Data Reveals the Top 10 States for Winter Sports Enthusiasts – Alaska Takes the Crown

Data reveals the top 10 states for winter sports enthusiasts – Alaska takes the crown

• Alaska is crowned the best state to live for winter sports lovers
• Access to resorts, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and ice climbing earns Wyoming second place
• Third placed Vermont leads Eastern winter sports states with the best snowfall nationwide

A new study by estate experts at The Steamboat Group has established the best states for winter sports hobbyists to live in.

The research analyzed several factors relating to winter sports accessibility and facilities in every state, including the number of winter sports resorts, average snowfall, and access to a range of winter activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, and ice climbing.

Alaska is the state to top the charts with the best all-round winter sports accessibility. Whilst the state’s ten ski resorts only ranks as the 17th most in the country, the Last Frontier takes the top spot with its wide range of winter sports in reach. 19 ice skating arenas, close to 400 ice climbing routes, and six cross-country ski areas boost the state’s winter sports credentials. Meanwhile Alaska’s national parks offer activities including dog-sledding, snow play activities, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. All this alongside the fifth-highest average snowfall nationwide of 64.5 inches, puts Alaska in the top spot.

The mountain state of Wyoming takes second place in the study. Again sporting ten ski resorts, it is the all-around nature of winter activity in the Equality State that scores it so highly. Wyoming has eight ice skating arenas, seven cross-country ski areas, and over 200 ice-climbing routes. Wyoming national parks also offer snow play, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing to accompany a plentiful average annual snowfall of 51 inches, the ninth highest nationwide.

In third, Vermont leads the East’s winter sport states. The Green Mountain State has an abundance of resorts, as many as 28, and the largest average snowfall in the country with a huge annual 89.3 inches. A total of 20 cross-country ski areas, 30 ice skating arenas, and 150 ice-climbing routes in the state make it the clear choice for winter sports in the East, while Vermont national parks also offer snowshoeing and snow-play activities for the state to make third place.

Montana and Maine take fourth and fifth respectively. Montana boasts 16 ski resorts, 13 cross-country ski areas, 12 ice skating arenas, and over 250 ice climbing routes. The Treasure State also has a solid annual average snowfall of 37.3 inches. Maine contains as many as 18 resorts, 13 cross-country ski areas, 34 ice skating arenas and close to 120 ice climbing routes. The second-largest average snowfall nationwide also helps Maine to fifth place.

New Hampshire ranks in sixth with a huge 26 resorts. The state boasts 15 cross-country ski areas, 37 ice skating arenas, and the third-most ice climbing routes of any state with 522. For snowfall, New Hampshire’s average annual snowfall is the third-largest in the US at 71.4 inches.

Idaho’s 18 resorts, five cross-country ski areas, eight ice skating arenas and 35 ice climbing routes are enough to land seventh for the state. Snow-play, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing are also crucially available at Idaho national parks.

In eighth, Colorado has as many as 32 resorts, 20 cross-country ski areas, 49 ice skating arenas, and by far the most ice-climbing routes nationwide with over 1,500. Minnesota takes the penultimate top ten spot with its 20 resorts supplemented by seven cross-country ski areas, 137 ice climbing routes and the most ice skating arenas nationwide at 193.

Tenth place goes to Utah with 15 resorts, five cross-country ski areas, 13 ice skating arenas and a significant 410 ice climbing routes. Average annual snowfall of 40.1 inches, and national parks offering snowmobiling, snow-play, and snowshoeing, solidify Utah’s top ten status.

A spokesperson from The Steamboat Group commented on the findings: “For many, sunshine and warmth are two crucial factors when deciding where to live. However, for those who prefer the chillier thrills of snow and slopes, this data provides a great insight into the places that can cater to an all-round winter sports lover. Whilst those who chase the staple sports of skiing and snowboarding likely have destinations set in mind, this study sheds light on the best places to find an array of winter sports perfection.”

The Steamboat Group are real estate experts based in Colorado.

Story credit  https://www.steamboatsprings-realestate.com

Sources:

nps.gov/findapark – National Park offerings

usa.com/rank/us-average-snow-rank.htm – Snowfall data

onthesnow.com – No. of ski resorts

Xcski.com – No. of cross-country ski areas

Arena-guide.com – No. of ice skating arenas

Mountainproject.com – No. of ice climbing routes

Ski-shops.regionaldirectory.us – No. of ski stores

Methodology:

First, indicators were sourced from the above sources. Then, “No. Ski Resorts”, “No. Cross Country Ski Areas”, “No. Ice Skating Arenas”, “No. Ice Climbing Routes”, “No. Ski Shops”, “Avg. Snowfall / Year (in)”, “No. NPS Parks with Dog Sledding Activities”, “No. NPS Parks with Ice Skating Activities”, “No. NPS Parks with Skiing Activities”, “No. NPS Parks with Snow Play Activities”, “No. NPS Parks with Snowmobiling Activities”, “No. NPS Parks with Snowshoeing Activities” were adjusted to per 100000.0 Population (2022). All indicators were then transformed using the Yeo-Johnson transformation, if they were not already adequately normally distributed. The data was then min-max scaled from 0 to 10, where 0 and 10 represent the worst and best values present in the data, not the worst and best possible. Lastly, an overall index and ranking was generated using following weightings.

No. of resorts – 5.00, Avg. snowfall/year – 4.00 No. x-country ski areas – 3.00, No. ice climbing routes – 3.00, No. ski shops – 2.00, National park offerings – 1.50

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Author: David Keech

David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]