It’s something every skier or rider anticipates more than anything else as school starts back up, the leaves start to turn, and there’s a crisp chill in the air: ski season. You don’t want to miss a single second of fresh powder and the bright mountain sunshine on your face, and why would you?
Luckily, there are many Education Abroad dream destinations for the ski and board Buffs who just can’t get enough. These eight cities are near all kinds of spectacular slopes and mountain getaways.
Photo courtesy of Maddy Choate |ĚýInterlaken, Switzerland,Ěý2017
Switzerland has the highest percentage of skiers in the world, coming in at an impressive 37% of its population. When you’re not studying international policy at the U.N., take some time for fresh powder and alpine air. Nearby skiing is under 90 minutes from Geneva for day trips, and when you have a little extra travel time, Swiss and French ski towns such as Zermatt, Verbier, Gstaad, Val d’isèreĚýand Chamonix are readily accessible by train.
Vienna is a city full of rich culture and arts, but when you’re ready for a weekend away hitting the slopes, it’s just a quick flight to most Austrian ski resorts. Austria is home to world-famous ski towns such as KitzbĂĽhel, Lech, St. Anton, Innsbruch, Saalbach, AlpbachĚýand Sölden. If you love watching elite races, attend the annual Hahenkamm downhill race in KitzbĂĽhel (JanuaryĚý2020).
New Zealand is the outdoor enthusiast’s dream—and the skiing andĚýboarding there is no different. Ski in scenic New Zealand Southern Alps, about four to five hours outside of Dunedin by bus.
There are several runs for more advanced skiers, but if you’re not quite up to the black diamond slopes, not to worry, there’s a great range of skiing for the less experienced too. Snowboarders can get their thrills on New Zealand’s only Olympic-sized super pipe between Wanaka and Queenstown, and Christchurch is just a stone’s throw away.
Christchurch is perfect for the student who can’t bear to be too far from the mountains. Mt. Hutt, Mt. Olympus, Mt. Cheeseman, Mt. Dobson, Mt. LyfordĚýand New Zealand’s tallest, Mt. Cook, are all within one to four hours of Christchurch withĚýgreat skiing—not to mention the resorts, basins and valleys in between. The Southern Alps aren’t too far away, either, for a weekend trip to experience the Wanaka-Queenstown skiing scene.
This list wouldn’t be complete without a destination in Northern Italy! Not only is Milan near all of the skiing in Alps-bordering countries, it’s also near excellent Italian ski towns and the famous Dolomites. SpendĚýyour down time in scenic towns such as Cortina D’Ampezzo, CervinaĚýand Madesimo. These towns have a unique multicultural atmosphere in addition to rich historic roots dating back to ancient times.
Uppsala is a great choice for the skier looking for a day-to-day smaller town vibe and a university setting. On days off, it’s a little bit of a journey to the slopes, but well worth the travel time. Boasting 90 pistes, night skiing, snow parks, World Cup eventsĚýand a lively town scene, Uppsala is six to sevenĚýhours from Ă…re, the biggest ski resort in Sweden. Or try out Kläppen, VemdalenĚýor Sälen, some of which have more than 100 different slopes.
Chile may not be the first location that comes to mind for snow sports abroad, but Santiago offers a proximity to adventurous and unique South American ski experiences. Under 90 minutes from Santiago is (and we’re totally serious) El babyÖ±˛Ąapp, offering a variety of slopes from beginner to expert.
Chile also boasts several skiable active volcanoes, including Llaima, Lonquimay, Villarrica, MochoĚýand Choshuenco, as well as opportunities for more rugged cat skiing and eco-skiing in Patagonia.
Living in vibrant, metropolitan Tokyo may not be the instinctive choice for students looking to hit the slopes abroad. However, Japan is well known for its light, fluffy powderĚýand is a haven for international skiers. Tokyo is fourĚýhours from the famous Hakuba Valley, which has nineĚýresorts, endless miles of runsĚýand excellent facilities after hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Further away, Niseko in Hokkaido isĚýgreat for skiers looking for a fusion of the resort and traditional Japanese experience—several resorts have to warm up in after a long day in the cold.
