| Snowboarding trips are ever increasing in popularity | | | | and many bars and pubs to relax in between runs. |
| and it is ten years since strapping a plank of wood to | | | | The area has a long history in winter sports, and |
| your feet and looking cooler than a skier became an | | | | there have been skiing teachers resident even since |
| official winter sport. So if you're planning on hitting | | | | before the First World War. |
| the slopes this winter, before sorting out the travel | | | | 2: Banff. There are three resorts to choose from in |
| insurance and packing your sun screen, here are the | | | | Alberta's Banff region, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise |
| top five snowboarding destinations. | | | | Mountain Resort and Mount Norquay. Famous for its |
| 5: Tignes. Situated in Eastern France near Val D'Isare, | | | | Champagne Powder snow, Sunshine Village |
| this resort was heavily developed in the 1960s and | | | | encompasses three mountains and is about 15 |
| the buildings certainly reflect that. Tignes is home to | | | | minutes drive from Banff town. A little further - |
| the Grande Motte glacier which has receded at a rate | | | | about an hour - is Lake Louise, a more quiet and |
| of more than 25 metres since 1982 but is still open | | | | romantic setting and suitable for all level of riders. |
| for skiers and boarders alike for most of the year. | | | | Mount Norquay is considered more challenging and |
| 4: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. At the foot of Mont Blanc | | | | has been skied upon since 1926. |
| lies Chamonix. The popular resort is also home to the | | | | 1: Whistler Blackcomb. Whistler and Blackcomb used |
| highest vertical ascent cable car in the world, which | | | | to be two respective resorts but became fully |
| rises 1035 metres to 3842 metres up the impressive | | | | integrated in 2003. This means that the area is now |
| Aiguille du Midi. The area has been a tourist | | | | the biggest resort in North America with 8,171 |
| destination since the 19th century but still draws the | | | | hectares of terrain and more than 200 trails. The |
| crowds because of its diversity of runs including the | | | | 2010 alpine events of the Winter Olympics are due |
| Vallee Blanche glacier, Les Planards and the off-piste | | | | to be held in the area and the area is well developed |
| run The Pas du Chevre. | | | | with 7 hotels and has been ranked No. 1 ski resort in |
| 3: Sankt Anton am Arlberg. St Anton is a village in | | | | North America by SKIING Magazine for 12 years in a |
| Western Austria on the Rosanna River and was the | | | | row. |
| host of the Alpine World Skiing Championships in | | | | Finally, for all those going snowboarding this winter, |
| 2001. The resort boasts an amazing 260km of pistes | | | | remember to take out adequate travel insurance. |