Kitzbuhel, Austria

If you ski and haven't heard of Streif, that's okay. However, in Europe, it's the annual televised downhill race on the Hahnenkamm. And that's right here at Kitzbühel.

But don't let that scare you off. Most of Kitzbühel's 150 kms of trails are intermediate. There are also challenges for experts.

Kitzbühel's is considered the "Pearl of the Alps", a charming walled town which was a medieval settlement. The center of town is virtually traffic-free with bus service ferrying skiers back and forth from both Hahnenkamm and Kitzbühel Horn mountains.

Kitzbühel recently added a new gondola which runs between the top of the Jochberg ski area to the top of Pengelstein. This cuts off a lot of time which was spent walking or catching a bus.

A former host of the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, Kitzbühel is the most famous holiday resort in Austria. Skiing began here in 1892.

Two mountains make up the site with Kitzbüheler Horn being a little less challenging than Hahnenkamm. Both have gondola access from the center of town. Kitzbüheler Horn towers over the resort area. The cable-car takes you up 2000m for a breathtaking view of the Alps. But some experienced skiers have been disappointed with Kitzbüheler Horn. It's the more gentle mountain.

Make sure you try the Ski Safari, marked by elephant signposts. This fun trail takes you from the Hahnenkamm, up the Kitzbühel Valley, over to Jochberg, then to Pass Thurn. If you've had a couple of weeks of skiing under your belt, you can manage the blue and gentle red runs. What's more, the new gondola now gives you access to ski back to Kitzbühel.

Snowboarders gather on Kitzbüheler Horn because of the great terrain park which now includes a half-pipe and boarder cross course.

Finally, Kitzbühel's main problem is its lack of altitude. Some seasons the conditions early and late could be a gamble. The last few years the resort has been blessed with good snow cover.

SKI INDEX:

- Lifts: 57 lifts: 6 gondolas, 29 chairlifts, 22 draglifts
- Trails: 150km in linked area (39% easy, 46% intermediate, 15% difficult)
- Closest airport: Salzburg 1½hrs, Innsbruck 2hrs, Munich 2½hrs
- Notes: Recommended. Low queues, but some flat areas before you get to the trails. May require some walking to transportation to the gondolas.

The World's Best lies ahead, in British Columbia - Next >>

Other links:

Snow Skiing and Snowboarding

Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia - The Best in the World

What happens when you have two of the most majestic mountains on earth and you add $600 million in the latest and greatest? You get Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia, the top ski resort area on the planet.

The biggest vertical drop in North America, Whistler/Blackcomb offers every aspect of skiing and snowboarding from beginner to extreme. And charm was not left out. Whistler's village caters to everything a skier or snowboarder could dream up; over 100 restaurants, international stores, cafes, cuisine from Thai to Mexican, Greek to Italian... and everything in between.

What's more, Whistler/Blackcomb has been honored with the staging of the 2010 Winter Olympics!

And when you arrive at Whistler/Blackcomb, they don't give you a trail map; they give you a trail atlas! More runs and trails than you can possibly do in one visit. So here's the recommendations from the pros:

Blackcomb mountain offers more tree runs, more cut trails. Whistler has more Alpine bowls. And if you're facing a snowstorm, after that latte, head to Blackcomb. You can get around much better. On clear days make Whistler your choice for the spectacular views.

And for the snowy days, make sure you ride Big Red and Garbanzo. They are memorable.

All this to say - ski both mountains. They are close enough that you can easily make way from one to the other. And while you're on one, look over at the other to see the runs where you might want to venture.

Don't miss the complimentary tour of both mountains, offered to intermediates and experts. It's the best way to get to know the terrain. Why spend your time trying to figure it out yourself? Tours meet outside the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler at the top of the Village Gondola, and at the Rendezvous on Blackcomb at the top of the Solar Coaster at 11:30 AM.

SKI INDEX:

• Lifts: 33 lifts: 3 gondolas, 18 chaiflifts, 12 draglifts
• Trails: 7,071 acres (20% easy, 55% intermediate, 25% difficult)
• Closest airport: Vancouver 2hrs
• Notes: Prices a little high, some long queues on weekends. Much of the winter precipitation falls as rain in the village and snow higher up. Few "blue-sky" days. Changes in temperature between village and summit can be dramatic.