| If you are reading this article and you are an avid | | | | New Mexico, and areas in the Canadian Rockies as |
| powder skier you might have a different idea about | | | | well as areas in Europe such as Austria, Switzerland |
| where to find the best powder snow in the world. | | | | and France. |
| We have searched far and wide all over the globe | | | | The main difference between these areas and Utah |
| looking for the deepest and driest powder snow on | | | | and Hokkaido is the volume of snow. Many of the |
| earth and to date we have narrowed it down to just | | | | resorts in Utah such as Alta, Snowbird and Park City |
| a couple of locations - The north island of Hokkaido in | | | | receive around 500 inches on average (around 13 |
| Japan and Utah in the United States of America. | | | | metres) whilst ski resorts in Hokkaido such as Niseko |
| When we talk about quality snow, we are generally | | | | accumulate an average of 15 metres (590 inches). |
| talking about the moisture content by volume of | | | | Our research has shown Hokkaido to come up |
| snow. Both Utah and Hokkaido boast 5% (or better) | | | | trumps on the powder snow scale. The snow is so |
| moisture content snow which means that for every | | | | incredibly light to ski in with virtually no resistance. It |
| 10mm of precipitation, a massive 200mm (20 | | | | appears to snow constantly day and night keeping |
| centimetres or 8 inches) of dry fluffy snow will | | | | the snow forever fresh. |
| accumulate. | | | | However, if I was going to personally choose which |
| With such low volumes of water in the snow, the | | | | area I prefer Utah wins. My reason for this is that |
| snow is very "dry" making it difficult for the particles | | | | Utah has regular "lake affect" storms that last for a |
| to stick together (it is almost impossible to make a | | | | couple of days dumping several feet of snow and |
| snowball!). This means that it takes significantly more | | | | then the sun comes our for several days before the |
| time for the snowpack to settle and become firm or | | | | next storm. There is virtually never any wind so the |
| heavy. The result is dry, fluffy powder snow with | | | | snow stays pristine. |
| very little resistance. | | | | Ahhh sunshine and powder snow; there is no more |
| There are many other ski areas that are regularly | | | | perfect combination! |
| blessed with these snow conditions such as Colorado, | | | | |