Adapted from The Snowboard Guide: North America

Freeriders
The whole mountain is sick — just look at the trail map. At least half of the available terrain is black or double black diamond, encompassing everything from open bowls and steep chutes to cliffs and gladed trees. For the best tree riding, try the Gad Valley lifts, Gad 2 Chair or the relatively new high-speed quad Gadzoom. Riding the Tram gives you a complete visual of the best part of the mountain. The cliffs off the Cirque Traverse will launch you as small or as big as you want to go. The Cirque is a long ridge separating two sections of the mountain. On one side, the Regulator Johnson trail leads to all the Gad Valley lifts, as well as to hidden stashes of powder. The more popular side of the mountain is referred to as The Chips. The Chips offers the best top-to-bottom rides with natural halfpipes, trees, chutes, and powder runs.

Sprout wings and fly

Freestylers
Snowbird's terrain park, which includes the state's largest halfpipe got a big face lift in 1997 and has been improving since. Snowbird offers halfpipe camps and women's snowboarding camps at various times during the season.

Carvers
There aren't too many hard boots on the mountain but there are a ton of steeps. If you want to rip, this is a good place to do it.

Backcountry Options
For the ultimate Utah riding experience, telephone the Wasatch Powderbird Guides. They run a champagne-style operation which can be group booked to take you almost anywhere in the Wasatch Range. Telephone: 801-742 2800.

	The Nitty Gritty Elevation: Summit: 11,000 ft. Vertical drop: 3,240 ft. Base: 7,760 ft. Snowfall: Annual average: 500+ inches Snowmaking: 2% Area: Total Area: 2,500 acres Advanced: 45% Intermediate: 35% Beginner: 20% Length of season: Novemberlate May Number of lifts: 1 tram, 1 high-speed quads, 7 chairlifts Hazards and Rules: Leashes are supposed to be worn but the rule is minimally enforced. Snowboard School: Contact Snowbird Ski and Snowboard School at 801-742-2222 ext.5170 for rates and programs.

Move on to Squaw Valley, California

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