IT hasn’t been a huge snowfall season for Niseko but taking a look around the northern hemisphere this winter and we’ve still got one of the biggest base depths of all the world’s premier resorts, with Annupuri recording 350cm at the time of going to press. While Europe is enjoying a bumper season, across the other side of the Atlantic, the West Coast of America and Canada haven’t fared so well.
Currently Canada’s premier resort Whistler has a base of just 137cm, well below average for this time of year. California and Nevada received barely any snowfall at all throughout January before receiving solid falls through the end of the month and start of February. Mammoth Mountain has been doing well with a 330cm base, currently the deepest base in the US. Colorado has been having a good season, with Vail enjoying an above-average 170cm base. Back to Europe and it’s been dumping all season, with all countries enjoying one of the best seasons in years. Most major resorts in Austria, France and Switzerland have base depths between 2m and 3m, while Italy is leading the way with resorts reporting upwards of 4m base depths.