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Breckenridge or Mammoth?

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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Hello Ns'ers

Next year 3 mates and I are taking a year off, after high school, to go skiing for a season.
We have a company in Denmark that has great reputation for arranging season trips, and their two targets in the us (which is definitely where we want to go) are mammoth and breckenridge.

We are probably going to ski 60-40 park-pow. From what i've heard and read both places have sick parks, but what about pow skiing or tree skiing? And what are other pros and cons, that you can say about both places?
Jun 18 2013 1:14PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
breack has no mountain and no snow, only a park.

Mammoth will be much more to your liking.
Jun 18 2013 1:15PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
What about the areas around it? Like keystone or vail?
Jun 18 2013 1:20PM
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Uncle_Rowdy
Posts: 154 - Karma: 175
Mammoth. Park is usually on point, and it has pretty solid all mountain terrain. There's infinite sierra BC around the town that is easy to access as well. Powder days get crowded as fuck, but there's always fresh to be found.
Jun 18 2013 1:20PM
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dun.Can
Posts: 503 - Karma: 1,500
whistler/blackcomb sounds like what you are looking for
Jun 18 2013 1:34PM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
vail usually has a bit more snow and some decent terrain, along with the most annoying stuck up assholes on earth. Overall the vibe sucks dick, but the skiing isnt terrible. Keystone usually has less snow and in my opinion a park that is more fun and slightly less crowded, along with some ok skiing and trees to explore, but nothing extreme. Copper has the best vibe imo, a really good park, and good skiing off the backside. Still not Telluride, but worth checking out. A-basin has the worst summit county park, but by far the best terrain and from my experience the best snow coverage. Pali has tons of little zones that are fun, Montezuma bowl is rad, and after march when the east wall opens there is some decently gnarly shit to ski. Overall though i would say summit county is best suited for 40- somethings who enjoy relaxing groomers, or park rats. Not that there isn't good terrain, its just usually very skied out and there isn't a ton of it. I've never skied mammoth, but ive heard it can get skied out pretty fast. But there are usually a lot more big storms, and the season goes from late october to mid june, and arguably the best spring park scene in north america. Other than June Mtn, mammoth is the only place to ski, which means you can't choose which area got the most out of a storm. If you have the epic pass in CO, a-bay might get a foot while breck got 3 inches, so that can be a plus.

Colorado is overrated, but not as bad as some people like to say. You should look into Tahoe and maybe British Columbia if you want to find more reliable epic skiing.
Jun 18 2013 1:41PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Yeah whistler would be great. But it's a lot more expensive than both the others.
Jun 18 2013 1:41PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Thanks!
Seems that if you do a little travelling, you can get som decent skiing done in CO around breck.
We get speciel deals on apartments in Breck or Mammoth so its kinda narrowed down to them.

Jun 18 2013 1:52PM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
For sure! And if you go, get an epic pass. Its valid at breck, a-basin, keystone, vail, beaver creek, and some tahoe resorts. Really makes it more worth it to live there. Its not the most gnarly extreme terrain, but its not bad, especially if you're willing to hike every once in awhile, and the parks are unmatched.
Jun 18 2013 1:55PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
summit county gets about half the snow that mammoth does.

if you only want to ski park, go to the Breck area. If you want both go to mammoth.


where in Europe are you coming from, and do you truly plan to spend 4 out of 10 runs not in the park?
Jun 18 2013 2:00PM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
That is sometimes true, but not this last year. A-basin got big storms into may and finished with more snow than mammoth. Both are hit and miss, and neither is a guarantee for a good snowpack. The only place in north america that almost always does have a 100+ inch base is the PNW. And while breck is only really good for park, Copper, A-basin, and Vail have more to offer and are close.

Mammoth is a better balance, but its also pretty isolated which is good and bad. Either way you will have a fun season.
Jun 18 2013 2:08PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
I come from Denmark, so i've been skiing in Norway for 90% of my skiing life.
In the part of Sweden that I ski in the pow skiing possibilities are close to none existent, so I have been hitting parks most of the time. I love park skiing and really wants to go bigger and get better, but I would also like to do more pow skiing since i've only tried it the few times I have been to France and really liked it those times!
Jun 18 2013 2:44PM
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MALONE
Posts: 3819 - Karma: 73
Go to CO
Jun 18 2013 2:44PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Should have been Sweden in the first sentence*
Jun 18 2013 2:45PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
If you're under the age of 21 and don't know anyone who goes to cu wouldn't go to Breck.
Jun 18 2013 2:46PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Are you actually not able to get alcohol?
Cause here in Denmark most places they don't really care if your underaged.
Jun 18 2013 2:51PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Im going to be 20 years old when I go
Jun 18 2013 2:51PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
Yes because Denmark doesn't care about drinking laws. that means United States of America also won't care.
Jun 18 2013 2:52PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Go to mammoth. Bar scene sucks, but at least it won't cost you your firstborn to buy alcohol, and I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get in. Whistler is dope but very very expensive.
Jun 18 2013 2:56PM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
For 4 months I spent 5k, which in reality is crazy. The skiing is good, but pow gets skied out so fast. Whats sick about whistler is it really has everything, big open bowls, tons of trees and pillow lines, a sick park, good party scene, great BC access, and the list goes on.
Jun 18 2013 3:01PM
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AceleTerrie
Posts: 257 - Karma: 36
go to breck cuz then you can ski a shitload of other paces too, also mammoth is in the middle of no where and theres not much to do other than ski.
Jun 18 2013 3:03PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Chill out dude.. I was actually just asking you

Jun 18 2013 3:07PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Thanks for some quality advice!

Seems like we should consider spending the extra money and go to whistler if we can.
Jun 18 2013 3:11PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
If you choose to only limit yourself to where seasonhousing.com will take you, then i'd go with Mammoth or Val D'Isere. You dont actually have to leave Europe to get the things you want, on the contrary.

Like I said, Val D is a sick place, with arguably some of the best and most renowned pow skiing in the world. However it is in France, so accomodation will suck, but when you're young and doing a season, that doesn't necessarily matter that much.

If you're up for trying some places that seasonhousing do not cover, there is a multitude.

In America I would recommend looking into Lake Tahoe in Cali. It's fairly easy and cheap to find accomodation, and you have great parks and good pow all around you.

For Europe I would look at places like Mayrhofen, Serfaus, Kitzbühel, Zell Am See, St. Anton and Saalbach. Austria really has a lot to offer in both parks and pow, and accomodation is cheap and of high standard.

Hvis i har andre spørgsmål så bare spørg løs, jeg har prøvet lidt af hvert.
Jun 18 2013 3:26PM
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jpshreder
Posts: 6 - Karma: 13
Mammoth
Jun 18 2013 3:34PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
It's just that i get a discount on seasonhousing, and it seems like the easiest choice. But we should probably consider other possibilities as well.

Jeg kommer helt sikkert til at kontakte dig senere! Vi får nok brug for noget hjælp
Jun 18 2013 3:46PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
Don't get me wrong, seasonhousing is a great concept, especially for people doing their first season.

Du skriver bare.
Jun 18 2013 3:59PM
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bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
False. E chair, needles eye, lake chutes, windows, twin chutes, horseshoe, the doors, etc. are all decent terrain. No it's not jackson hole or alta, but saying that there's nothing to ski at Breck is not true.

That being said, you should go to mammoth because while there is some terrain in summit county, mammoth will have more.

I'm really not impressed by vail either. The back bowls are generally flattish blacks with drops sprinkled in. North rim and prima cornice is about the most challenging terrain at vail.

Also, if you're in summit county and looking for good terrain outside the park then A-basin will be one of you're best bets.
Jun 18 2013 4:17PM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
As someone that lived in Breck and frequently visited Mamm, move to Mammoth.
Jun 18 2013 4:40PM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,962
this, pick the right line at breck and you can scare yourself pretty good.

And abay is the shit, I could spend a whole season just skiing there if they had a better park. The park last year was actually pretty solid. And the day east wall opens is pretty much Christmas times 5
Jun 18 2013 4:45PM
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AlexMartini
Posts: 2989 - Karma: 1,905
Yes! Nailed it, everyone always says Breck sucks, you just have to know where to go like you said, but its nothing compared to Jackson, Mammoth and Alta. Mammoth has 5 minute park laps, huge storms and real steep skiing, pretty hard to beat, especially if you want a cheap place to live
Jun 18 2013 4:53PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
Seems like both places has their pros and cons, but the best vibes around Mammoth.

Jun 18 2013 5:41PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
Lived in Summit County during their "Biggest winter in 20 years" Lived in Mammoth 3 seasons before that.

Season ended and I moved back to Mammoth. It may be "in the middle of no where" But by that, You'll visit Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Tahoe/Reno, and probably Tijuana... cause who doesn't want to see a donkey show?

Alcohol is equally difficult to come by in both towns if you are under 21. I will say that Mammoth has a TON of outdoor events though in which the beer flows like wine. Also super easy to drink underage on mountain and there are no open container laws so you can happily cary around a bottle of whatever and no one will hassle you. But bars... at night. On a mellow night there is 1 bar in town you can easily drink at. If it's busy... no chance. Most places rely on wrist bands... so you could perhaps find someone to give you theres and go in that way.
Jun 18 2013 6:00PM
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PK93
Posts: 112 - Karma: 55
After living in Mammoth for this last winter, I would highly suggest it. Good/free public transport but having a car makes things easier. On pow days, it does get quite crowded though. Lot's of Scandinavians in the mix, I overheard Swedish alot. Either place you'll have a good time. Skål!
Jun 18 2013 6:01PM
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Jelle
Posts: 337 - Karma: 715
Whats the name of the company who are arranging the season trips?
Jun 18 2013 7:46PM
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Jelle
Posts: 337 - Karma: 715
^ sorry så ikke længere nede i tråden
Jun 18 2013 7:47PM
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tcurle
Posts: 1256 - Karma: 5,278
Mammoth. You won't regret it!
Jun 18 2013 8:04PM
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tcurle
Posts: 1256 - Karma: 5,278
Try tahoe too
Jun 18 2013 8:04PM
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localonvolkls
Posts: 448 - Karma: 90
ya stay off our mountain foreigner
Jun 19 2013 12:58AM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
Don't come to Tahoe, it sucks.
Jun 19 2013 2:37AM
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MALONE
Posts: 3819 - Karma: 73
I don't know what people are talking about, mammoth sucks, pow gets skied in 10 minutes, NO accessible B/C the park is out of date, the local skiers are dicks, there's like 3 single girls in town single or not they're ALL busted. Bars suck buncha snowboard chads and and sticky floors. Go to Colorado they have X-Games
Jun 19 2013 9:23PM
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MALONE
Posts: 3819 - Karma: 73
Didn't mean to quote that rando girl
Jun 19 2013 9:24PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
I grew up in California but live near Breck now.


Breckenridge has one of the best parks in the world (I don't even ski park much though), really good snow quality, a good night life scene, and great trees/steep skiing if you know where to go. It's also got Arapahoe Basin close by which is the tits for steep skiing, and they didn't close this year until June 9th (only 10 days ago). Plus, within a few hours of driving you have Aspen/Snowmass (Snowmass is by far my favorite resort mtn), Crested Butte, Wolf Creek, Copper Mountain, Loveland, Vail (overrated), Monarch, and Steamboat. It's also less than 1.5 hours from Denver and Boulder. I'm huge into live music and loooove having Red Rocks and all the great music venued in Denver so close.


Mammoth has tons of great terrain, a damn good park, tons of snow (and pretty good quality too for California standards), not much of a night life (to my knowledge at least), and even less girls than Breck/Summit County. It's got amazing wilderness nearby, and is within similar driving distances of San Francisco and Los Angeles, BUT it's a pain in the ass to get anywhere from Mammoth. We're talking Fresno and Bakersfield being the closest real cities and that's 4.5 hours away and both cities are the pit stains of California. SF and LA are gunna be about 5.5-6 hours away. Worth the drives (I grew up in SF), just a pain in the ass.


If you're staying for hte summer, both would be great options. If you're underage, I think you'd have more fun in Breck just because it's got more of a night life and Denver is close-by. Great parks and potential to get great powder and tree skiing too with many more ski resorts within easy driving distance. If you don't care about the night life and don't mind driving 4-5 hours to the nearest big city, then Mammoth would be a great option as well. You can't really go wrong with either one.
Jun 20 2013 2:04AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
Pow gets skied out super quick anywhere close to I-70 in CO as well. You just gotta know your stashes.
Jun 20 2013 2:06AM
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JWoods
Posts: 2369 - Karma: 2,635
Another good thing about Mammoth is that if you go out there this year and get a season pass June will be open again and June is fucking SICK
Jun 20 2013 2:43AM
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SterlingArcher
Posts: 2200 - Karma: 2,456
Utah
Jun 20 2013 11:27AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
Another possibility. But note that the OP is primarily interested in Whistler, Mammoth or Breck, as he has access to relatively cheap accomodation there.
Jun 20 2013 11:31AM
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SterlingArcher
Posts: 2200 - Karma: 2,456
I know he's interested in those places. But Utah is great too. Cheap accomodation? I lived in badass vacation home with my brother in PC for $400/month. found on ksl.. deals are everywhere just need to look. Lived in Breck.. meh. Aside from daylight donuts and slopestyle I didn't care much for Breck. Mammoth not sure. But some of the best nights of my life were on Main St in PC. And obviously the accesability to the cottonwood canyons
Jun 20 2013 11:41AM
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3mania
Posts: 2613 - Karma: 10,361
Move to Breck. Stay until the end of March. Move to Mammoth and ski April, May, and June.
Jun 20 2013 12:22PM
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ndye
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 7,094
at age 18 i had no problem ever getting alcohol in breck. but i do look like a dad
Jun 20 2013 12:29PM
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^BEANS^
Posts: 624 - Karma: 248
@MalKnowsBest
Jun 20 2013 4:21PM
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