Top 5 snowboard resorts

Pro snowboarder Zoe Gillings picks her top five slopes

Zoe Gillings is one of Great Britain's most successful snow sports athletes. Currently the highest ranked snow sport athlete in Great Britain, Zoe is 24yrs of age, has already competed in the Turing Olympics in 2006 and is going forward to the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. WideWorld asked Zoe to name her top snowboard destinations – take your pick of the best this season!

1. Les Portes du Soleil

"Les Portes du Soleil is an area that comprises 12 different resorts that all link together, spanning the border between France and Switzerland. You can ride/ski for a whole day going through resort after resort and not do the same run twice. It’s easy to get to from Britain too, there are loads of flights daily with BA to Geneva and then it’s a transfer of just over an hour depending on which resort you head to. Each resort has a different atmosphere and run type, but the joy is that you just have so much choice."

2. Loveland

"Loveland is a resort just outside Denver, Colorado. It’s mostly local people who go there so it’s not too touristy and very traditional. When you first see the place it looks pretty small but then you notice the other side of the valley, which is massive. My brother works there in the ski school so I love going to see him and his family, but it’s also a nice chilled mountain to have a ride around."

3. Cypress Mountain

"Cypress Mountain is on the outskirts of Vancouver. I have been to around 100 ski resorts throughout the world, and this one has the best views I have seen from any of them. From the top you can see over Vancouver bay with all the little islands and it’s just magical. This is where the snowboarding and freestyle skiing events are to be held for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in February 2010 so I am looking forward to that a lot as well."
 
4. Banff

"Banff is one of Canada’s top powder riding resorts. It has a very good average annual snowfall count, which makes the chances of fresh powder about as good as you can get anywhere. Although I have never managed to do it myself they also have heli-boarding/heli-skiing there which is near the top of my ‘if at all possible do at some point in your life’ list. Along with bungee-jumping and sky diving!"
 
5. Saas Fee

"Saas Fee, Switzerland is a great all-year resort, you can ride/ski there 10 months of the year and it’s one of the most reliable resorts as far as snow conditions in the summer go. It does get a bit cold in January/February though so watch out. Everyone down in the town is really friendly and it’s kind of got a family atmosphere because a lot of families live there, there’s lots of kids running around and there’s a great buzz. Interestingly, it’s a car-free town – mostly for health reasons, so locals use the electric vehicles to get around, which look a little like milk floats!"
 

For more ski and snowboarding holiday inspiration, visit – www.britishairways.com/travel/ski-holidays

Zoe Gillings is supported by British Airways - the official airline partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. To find out more about how the airline is helping British talent to take off, please go to www.greatbritons.ba.com