September dump for Breckenridge

Two feet of snow in two days. In September.

Fresh tracks for ski patrol. In September.

Snow from top to base. In September.

The photos on the Breckenridge website tell it all. Just click on the photo gallery and try not to let your chin drop to the floor.

Vail voted no 1 in North America

Vail has been voted number one resort in North America by readers of Ski magazine.

No big surprise, as the mountain boasts four terrain parks, seven bowls and 5,289 acres of freeride terrain. Check out why it's so popular at vail.snow.com.

The readers' top ten resorts were:

1. Vail, Colorado
2. Deer Valley, Utah
3. Snowmass, Colorado
4. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
5. Park City, Utah
6. Breckenridge, Colorado
7. Aspen, Colorado
8. Beaver Creek, Colorado
9. Steamboat, Colorado
10. Sun Valley, Idaho

Go to www.skinet.com for top tips on each resort.

Season's first snow in Whistler

Woo hoo! Winter is on its way in Whistler. The first snowfall of the season arrived last Thursday (14 September) - a respectable 15cm. Let's hope this is a good sign for the season ahead.

Check out the pics on the Whistler Blackcomb website.

Meanwhile, anyone who can wangle a visa to work in Canada (try BUNAC) will be interested to know the Whistler Blackcomb recruitment fair is being held from 23-26 October.

End of long drive to Fernie?

If you've ever arrived on the long haul flight from London to Calgary, only to be faced with a four-hour drive to Fernie, the news that Cranbrook Airport's expansion is nearly complete might be welcome news.

The expansion of the airport, soon to be renamed the Canadian Rockies International Airport, is due to be completed this winter. The airport will be able to accommodate both larger aircraft and more passengers.

Although the likes of BA and Air Canada are not likely to announce a direct UK flight quite yet, the new name and the construction of a Canada Customs and Immigrations facility suggest Cranbrook has its eye firmly on the international market.

Board for a bargain in Kosovo

This could be one of the best deals around. A week's pass in Breznica, Kosovo's main ski area, will set you back a mere 60 euros. UN Special Representative Joachim Rücker has also announced plans to privatise the resort, so get there while it's cheap.

The slopes in Breznica, in the Dinarske mountains, range from 1718-2522m in altitude. Piribeg, a 3.5km black run, covers the entire vertical. The resort boasts seven lifts and eight other runs, with a total of 16km of trails. For not much more than the cost of a day in the snowdome, you can't go wrong.