Summer Mountain Vacation Planning Guide For Park City UT

Posted on March 16th, 2010 in Sports | No Comments »

A summer visit to Park City offers a multitude of activities for everyone to enjoy. Fantastic weather and an abundance of activities ensure that visitors of all ages are satisfied and entertained. Whether you are an avid outdoorsman or you prefer the food and wine scene, a summer stay in Park City is the perfect vacation for you.

Upon arrival in Park City, it`s hard to ignore the clear skies and eighty degree weather. At 7,000 feet, the town rests at the ideal altitude, and boasts endless days of comfortable weather perfect for the pursuit of outdoor activities. With minimal precipitation and a cool breeze, it is hard to think of a better place to spend a few days (or a few weeks) during the summer season.

Start your exploration of Park City by learning about the activities offered by the three local resorts in town. Park City Mountain Resort will keep the whole family entertained with horseback rides, alpine coaster, alpine slide, and a miniature golf course. Keep the little ones entertained at the Olympic Park, where they can ride the zip line or bobsled. If you still have energy, try a lift-served hike at The Canyons or Deer Valley.

Park City also has some of the most well known biking and hiking trails in the western United States. The three resorts in town provide lift-served hiking to incredible scenery and wildlife, while the rail trail and various other paved roads serve up easier vistas for the less-experienced biker. Strap on some shoes and test out one of the hundreds of trails in town.

One of the most attractive aspects of spending a vacation in Park City is the number of golf courses in town and the neighboring areas. Park City offers thirteen courses for all skill levels and budgets. Walk nine holes at Soldier Hollow or schedule a full round of eighteen at the Homestead. The clean mountain air and beautiful views are sure to make your Park City golf outing the most memorable on record.

In addition to an active outdoor scene, Park City also offers a variety of festivals throughout the summer that attract visitors from around the country. The Arts Festival, held in early August, connects vacationers, artists, and musicians while providing great cuisine and entertainment. The Food/Wine Classic is a culinary delight that highlights the work of some of the best chefs and sommeliers in Utah.

An additional advantage of a summer holiday to Park City is the free concert series sponsored by a variety of local businesses. On Wednesday nights, take the family to Deer Valleys Snow Park Lodge Amphitheater for an evening of music and relaxation. Or, if your visit includes a Saturday, make it over to The Canyons and check out the weekly free concert offered at The Canyons village base area.

Park City is the perfect vacation destination for many reasons. The great weather, adventurous outdoors scene, and combination of entertainment and dining opportunities provide everything you are looking for in a summer getaway. Bring your friends or family to Park City and you will leave satisfied and refreshed.

Alyson Monetti lives in Deer Valley, UT and works in the resort industry. She prefers LocalTourist.com for finding information on Deer Valley resorts and Park City dining.

How To Touch And Go For Private Pilots

Posted on March 15th, 2010 in Sports | No Comments »

Any course that any individual is taking that is involving any type of training it has its own jargon.. When it comes to private pilot one of the most favored terms that is used is touch and go.

This is something that is heard repeatedly in the beginning perhaps, and the student pilot doesn’t realize the importance of it.

It’s ironic to think that many of the thoughts that cross a students mind when they are first join the pilot program is that when it comes to landing they just figure that once they arrive at the airport whichever runway happens to be free is the one that they can land.

This is not the way it works and the student pilot soon finds out that he will be told where to land. The information that this is based on is in what direction that the wind is coming from. Pilots will be taught that they must go towards the wind and that they have to keep as consistent of a straight line as possible when landing.

They also have to consider that they’re not in the air alone that there are other planes up there with them and this is usually around the 10,000 feet mar. There are times when the pilots will be given alternate instructions to what they are to use to as far as their pattern.

There are several patterns when it comes to flying and each of these must be learned and must be followed whenever instructed to do so. The first one is if you are told to go straight out from the one runway you are in the up wind. You may be told that you have to fly into the cross wind.

Third is what is called at the downwind. This is where the wind will be behind you but the fourth is the base this is where you go to see those numbers that are painted on the runway are going to be really important to you.

And finally the last stage is number five this means that landing is eminent.

The five areas that we just talked about is what the pattern of flying is all about .You will certainly learn to appreciate the control tower who will normally give you your flying pattern instructions. However there will be times that you will be doing this on your own.

As there will be no support service for this, this is why it’s really important that you understand and know these patterns. While you will still have to announce though what position you are in and the pattern you’re going to be using because as we said you are not up there flying alone so you must know how to operate your radio and the proper terminology and what information must be relayed

The first time that you go to do this you may become a little tongue-tied but you need to get your head on straight and make sure that all of the information you are giving is total and accurate

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Minnesota Children’s Camp

Posted on February 23rd, 2010 in Sports | No Comments »

Minnesota is more than the pristine beauty of lakes, forests and eagles flying overhead. To me it’s Summer Camp! Swift Nature Camp is so much more than another home with another family, it’s a special Minnesota Camp

This summer home is filled with acceptance, love, encouragement, and true, down to earth friends who you will end up calling your camp family. Your counselors act as parents, older siblings, etc. They are great people to look up to. The campers are great friends for life. You may even end up looking at them as siblings. Acceptance is everywhere, no one kicks you out of the cabin because of who you are. Your uniqueness is celebrated. This is the main reason why I love Swift Nature Camp…it’s so much more than just having fun.

Activities are everywhere at summer camp, there is so much to do. Here are just a few: Archery, Swimming, Fishing, Boating, Tubing, and Riflery. You are never bored and active all day long. The counselors help you get better regardless of that your skill level is. All activities are noncompetitive and so we all support each other, rather than worry who is best.

I’ll never forget the great out of camp trips we took like the Superior Hiking Trail. What an adventure! I loved being in the of the forest. overlooking Lake Superior. The wildlife was wonderful too we saw hawks, bald eagles, & deer. This is why I love Minnesota Camps

Cabin life is all about learning about others. We come from all over America and even other countries, to meet at a Minnesota Summer Camp. In each cabin there are 10 campers and 2 very kind counselors. Our goal is to become a team for the 3 or 6 weeks we are there. Sure, we had our fights, but always they are resolved and we grow closer because of them.

I always loved the Nature Center. It is a great place to learn about Nature and the Environment. The Director is always fun and teaches us loads of cool things but its not at all like school. There are all sorts of animals that are fun to observe and hold. One day they even made me feel a little more comfortable when I was homesick.

I’m returning to Swift Nature Camp for all these reasons. I love camp and hope to be a Counselor in training when I’m sixteen and then a counselor when I’m eighteen. So, I’ll see yawl in the North woods of Minnesota this summer!

About the authors: Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional coed Overnight Summer Camps. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals and science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in programs for the first time camper as well as adventures for teens. Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz have been the owners since 1996. Minnesota Summer Camp

A Look At What You Can Expect When You Shop For World Cup 2010 Packages

Posted on January 22nd, 2010 in Soccer | No Comments »

Don’t wait too long before starting your hunt for the best World Cup 2010 packages because the tournament is just 6 months off and so there is no time to be wasted. You should start researching where the different stadiums are situated and also learn how best to get to South Africa and so you should not wait another moment in getting your plans ready and your money ready. Tickets for the 2010 World Cup have begun selling fast and so you cannot afford delaying a moment because tickets are being snapped up in a big hurry.

For those who are looking for the most exciting World Cup 2010 packages it is best to pick certain airlines that are offering good deals from various departure points. From America you can deal with Delta and with South African Airways. For those who are planning to fly from Europe the best airlines are British Airways and also Virgin Atlantic while from Holland you can try KLM; from Paris there is Air France and from Germany you can fly Lufthansa.

For those who are traveling to South Africa from Middle Eastern countries, Emirates is the best airline and Cathay Pacific will suit travelers leaving from Hong Kong. Qantas will get you from Australia to South Africa and Varig will do the same from Brazil.

In case you can’t find a flight that has seats vacant for South Africa your best bet would be to try flying to Namibia (to Windhoek) or to Botswana (Gaborone) from where you can hop aboard a bus and enter South Africa by road.

To get the best World Cup 2010 packages you have to deal with tour operators that are 2010 FIFA World Cup preferred operators and who can offer you a good deal that includes international flight tickets, match tickets as well as accommodation and even transportation to the match venues.

What’s more, these packages are available in numerous varieties and you can choose to pay for group 1, 2, 3 matches or combine the early groups with the later ones. Obviously the best deal would be a package that gives you access to all matches starting from group 1 and which end with the finals.

These World Cup 2010 packages are based on the principle called base camps which means that you have to pick 3 cities in South Africa that you want to make your base cities for the world cup and which include Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg.

On the day when the match for which you have paid arrives you are transported ‘ either by air or by road ‘ to the city and venue. When no matches are being played you are of course free to take in the sights in South Africa. There is no time to waste and so you must start checking for availability and as long as you can afford it be sure to pay for your package now.

If you are attending the World Cup, then the World Cup 2010 packages can help organize your trip with virtually no hassle. Don’t miss out on this momentous occasion! Also, it is never too late to consider the upcoming 2010 winter games packages either.

Facts About Safe Hands Transfers

Posted on January 7th, 2010 in Sports | No Comments »

Timeshare sellers sometimes have no option but to believe that you have ended up with a perfect investment by means of purchasing a good timeshare from them. All of the timeshare deals are offered to customers at a predetermined quote of around 75% discount. Terms and conditions are well explained to all customers in the first go to impress them totally. You will be pretty impressed with the type of investment offered, discounts offered; value added services and ownership offered.

‘Act now’ will be the first words uttering from the timeshare service providers. Later when you know about the fees, maintenance charges, processing cost, and other year expenses to be paid, you feel bad and frustrated about it. You will be initially kept away from the increasing maintenance costs, tax to be paid and all other charges. Further to add more problems you realize the offer being useless and worth less when you try to resale it.

Facts about the safe hand transfers surely offer a sigh of relief to people willing to get rid of the situation. With this in simple ways you can stay away from all kinds of problems and issues. No need to bare the heavy burden of obligations and rules of the property and resort ownership taken from timeshare. Instant solutions for the relief from resort property and liabilities please you in all aspects around. Timeshare ownership can be getting ridden off in simple ways through the services associated with safe hands transfers. No need to feel alone as experts in the market is ready to help you eliminate all of the overbearing fees and any sort of obligations in simple procedures and at ease. You may wish to have a kind of flexibility in personal life and enjoy the vacation in resorts booked. What if there are no vacancies in the resort when you need? No point in booking such resorts where you find no place to relax when you need it the most.

Safe hands transfers are perfectly suitable for people willing to be away from the liabilities, obligations, ever increasing expenses, taxes, and charges to be paid with less utility of resorts booked through timeshare. Some may be unable to travel due to busy schedules, schools of children at home, unable to receive the desired reservations, unavailability of rooms when needed, health reasons, increasing fares, tired of lifestyle of timeshare, own a pet, and others. For lot of other reasons safe hands transfers can be perfect for people willing to remove hands off from timeshare resort property ownership. You may be unable to make use of the booked resort through timeshare since years. On the other hand you may be satisfied with all services offered and all vacations enjoyed till date but still may prefer to give up on liabilities of timeshare.

For all your reasons and comfort living there is only one answer, safe hands transfers. With immediate effect safe hands transfer offers you a way out of troubles and issues. Get rid of the burdens and feel safe immediately. You can simply research online to know what the experts say about safe hands transfers. Company blog is available for reference for all customers willing to take up this particular service. Know all about the testimonials and achieves about safe hands transfers and get what you want, relief from the expanding fees. Just relay on the services offered and discover smiles all over along with satisfaction.

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Thailand: My First Night in Pattaya

Posted on January 2nd, 2010 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

It was seven-ish and I was sitting in a nice-enough room overlooking the front entrance to the pub above which I had just moved in. The pub was the Pig and Whistle on Soi 7 in Pattaya. Across the way was a big hole, which they were hoping to build a hotel in and next door to that, right opposite me, was a tiny bar with one lady sitting on a stool outside it. Not that there was a wall there, it was open on two sides. The Soi was lovely and quiet, I thought. I also thought that I might go and sit in that little bar and talk to that woman, if my friend was late, because I would definitely see him arrive from two metres away, the width of the Soi.

So, I went to the bar in the pub at 19:15 to await my friend who said he would meet me at 20:00. It was much busier than thirty minutes earlier but not noisy and I sat at the bar. The first thing a barmaid did was say hello, give me a menu and step back. I did not really want to eat, I only wanted a beer as I presumed we would be dining together later, but I wanted to read the menu anyway.

‘A pint of Boddington’s’, I said. It arrived and the girl began laying a setting for me. I tried to explain that I was not hungry, but it was no good. Like in Spain, most people eat and drink at the same time. All the while the girl was smiling at me. Then she said: ‘You live upstairs? My name Charli. What you want to eat?’. So, I gave in and ordered something and rice.

‘You first time in Thailand? You no can eat. Too spicy’, she said with a grin. ‘Oh’, I replied, ‘but I want to try. ‘I put only 50-50 for you’, she declared and went.

I battled my way through that meal and it took a Boddingtons and a bottle of water. Charli had been accurate, it was too hot for first-time foreigners and she had reduced the chilis by 50%. I have always heeded a Thai’s guidance on food ever since.

I changed seat to by the window to see what was happening as it was dark by 19:30 and I was curious. Within thirty minutes Soi 7 had changed completely. I could see hundreds of ladies and tourists milling about. I wanted to go out and join in or at least sit in the quiet bar across the way, but I’m embarrassed to say that I was too scared, so I sat put, rivetted to the Pig like a rabbit in a hunter’s beam.

My friend arrived on time and after we had been chatting for an hour, he said: ‘Drink up, I have someone I want you to meet’. This was it, we were going into that mele. A waitress held the door for us and the noise and the heat were tremendous. Especially the noise. Every metre at least two or three girls would yell: ‘Hello, sexy man, you want a drink’. Trying to say no courteously to each call was impractical, so I just stuck close to my pal.

Luckily, we only had about fifty metres to stroll and we sat down in another bar. My friend said hello to several ladies and then said, this a girl I have been going out with for some time. I was astounded as I had never heard him talk about her, ever. She was gorgeous, but could not speak English, so I sat in the pandemonium in silence. Not for long through, as my friend said, I have a blind date for you and he introduced another girl to me who was equally beautiful, but with whom I could speak a little. She was captivating and I was captivated. The din seemed to pass away, but it was only because I was concentrating on my new friend. The four of us had the best time and the best food I had ever had in my forty-nine years of existence.

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Cuba Sun and Sand

Posted on December 31st, 2009 in Sports | No Comments »

Cuba’s beaches are unique for the rich tones of their clear warm water. The island’s coasts include everything from challenging cliffs to peaceful coves, the setting for incredible sun and sea Cuba holidays.

There is an average of 330 sunny days a year, with few clouds. The main tourist resorts (including the ones on the cays) have international airports, and the excellent hotel infrastructure is complemented with a wide range of extra hotel facilities (car and bus rentals, marinas, scuba-diving centers, shops, beauty parlors, fitness centers, etc.), entertainment during the day and at night, excursions to nearby cities, medical attention, and special family and honeymoon Cuba holiday packages.

Lands of legends and myths, thousands of tiny islands enclose a fascinating mini-world in which the conditions have been created for having a daring adventure. Cuba has several marinas or sports ports that offer all of the services you need for having a delightful stay.

It has over 3560 miles (5746 kilometers) of irregular coastline, including more than 200 bays and over 300 beaches whose sand is of different colors and textures. It is common knowledge that the Cuban sea is of excellent quality.

Not disappointed thousands of tourists who make dives here every year, some of them as beginners making their maiden dives in Cuban waters, accompanied by experienced divers whose expertise is attested to by the World Underwater Federation (CMAS), the American-Canadian Underwater Certification (ACUC) for scuba-diving classes and other prestigious international schools.

This peaceful, silent world-whose water is so clear that you can see for from 65 to 130 feet (from 20 to 40 meters) around you teems with fish of many colors, shapes and sizes, whose world consists of forests of coral, sponges, gorgonians and algae.

Scientific studies estimate that there are over 500 species of fish; 200 different kinds of sponges (cup, tube and branch); around 60 kinds of coral; and a large sample of mollusks, crustaceans, gorgonians, algae and Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.) in Cuban waters.

Cuba undoubtedly is one of the most stunning tourist destinations in the World. Add the irrefutable fact of a super rich culture and you have the perfect formula for an unforgettable holiday.

Before booking your Cuba Holidays. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk for more information on the best twin centre holidays to Cuba.

Learning The Italian Language

Posted on December 22nd, 2009 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

There are many foreign languages to learn but if you are considering Italian, great! Italian is the descendent of Latin but is considered to have much simpler grammar than its ancestor. Additionally, Italian is used by over 60 million people so you will have plenty of people to practice with.

You may be interested in learning Italian for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you are going on a vacation to Italy or intend to live there. Maybe you have Italian ancestry or plan on getting a job that involves work with Italians. Whatever the reason may be, learning Italian can be a very rewarding experience.

One factor that may help speed up your studies of Italian is if you already have knowledge of another romance language like Spanish or French. Linguists consider these languages to be very similar and if you know one, you will find that you already know much of the vocabulary and grammar.

For English speakers, Italian is often remarked to have a “pleasing” sound to it, most likely due to its great use of vowels and especially its use of vowels at the end of words. Unfortunately, this stress of vowels also means that listening to Italian seems like an incomprehensible stream to most English-speaking Italian language learners just beginning their studies.

Some differences in Italian from English include the fact that there are two genders for nouns: masculine and feminine. It will be necessary to learn which gender a noun is everytime you learn a new noun. You will also find that Italian verbs conjugate quite differently based on the subject.

Word order, however, is quite similar between Italian and English. Both languages are subject-verb-object languages and because the syntax is similar, it will be very easy for you to start putting together your own sentences in Italian even as a learner.

Because so many people are interested in learning Italian, there is a great variety of Italian language learning programs for you to choose from. From audio programs to traditional textbooks, you will never be at a loss for materials to learn from.

If you decide to learn the beautiful Italian language, remember to make a serious commitment. Learning any foreign language can be a tough process but if you stick with it and make a consistent effort over a long period of time, you will continually improve your Italian abilities. That being said, don’t forget to relax and enjoy the language, as well! You can read a good Italian novel or listen to Italian music among many other fun activities. These practices will not only improve your Italian but can be some of the most fun and rewarding experiences for you in your Italian language pursuit.

Author Robertson Kunz has a language learning guide: fast language learning method. Italian learners: learn fluent Italian.

Dressing for the Mountain: A Beginner’s Guide to Snowboarding Clothing

Posted on December 18th, 2009 in Sports | No Comments »

Dressing for success isn’t just for a first date or a job interview. It’s just as important out on the mountain, where the wrong outfit can mean a lot more than just looking silly. Whether you’ve been snowboarding forever or are just starting out, the most important thing to remember is that dressing for the elements is just as much a part of staying safe as having the right kind of board and staying off of runs that are too difficult for your skill level.

Planning for all possible conditions when getting dressed is an important part of snowboarding, and dressing in the right clothes also decreases the impact that a fall might have on you. Just remember to leave the cotton goods at home, and get ready to start layering.

Don’t even think about including cotton in your snowboarding outfits! It absorbs water rather than wicking it away and will generally cause at best discomfort and at worth death. There’s no exaggerating about how harmful cotton is. Avoid it at all costs.

The purpose of layering is to be prepared for any sort of weather at the drop of a hat (but please don’t drop yours). Sometimes, storms will creep up, and it will be important to have layers for maximum warmth. Other times, noon on the slopes, especially during the start or the end of a season on a sunny mountain, will require removing some layers as to not get too sweaty.

The first and most crucial part of any snowboarding outfit is that initial layer, the base layer. This is where it is really important to remember absolutely no cotton at all. Long underwear, or thermal underwear, should fit snugly but not too tightly, and should be made of a material that will wick sweat away. The same goes for socks, which should be made of wool or some other synthetic material that allows breathing while eliminating the risk of water.

The insulation layer of a snowboarding outfit goes on over the base layer, but does not need to protect from the elements like the outer layer. Also known as the middle layer, this is what provides extra warmth by keeping heat locked firmly in while allowing water to be wicked away. The middle layer consists of a sweater or zip-up, usually made of wool or fleece. Its purpose is to provide a little bit more warmth while not adding too much bulk to the outfit. Boots are also included in the middle layer.

The final touch for any snowboarding outfit is the outer layer, where it’s the most important to look cool, too, if that’s something you have in mind. Thankfully, with a world of designers making snowboarding jackets for all styles, from vintage cool to contemporary chic, it’s simple to get something right up your alley. Just be sure that the jacket has a shell that will keep snow from getting in if you take a spill, and try to get one with a hood that folds out at a moment’s notice in case of a particularly bad dumping of snow while out on the mountain.

Gloves are another crucial part of snowboarding outerwear because of the amount of time that snowboarders spend getting up from the ground. The right pair of gloves should fit snugly, prevent snow or water from leaking in at the wrists, and be made of a waterproof material. Warm packs are a popular item to purchase at ski barns because they can be held in your palm inside the gloves on particularly freezing days on the slopes.

The finishing touch to the outfit? Why, goggles of course. With most snowy hills reflecting a whole lot of UV rays on sunny days, it’s important to protect one’s eyes from the sun. Goggles also help keep a clear line of vision during any snowfall that might occur while you’re on the slopes.

Once you’re all suited up properly, staying on the mountain for hours at a time is a piece of cake!

If you are considering visiting the Japan Snow, try the Niseko ski fields. It is amazing for those who want to try snowboarding in Japan

The World’s Greatest Destinations for Snowboarding

Posted on December 16th, 2009 in Sports | No Comments »

Been there, done that is easy when it comes to the well-traveled path of many snowboarders. After all, there’s a reason that certain resorts around the world are popular, especially with the reception of skiers still often icy towards those on boards.

While the word snowboarding circuit consists of some well-known resorts that everyone’s been to at least once, truly adventurous snowboarders, as well as pioneers of the sport, have been spending a lot of time searching far and wide for some of the best and rarest mountains. After all, everyone knows you can hit the slopes in Colorado-England and Florida, not so much. For a true taste of adventure, getting off the beaten path can really be a rewarding experience, not to mention an incredible vacation.

That’s why we’re here to help all of those aspiring globe-trotting snowboarders. While it might be great to hit the resort in your backyard all winter, it’s even more rewarding to find the common bond of snowboarding can make you friends all over the world, while seeing incredible new countries and riding some great mountains. Whether it’s the southern hemisphere or the northern hemisphere, a world-class resort or a smaller, more local hill, there’s so much more to boarding than your own back yard. Here are some of the world’s greatest destinations for snowboarding that you may have never heard of.

La Hoya, Argentina - With over 28 trails and a whole lot of off-trail snowboarding, La Hoya draws visitors from around the world. With a summit of almost 2,000 meters, it’s no wonder that adventerous snowboarders from all over Argentina head to La Hoya once the snow is starting to fall. The biggest attraction? The fact that the whole thing is located within a wide glacier above a circular basin, making for some great riding. Located close to Esquel in the south of Argentina, the resort is in Argentina’s Chubut Province.

Mt. Mawson, Australia - Way off the beaten path is Mt. Mawson, a small club field operated by the Southern Tasmanian Ski Association. Snowboarders are welcome, too, and for those who are into more remote spots, this location within the confines of Mount Field National Park can’t be beat. Four groomed trails and three lifts might be a lot less than busier resorts, but it more than gets the job done here.

Blue Mountain, Canada - Located in the province of Ontario, Blue Mountain is one of the best spots in all of Canada for snowboarders seeking out half-pipes and tabletops. Over 30 trails and 20 lifts make getting back to the top again easy, and intermediate snowboarders will find the variety of slopes challenging and fun. Three half pipes and two terrain parks mean that those who are more interested in working out tricks than racing downhill will be more than satisfied, and Toronto isn’t that far away for those craving a night out on the town.

Ras Dashen, Ethiopia - For true pioneers of the sport, it might be worth a visit to Ethiopia to board something that not many boarders have taken on so far. Ras Dashen is in the highest mountain in the entire country, and the only place in Ethiopia that gets enough snow to ski regularly. A cluster of nine tall and jagged peaks, this is not snowboarding for beginners by any means. Only real adventurers should take this task on.

Ruka, Finland - It’s no surprise that there’s excellent snowboarding in Scandinavian countries. Located in Finland, Ruka is one of the most well-maintained slopes you’re likely to see anywhere in the world. Whether it’s a gentle incline for beginners to the sport or more challenging runs perfect for intermediate and advanced level snowboarders, there’s a little bit of something for everyone. Ruka also takes its reputation as an excellent resort seriously, and snowboarders are pretty much promised no ice or rocks on the mountain’s pine-covered slopes.

Damian Papworth adores snowboarding in Japan. He also knows that for cheap japan snow accommodation, the Hooting Owl Lodge in Niseko is hard to top.