Snow and guarantee rarely go together. Mother Nature's white stuff is as fickle as a forty year old ski bum mid season. You just can't rely on them showing up.
But there are some factors that can help keep the odds in your favour when choosing a ski resort for a snow holiday. Average snow depth over the years used to be one of them but we've all seen how erratic the snow can be from one year to the next regardless of how deep it was ten years ago.
Snowmaking has certainly improved many a holidaymaker's chances and if you really want 100 per cent guarantee then you can just head to Ski Dubai for the world's longest indoor ski slope (400metres) on man-made snow, or you could wait till 2020 when Dubai opens the chairlift on a 1.2km man-made indoor snow slope.
In the meantime try any of these on for size and tell them we sent you.
The USA East Coast resort lays claim to the world's most extensive snowmaking system. The resort already receives an average of 250 inches of natural snow each winter but to top that up their snowmaking covers 600 skiable acres (that's half the size of Thredbo).
What if we told you that in 2011 Alyeska received 24 metres of snow in their ski season? What if we said that the following season they received 18 metres and that in the not so great last two seasons they received 12 metres. Even in a bad season Alyeska is in a good season.
Mt Baker has a reputation, a big reputation. Powder lovers talk about the infamous season of 1998/99 when over 29 metres of snow fell upon this humble ski resort. Even now the average snowfall is 16 metres a season. The resort has 8 chairlifts and 1000 skiable acres suited more to intermediate and advanced skiers and isn't the easiest mountain to get to. But imagine the boasting rights when you do.
It is hard to get official statistics on which resort in Japan honestly receives the most snow. There are anything from 500 to 700 ski resorts to choose from depending on who you talk to.
Those in Hokkaido will say they get 17 metres plus, those in Honshu say the same or just a little less but they all agree it is the lightest and driest snow found on the globe. We must ask Utah about that.
Be warned, with all this snow the sky is often more grey than blue and the light can be flat, so just dive right in and hang on for dear life when the white room gets you. Our pick? Head straight to Rusutsu for deep powder and ski in ski out amusement parks with singing trees.
A long season from late November to the end of April, a high altitude, a glacier and extensive snow making ensure that Zermatt will always deliver. Add 350 kilometres of piste and a thriving resort village. What's not to love?
You won't find many Australian accents here but you will find stunning mountain coastal views and 11.5 metres of snowfall a season. Yes, a season. The resort caters well for intermediates and advanced skiers, has 505 metres of vertical, 5 lifts and 81 runs.
Over the range from the ski mecca of Jackson Hole you will find the cult resort of Grand Targhee. The rustic home town ski resort offers resort style skiing and boarding as well as cat skiing with lunch in a yurt. But best of all it also offers 12 metres of snow per season with 3000 acres on which to ski it. If you're staying at Jackson Hole you can get a day pass plus return bus trip for around US$100 to go to 'Targhee' for the day.
If you have access to a helicopter and a few thousand dollars in your pocket then chances are you'll get to ski as much snow as you desire in interior British Columbia with a handful of heli ski operations including the original Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH).
We've partnered with SkiMax this season for the annual #misssnowitall Instagram competition. You could win seven nights for two at the swanky Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, plus lift passes for two people at Whistler Blackcomb for six days and return flights for two from Sydney to Vancouver, thanks to SkiMax.
Just tag your winter-inspired Instagram pics #misssnowitall #skimaxholidays to enter. We'll publish five finalists each week, with one winner at the end of the season. . See the latest entries below.
Follow on Instagram and Twitter @misssnowitall
en ways to tell you're a snow addictSee also: Who has the best snow - Australia or New Zealand?
Follow on Instagram and Twitter @misssnowitall
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