Skiing: New England vs Rockies (ski resorts, living in, firm)
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This might be a hot take, but for like 85-90% of skiers it doesn’t really make a difference . (And I genuinely believe this about smaller vs bigger resorts within the east)
The big difference is season length. You get ~5 weeks or something in the west of good snow.
I agree with your 85 - 90% for the first couple years a person skis. If they take to the sport and progress, then the west has much more terrain and space to progress to. I don't know about your ~5 weeks of good snow in the west though. Most resorts, in most years, open for Thanksgiving and stop in April because people have moved on to other spring sports, not because there isn't enough snow. In good early snow years Bogus Basin, ~30 minutes outside of Boise, opens before Halloween, as do some other resorts in the area.
From what I've heard the powder in the west is just softer due to less moisture content in the snow. And that makes a big difference.
Bigger issue than even that is just lack of snow. It’s not fun to ski on crusted ice. Skiing out west is just a lot more fun if you are a beginner. It’s not fun taking falls when there is lack of snow coverage.
Very true just like it's common knowledge that Rockies are second-best compared to the Alps. Still pretty good though!
Snow is actually better in the Rockies. The Alps are very developed. The resorts in North America are much less so . I’d say it is debatable whether skiing in the Alps is better. Regardless it is a more fair comparison vs. the east coast.
I have skiied Mammoth, Big Bear, and Tahoe in the West, and Placid, Jiminy and Hunter in the East.
The powdery snow in the West was lovely - no question. But I may have gotten lucky the few times I skied Whiteface (Iceface), as there wasnt too much ice and it wasnt entirely different than what I experienced at say Big Bear. Further, the drop at Whiteface was way more intimidating than the three locales I skied out West.
Just my experience. Overall, no question that out West will be superior. I want to ski Tuckerman Ravine in NH some day - that looks to be epic.
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