Geez guys.. Being a bit tough on wal. You know what it's like After you've smashed a session of deep pow. You're grinning from ear to ear and thinking can life get any better.. And for that moment you are saying this was the best day ever.
And to be fair.. I've boarded most of the mountains or areas you guys are mentioning through Europe, north America and Japan and I can confidently say Vail is one of my favorites for all round experience. Japan (bali of oz boarding) has awesome snow but you can't beat the terrain or actual mountains of north America.. And they do have dumps on par with Japan, just maybe not the consistant day after day deep pow :)
Vail has had 2 bad years, but I'm not bragging as the locals were calling it the best day of the year.
As for my claim as to best resort in the world, in truth i can only compare it to the other places i have boarded including Whistler, Niseko, (both twice) Val De Sare(spelling), Steamboat, Valdez (heliskiing), Andorra, Spain, Three valleys France, Poland and Italy.....but hey just my opinion.
Niseko (Ha Ha!) it's got the pow but not the terrain.......seriously if you think Niseko is the best place take some friendly advice and go to North America you will truly have a great experience (as isn't this what we are all chasing, and I hope to keep chasing for the rest of my days).
The dollar is strong and the Sepo's are some of the best people on Earth when they are on homesoil, I seriously thought about hiring a car and driving to New Orleans from Vail for the Superbowl this weekend.
Would love to try Banff and places like that and Whistler was my previous favourite but IMO Vail eats Whistler.
Just landed in Perth to a 39 degrees (i know where I'd rather be today).
- UR right re-NISEKO T'is why we did Risutsu (variety) - Basically each Hokkaido resort is built around an old Volcano not a massive mountain range... drove down to Saisies in S.France rented an apartment with 7 mates and did a new resort each day Chamonise one way to Val Dísere the other for fortnight - U get spoilt - 
) - tick Japan...
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