Night ski under the Alaskan Northern Lights
With an average annual snowfall of over 18 metres, Alaska is on every powder hunter's must-do list. What's more, visit in spring and you can expect some 15 hours of daylight. Alaska's main resort of Alyeska has 1.5km2 of nightskiing, and is just 75km from Anchorage, so despite its remote location in the far north of the Americas, the airport transfers are surprisingly short. In March, night skiing starts at 4pm and some lifts don't even think about closing until 9pm. And then there's the northern lights, some of the best heliskiing in the world and pristine wilderness to discover... alyeskaresort.com
Ski a resort with no lifts, lodges or even pistes
At first glance Utah's newest ski resort in the Wasatch Mountains is not really a resort at all! Just an hour from Salt Lake City and its new direct UK flight with Delta, Whisper Ridge has no lifts, no groomed pistes, no hotels, no bars and certainly no crowds. With a soft launch last season where the resort operated just two snowcats for uplifts, the resort will open fully this season with a fleet of eight snowcats. Best for advanced skiers and snowboarders, this is a true backcountry experience, where groups of 12 are fully kitted out with radios and avalanche gear and led by two guides. Accommodation is in one of 10 luxury yurts with hot tubs, fire pits and wood-burning stoves. This private mountain experience isn't cheap though - an overnight stay including a day of guided cat-skiing costs from £557. whisperridgeutah.com
Ski with eagles!
Don't worry, you'll keep your feet firmly on the ground and Eddie is not expected to turn up. However, Val d'Arly's Ski with Eagles Festival from the 27th to 2nd March is your chance to meet eagles, owls, vultures and hawks from the Les Aigles du Léman animal park on the ski resort's slopes. Don't miss the Ski with Eagles activity in which participants complete a ski descent accompanied by an eagle and falconer. valdarly-montblanc.com
Fly like an eagle!
Whether or not the eagles of Val d'Arly inspire you, if you've ever dreamed of flying over the Three Valleys the Tyrolienne zip wire is your chance. Lasting 1 minute and 45 seconds, the new Maurienne-Tarantaise shuttle will see you streak across the sky suspended in a sling, with your skis strapped behind you, at speeds of up to 60kmh. The slide runs from Orelle to Val-Thorens from an altitude of 3,230m at the top of the Bouchet chairlift. At the highest you will be 250m above the ground. The glide will cost £43 with tickets sold on the spot. valthorens.com
Ski with Santa - 250 of them
On the 16th December in New England's Sunday River ski resort, the slopes will turn red, as 250 Santa suit wearing fundraisers fill the slopes on skis and snowboards on the 17th Annual Santa Sunday. Entries are highly sought after with registration opening online only at midday on Monday, November 28. Dress code is strict with, of course red suit, white beard and red hat with white pom-pom de-rigeur. Plus a minimum in-hand donation of $15. Once the photoshoot is finished, with all the St Nicks carving together, you'll get a free ski pass that runs through to the December 16! Happy Christmas! sundayriver.com
Ski (and eat) like Bond, James Bond
If you like your skiing or snowboarding shaken and not stirred then you need to add the Austrian resort of Sölden to your must-visit list. The biggest resort in the Tirol's Öztal region is where several action scenes from the last Bond film Spectre were filmed. At the top of the resort you'll find the futuristic ice Q restaurant, which thankfully isn't a clinic as in the film but a futuristic eaterie on top of Gaislachkogl peak at 3048 meters. No doubt you'll want to participate in high-speed chases of your own on the Rettenbach Glacier as a digestif. soelden.com
