On a regular basis, international ski- and snowboard-magazines voteVail among the top 10 powder resorts and top 10 most challenging free-ride resorts. The “Back Bowls” as well as the super difficult slopes in the “Blue Sky Basin” are the crucial factors for Vail`s success in the free-ride department. We from Skiresorts-test.com also awarded Vail a “Top for Expert Skiers” resort. We especially enjoyed the Diamond Runs “Lover`s Leap”, "Ironmask" and "Little Ollie" in the Blue Sky Basin, let alone the free-ride terrain in the “Sun Up Bowl” and the “Sun Down Bowl”. There are an infinite number of powdery descents in the Bowls and when there is fresh snow you will always find some pristine run down into the valley. At the base of the “Avanti Express” lifts in the “Front Side” subarea experts can test their skill in the “Black Forest Race Arena”. Vails main advantage however is without doubt the ungroomed terrain. We recommend skilled skiers to take the “Vista Express” and the “Mountaintop Express” early in the morning to the peaks and spend the day enjoying the pristine powder in the Back Bowls!