Best Park: Mammoth Mountain

Best Park
1. MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CALIFORNIA
It’s 2008 and every ski area, even one-lift wonders in the Midwest, has a terrain park. But Mammoth Mountain boasts seven different parks spread out over three different areas (that’s right). The 90-plus acres of park and pipe feature 64 jibs, 50 kickers, and three halfpipes. Pros Chris Benchetler and Kristi Leskinen session the Main Park’s 10 large booters and some two dozen features, like the QuikSilver Signature jib—a three-sided pyramid/battle-box hybrid—and the jibbable recycled lift tower.

Three Things You Need to Know:

Start small on the eight-foot-high Wonderland Pipe and progress up to the Super Pipe’s 18-foot walls before tackling the 22-foot-high Super Duper Pipe.

Hit the Mill Café for a meaty breakfast burrito in the a.m.

Skip the five-hour drive from L.A. and fly to Mammoth with Horizon Air’s direct flights from Los Angeles, new this season (starting at $79 for a one-way ticket).

Best of the Rest
2. Stowe, Vermont
3. Brighton, Utah
4. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
5. Mt. Bachelor, Oregon (pictured above)
6. Breckenridge, Colorado
7. Snowmass, Colorado
8. Park City, Utah
9. Keystone, Colorado
10. Stratton, Vermont