Cool.
 
So, John - of the major resorts you have been to, how would you rate them for X-country overall? I guess convenience has to be a factor as well as extent and snow reliability. Perhaps give us your top 5-10. We rated Cortina highly too.

Hi Wendy. Just back from hols!
 
I think I’d have to put the St Moritz area at the top. For absolutely world class downhill and XC plus a huge variety of other stuff, it is unbeatable.
 
My top 5 list would probably look like this:
 
St Moritz (Celerina)
Sella Ronda/ Seiseralm (almost any resort)
Schladming (including the fantastic Ramsau XC)
Banff/ Lake Louise
Innsbruck (Lots of downhill and XC on your doorstep)
 
In the North America I haven’t been to Stowe or Tremblant which would be good and I haven’t been to Are in Sweden which looks promising.
 
I don’t think that Levi in Finland is a "Major" but the XC there (and in neighbouring Yllas) is fantastic. Again, none of Norway’s resotrs could be classed as downhill "Majors" but, on tour, you could have an interesting downhill/ XC holiday. Alternatively, most of Norway’s resorts are brilliant XC destinations on their own.
 
JJ
 

That’s great, John. Thanks. Have you tried Cortina? There’s quite a lot of XC there and a nordic centre.
 
I have a friend who cross-country skis and she enjoyed a trip to the Pyrenees -though I can’t remember off-hand which resort. She regularly goes to Norway, but not for downhill as well. The area around Hardanger plateau is a lovely area - though pretty wild and exposed.
 
Hope you had a good holiday - somewhere with mountains?

Yes and the scenery around Cortina is absolutely stunning too.
 
We were doing some walking around the Tauern Alps. A bit damp to begin with but really impressive even so.
 
It is really noticeable if you happen to pass through the ski resports just how smooth and grassy are their ski runs. Not much snow cover required for decent conditions there!
 
JJ