak. For recreational skiers, the focus is on booking trips to the country’s premier destinations, a process recently simplified by USA TODAY’s annual 10Best awards. However, the early season reality on the ground is proving slightly more complicated for the professional circuit, with weather conditions forcing immediate changes to upcoming World Cup events in Colorado.
Snowbasin Takes Top Honors in National Rankings
In the race to identify the best experiences on snow, a panel of industry experts and thousands of reader votes have solidified a definitive list of the top 10 resorts for 2025. Rising above the competition to claim the number one spot is Utah’s Snowbasin Resort. Located in Huntsville, the mountain secured the win thanks to its combination of 3,000 acres of diverse alpine terrain and a sophisticated lift network that includes gondolas and trams.
The rankings also highlighted strong contenders on the East Coast. Vermont’s Smugglers’ Notch Resort took second place, celebrated for blending deep local roots with extensive family programming across three interconnected peaks. Killington Resort, known as “The Beast of the East,” landed at number five, recognized for boasting the region’s highest lift-served terrain and an impressively long season. Rounding out the Eastern representation at number ten is New Hampshire’s Loon Mountain Resort, praised for its accessible layout and robust terrain parks.
Midwest Surprises and Western Giants
The list features a notable standout from the Midwest: Mount Bohemia in Michigan, which claimed the third spot. It remains a unique destination for advanced skiers, rejecting grooming in favor of raw, adventure-focused skiing fueled by deep lake-effect snow.
Naturally, the American West dominates the bulk of the rankings. Colorado’s Aspen Snowmass came in fourth, offering a massive four-mountain complex that caters to every skill level. Utah’s Deer Valley Resort took sixth place, maintaining its reputation for a polished, skier-only guest experience. Montana’s Big Sky Resort followed at number seven, living up to its name with nearly 6,000 acres and minimal lift lines. California also made a strong showing with Palisades Tahoe at number eight, linking two legendary mountains, and Mammoth Mountain at number nine, famous for its long seasons and high-altitude sunshine.
Snow Shortages Impact World Cup Circuit
While recreational skiers map out their visits to these top-rated destinations, the professional racing world is grappling with a slow start to winter in the Rockies. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has announced significant changes to the upcoming schedule at Beaver Creek due to insufficient snow cover.
The initial plan for the men’s circuit in Beaver Creek included two downhill races, but the lack of accumulation has forced organizers to scrap the downhill event scheduled for December 4. The revised itinerary will now feature a single downhill on December 5, followed by a super-G on December 6 and a giant slalom on December 7. Adding to the adjustments, all three races will be contested on a shortened course to accommodate the thin snowpack.
The Road Ahead for the FIS Tour
Despite the setbacks at Beaver Creek, the U.S. leg of the World Cup is set to kick off shortly at Copper Mountain, Colorado. The action begins November 27 with a men’s super-G at 7:00 PM (French time), followed by a men’s giant slalom on the 28th. The women take the stage shortly after with a giant slalom on the 29th and a slalom on the 30th.
Following the Copper Mountain opener, the tours will split geographically. The men will remain in Colorado to contend with the adjusted Beaver Creek schedule. Meanwhile, the women’s circuit heads north to Canada to compete in two giant slalom events at Mont-Tremblant on December 6 and 7, bypassing the early-season struggles currently affecting the Colorado venues.