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No, we're not talking about golf's Ryder or Solheim Cup, nor if imperial beats metric, but mountains across the US versus what you'll find in the Alps (and for the record we don't think either is better, they're just...different). In this guide we run through some of the key differences between each side of the Atlantic to give our view on skiing in Europe compared to the USA.
Top row L-R: Aspen, CO; Snowbird, UT; Killington, VT.
Bottom row L-R: Kitzbühel, Austria; Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy; Les 3 Vallées, France
Language
Perhaps the most obvious difference is that the Alpine countries speak a dizzying range of languages and dialects. Switzerland starts in the west with French, switches to Swiss German in the east and dabbles with Romansh before finishing with an Italian flourish in the south. Italy has French influences in its western dialects and much of the Dolomites is German-speaking, while France and Austria are a little more predictable in their French and German. However, English is widely spoken to an excellent standard, with those working in hotels, restaurants, ski schools pretty much universally able to converse with visitors from the US and further afield.
Altitude
Whether you measure in meters or feet, on average western US ski areas are higher than European ones, especially at the base. Most of Colorado's big hitters have lodging above the 8,000 foot mark - great for snow, but potentially tough to acclimatise to. Of course over on the east coast the inverse is the case.
Top elevations in the highest Alpine areas are roughly equivalent to the top elevations in the US, but base elevations are frequently much lower, meaning there's serious vertical to be had, but also the snow can change from cold and powdery at the top to something altogether more spring-like at the bottom, requiring different tactics as you descend.
The western end of the Alps is much more affected by the proximity of the Mediterranean and Atlantic, but the peaks are higher, while the east is lower but colder.
Latitude
The Alps are further north than Oregon, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming, California, Utah and Colorado, but they also get a dose of warmth from the Gulf of Mexico via the Gulf Stream, so temperatures are warmer than you might expect for the latitude - good for those with cold fingers, but also occasionally frustrating when temperatures climb too high.
Tree line
That latitude difference has an effect on what you'll be skiing in too - the tree line is higher in the more southerly US ski areas compared to the Alps, so while you might expect tree skiing (and powder-filled glades to bounce through) almost to the top in the US, the uppermost Alpine peaks are mostly open snowfields. Tree skiing, where it is found, is confined to lower slopes and therefore at the mercy of the snow depths found at lower altitude.
Acreage
Size comparisons between the US and Europe are tricky because of the different methods used. The Alps goes with kilometers of trails, which are for the most part groomers, ignoring any 'off-piste' powder areas, whereas the defined perimeter of a US area can be measured in acres, making it hard to know if you're comparing apples with apples. Europe (and the world's) largest, the 3 Vallées, has previously claimed over 25,000 acres of skiable terrain compared to Park City's circa 7,000, although the methodologies to reach these figures are unclear. Whichever way you slice it though, the biggest in the Alps are bigger. When you factor in the uncounted off-piste, there are amazing opportunities for travelling around in the Alps - and this is one of the big differences. Start your day in your 'home' ski town, make your way to another village in an adjacent valley, or even country, for lunch before returning via a different route. In one of the most celebrated cross-border areas, where Switzerland's Zermatt and Italy's Cervinia share the soaring Matterhorn peak, people often cross from Switzerland to enjoy the Italian side's better coffee and sun-soaked, pasta-filled lunches.
Lifts
Lift terminology and usage is a subtle difference, but one that you'll probably pick up on straight away. On chairs there are two things that stand out. Europeans religiously use the safety bars, and more and more are becoming automated, lowering and raising at what is deemed the safest moment. Foot rests are standard, and on lifts used by ski schools there are often extra child guards to stop little ones slipping off. Heated seats and wind guards are more common in Austria, but are making their way across the alps. Despite all this cosseting, Alpine chairs aren't as naturally chatty as those in the US, although if you engage your fellow riders they will undoubtedly converse with you in perfect English.
Lift lines are another point of difference. For the most part if visiting in the quieter periods you'll slide straight onto the lift, but peak vacation times can be an eye-opener for those used to the order of North America, when it seems as though every kid, teen and even grown-up will make it their personal mission to sneak through ahead of you. Thankfully we can arrange private guides who will help you (officially) beat the crowds.
Ungroomed trails
US ski areas generally have a boundary and all terrain within said boundary is secured by ski patrol and can be tackled broadly safely. In the Alps the general rule is that the pistes (groomers) are secured but anything else is done at your own risk. As such we strongly recommend going with a local guide, who will not only help you keep as safe as possible thanks to extensive knowledge about the terrain and having been there for the entire season with an understanding of the snow profile, but also steer you to powder stashes well after the last snowfall. We also recommend being up to date with avalanche avoidance skills, use of beacons, probes and shovels and carrying an airbag system.
We love skiing in both the USA and the Alps, and think the differences between them add to the charm. Reach out to start planning a trip to discover them for yourself.
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