Over the last decade, snowboarding has transformed from the blight of the slopes to a respected and ever more popular alternative to skiing. Everyone - from skate kids and octogenarians to our very own future monarchs - seems to be going board mad.
But the snowboarders' domain is different to that of their pole bearing counterparts. They scour the slopes for funparks, halfpipes and elusive fresh powder, for which a board is the ideal vehicle.
Happy riding.
Mayrhofen is the principal resort of the Ziller Valley, in the Austrian Tyrol, and is home to many of the country's top snowboarders. It is easily accessible from Innsbruck airport as well as from Munich, to where cheap flights from the UK are readily available.
Although the area is rather low (below 2,500m) and the snowfall unreliable, the vastness of the terrain will keep even the most adventurous of riders happy. A Zillertal superskipass entitles use of 145 lifts covering an area of 462km, so there's plenty of secret powder stashes to be found. Even if good snow is not forthcoming, you can always head to the Hintertux Glacier and play on the multitude of both natural and man-made jumps and drops.
There's a funpark and halfpipe on the Horberg, while those seeking a little privacy should investigate the backcountry accessible from the top of the Penkenjoch or down the valley at Zell.
Bars and clubs: Scotties Pub, Arena Nightclub
More information: www.mayrhofen.com
Getting there: Host of next April's British Snowboarding Championships to which Thomson (0870 6061470) is offering special all-inclusive snowboard packages and has snowboard academies. Seven nights in January start at £305, including flights.
Other operators: Neilson 0870 5141414, Equity Total Ski 01273 298298, Motours 01892 677770.
Axamer Lizum . Off the mountain, Axamer is hardly the most attractive of resorts, consisting of four hotels and a carpark. But the actual ski area is a gem as far as snowboarders are concerned. Close to Innsbruck, it is easily accessible although lift queues can be long at weekends.
The resort's 10 lifts service the two peaks of Hoadl and Pleisen, which have hosted the winter Olympics twice, so the pistes are challenging to say the least. There is a pipe and park in the resort although they are not well maintained. The rider should not find this a problem, though, as the natural terrain is littered with obstacles and good freeriding. When ascending the mountain in the main gondola, advanced riders should check out possible tree runs to the left and right of the lift line; they won't be disappointed. Alternatively, powder hounds can search out trails 3, 4 and 10 to the right of the top chair. Remember, when riding the backcountry, be conscious of the environment and don't not destroy freshly-planted saplings.
Bars and clubs: (in Innsbruck) Jimmy's, the Couch Bar
More information: www.axams.at or www.austria-tourism.at
Getting there: Hourmont Ski Direct (01273 220777) is offering seven days, six nights' full board for £349 travelling by Snowcoach. For flights, add £80-£120.
Red Mountain is neither the most popular nor the most accessible of resorts in Canada, but it is a snowboarding experience that cannot be missed. If you brave the small prop plane that flies between Vancouver and Castlegar, or take the seven-hour coach transfer, you will be greeted by a snow-bound experience from a bygone age. There are no crowds, no high-speed quads and no rambling resort complexes at the base of the mountain. But there is plenty of snow and it's mostly untracked.
The resort consists of two mountains: Grante -which is the larger - and Red. Together, they cover an area of 1,100 acres. The face of Red Mountain is extremely steep and fast but there are plenty of tree runs off-piste. Additionally, if accompanied by a guide, you can ride some of Canada's most incredible backcountry bowls here. But be warned: the danger levels are high. Grante has the lion's share of groomed runs and a plethora of natural jumps and tree runs. Try to hook up with some locals though as the majority of Red Mountain's delights lie beyond the resort boundaries.
Bars and clubs: The Powder Keg, Rafters.
Getting there: Frontier Ski (020-8776 8709) offers seven nights' B&B in the Ram's Head Inn starting at £799, based on two people sharing. Children aged six and under ski free.
Other operators: Ski Safari 020-7740 1221, Skisar US 01959 540796.
Chamonix is a Mecca for mountain sports enthusiasts of every persuasion, and the crème for snowboarders who crave the delights of off-piste riding. It is a 45-minute drive from Geneva airport to which many low-cost airlines now fly.
Even from the town, the mountains are impressive in their size and severity and, after hearing countless tales of crevasses and hidden cliff drops, you will hesitate before venturing on to the lift system. But fear not, Chamonix has something for everyone in its 11 rideable areas (it has the largest linked terrain in the world). From the mellower inclines of Le Tour with its natural jumps, to the rolling playgrounds of Brevent, both freeriders and freestylers will find enough to keep them happy for at least a season. And for those who want to take their riding to new extremes, there's always Argentière. Be warned though: Chamonix's backcountry is extensive and dangerous, so always enlist the help of guides and be prepared for any eventuality.
Bars and clubs: La Cantina, The Pub, Le Terras.
More information: www.chamonix.net
Getting there: EasyJet flies to Geneva. Kommunity Snowboard Camps (01546 830243), started by former British Snowboard Champion Neil McNab, runs freeride and extreme back-country weeks. The latter include glacier and crevasse training taught by qualified mountain guides. Prices start at £600, excluding flights. The snowboard camps are for three levels of riding.
Other operators: Collineige 01276 24262, Airtours 0870 1577775, First Choice 0870 7543477.
Méribel , at the "heart" of the Three Valleys ski area, provides the avid snowboarder with a huge amount of terrain, including 600km of piste serviced by 200 lifts. It is also easily accessible for the traveller, the best point of entry being Turin, which is an hour's drive away.
The snowboarding facilities are comprehensive and include two pipes, two parks and one of Europe's best boarder-X tracks. With so much to play on, it has become a regular hangout for many of the Continent's best riders. The main pipe and park are located below the Plattières 2, while the second is tucked away near the Tougnette mid-station. Another funpark has recently been built at Biolley.
For the most challenging and beautiful off-piste riding, head for Mont du Vallon. To the east of the town are the Col de la Loze and Saulire, beyond which lie the Bozel Valley and Courchevel; to the west, one can ride a long ridge with access to the areas of Belleville Valley and the resorts of Val Thorens, Les Menuires and St-Martin-de-Belleville.
Bars and clubs: Capricorn Bar.
More information: www.meribel.net
Getting there: This winter, Club Med (0700 2582633) opens two new chalet-style villages. The starting price for seven nights' full board, flights, transfers,and insurance is £826.
Other operators: Simply Ski 020-8541 2209, Erna Low 020-7584 2841, Mark Warner 0870 8480482, Ski Total 020-8948 3535.
Davos has played host to many a snowboarding contest in its time so is well versed in catering to those who ride sideways. In the past, the maintenance of snowboard-specific facilities has been limited to contest dates, although in recent years this has changed. There are now two well-cut pipes and a park on the Parsenn slope, one of which is within hiking distance of the premier snowboarders' bar and hotel, the Bolgenschanze.
Probably the greatest disadvantage about this mountain is actually getting up to the higher slopes due to a rather slow funicular from Davos Platz and Dorf, but the riding is well worth the hassle.
From the top station, the freeriding opportunities are endless although if heading out of bounds, it is advisable to take a guide. There are some amazing tree runs to be found off to the left of the cat track that leads down to the mid-station while another free-riders' paradise is on the run from the top of the Jakobshorn to Teufi. Don't be afraid to investigate the entire catchment area of Davos as there is a free bus service included in your lift pass.
Bars and clubs: Bolgenschanze Hotel
More information: www.davos.ch
Getting there: Inghams (0208-780 4433) is offering a two-for-one lift pass at hotels in Davos for some dates during January. The starting price for a seven-night, half-board stay at the three-star Hotel Bristol in January is £444, including flights.
Other operators: Elegant Resorts 0870 3333336, Kuoni 01306 742500, Swiss Travel Service 01992 456143, White Roc 0207-792 1188
Laax is the home of Swiss snowboarding and a popular site for contests on the International Snowboard Federation's calendar. The resort authorities are therefore committed to keeping the snowboard-specific facilities in top condition. It is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Zurich airport or a 10-hour drive from Calais.
There are two pipes in Laax, the main one of which is located on the Crap Sogn Gion under the Gondola. The second has been carved into the Vorab glacier and is as good as, if not better than, the main one. Running alongside the pipe on the Vorab glacier is Laax's gargantuan funpark, which will test riders of all standards.
But Laax is not only a freestylers' paradise; the backcountry is vast and varied in its delights. Take the draglift to the top of the Vorab and descend to your right. Here you will find limitless fields of powder dissected by natural gullies and chutes. There are also plenty of tree runs below the main gondola that lead down to the resort base.
Bars and clubs: The Crap bar.
More information: www.laax.ch Switzerland Travel Centre: 00800 10020030
Getting there: Momentum Travel (020-7371 9111).Seven nights in Flims, a lovely village that shares the Laax ski area, staying in the Sunstar Hotel starts at £799pp.
Other operators: Made to Measure 01243 533333, Plus Travel 020-734 0383, Ski Choice 01491 837607,
Mammoth Mountain, in California, is one of North America's largest ski resorts. The nearest airport is Reno, although, for the sake of seeing some of the US, you could rent a car and drive from either LA or San Francisco.
The larger of the two funparks , "The Unbound", is accessible from the Thunder Bound Express quad and features a vast array of spines, hips and kickers as well as two half pipes. The area is floodlit most nights until 9pm. The second smaller park and pipe are at the Canyon Lodge.
For those who like their terrain a little more natural, there's Dragon's Back and Hemlock Ridge as well as the natural pipe of Upper Dry Creek.
If you want to escape the weekend crowds that flock to the resort from LA and San Francisco, head for June Mountain, a 20-minute drive away. There is a fun park and pipe as well as sparsely- populated open runs down the mountain's main face.
Bars and clubs: Whisky Creek, Chick and Pizza.
Further information: www.visitmammoth.com
Getting there Crystal (0870 84870003) offers seven nights' B&B at Jagerhof Lodge starting at £559, including flights and transfers. Children aged six and under ski free.
Other operators: Ski the American Dream 020-8552 1201, Ski Activity 01738 840888, Ski Independence 0870 6001462
Baqueira Beret Spain is not the most likely place to go for snow, but this resort near Viella, on the northern side of the Pyrennes, is well worth a visit. It is an easy two-hour drive from Toulouse.
The snowboard scene in Spain is not huge but its stronghold is located here. This is in part due to the pipe that the resort has built for the past two years, although it is worth taking your own spade to shape the walls, as the maintenance is sporadic to say the least.
The resort is made up of four separate mountains that are all well linked by 37 modern lifts. Bonaigua provides the best terrain for freeriding although come spring it is also the worst affected by the sun. After a fresh fall of snow, head for an area called Argulls located between Bonaigua and Baqueira as there are plenty of powder stashes to ride here. For those who like their riding steep, there are also plenty of options in the northern parts of the resort, including the aptly-named couloir of "Where Goats Tumble".
Bars and clubs: Jai Aran, Era Crin.
Getting there: Ski Miquel (01457 821200) offers seven nights in the Chalet Hotel Salana starting at £319 and including breakfast, tea, three- course dinner, wine, flights and transfers.
Madonna di Campiglio is neither Italy's most glamorous nor its largest resort, but it is the heartland of the country's snowboarding scene. This is due to the commitment shown to the sport by the resort authorities and because it has hosted many international snowboarding events in the past. It is located in the narrow valley of Brenta Dolomites, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Verona.
The resort consists of three separate areas, which are linked at the base by a web of ridable paths. The majority of the resort runs are suited to the intermediate snowboarder, although if you are looking for a little more adventure you should buy a "superskirama" lift pass and access the resorts of Folgarida and Marivella. There is a snowboard park, boarder-X track and well-maintained pipe in the Goste area, which is about the only part of the resort that is above the treeline. The only disadvantage about this area is that it is not fenced off to stray mountain users, so be observant.
There are plenty of natural obstacles to be found on the mountains, while freeriders should check out the Spinale and Fortini to take advantage of some awesome terrain.
Bars and clubs: Disco Zangola, The Cliffhanger
Further information: www.campiglio.net
Getting there: Interhome (020-8891 1294) offers a week's ski-drive holiday in a two-room apartment for two-five people sharing from £636, including ferry crossings.
Other operators: Inghams 020-8780 4433, Crystal 0870 8487000, Thomson 0870 6061470.
• Danny Burrows is the English editor of Onboard magazine, the next issue of which is out on January 1. www.onboardmag.com
Books: The Snowboard Guide: North America and The Snowboard Guide : Europe are published by Low Pressure (020-7792 3134) at £19.95. World Snowboard Guide 2001, by Ice Publishers at £11.95, covers 1,000 resorts in 60 countries and can be ordered by phoning 01479 810362.
