Jackson Hole, America

It takes a hell of a long time to get to Wyoming – but, oh boy, it’s worth it,writes Alex Grimes. Jackson Hole is one of the world’s great off-piste resorts, blessed with a snowy climate and steep slopes. Best of all is the resort’s ski and snowboard school: its four-day Steep and Deep camps are tailor-made for plucky, athletic intermediates who want to push their snowboarding to a new level.

Lech, Austria

Every winter this old-money resort plays host to European and Middle Eastern blue-bloods, most of whom are too busy lounging or lunching to do much skiing, which leaves the powder pretty much untouched for the rest of us. On average, there’s more powder here than anywhere else in the Alps – the resort sits in a natural snow-hole and seems to snag every storm in the area.

Alpe d’Huez, France

This resort on a high, sunny plateau offers snowboarders a little bit of everything. There is a large area of nursery slopes, plenty of easy pistes to cruise and the 3,330m Pic Blanc, which is home to several sensational off-piste descents (and should be tackled only with a guide).

Avoriaz, France

Most of us would love to launch ourselves off a decent-sized jump in a terrain park, but we’re terrified about what might happen when we land. At Avoriaz, they provide a plastic pillow to cushion the landing. The Big Air Bag is 9m x 15m and for €2 a pop you can throw yourself onto it. This long-established snowboarding hub also boasts the Stash, a wooded run that makes the most of natural rather than man-made features.

Laax, Switzerland

Laax’s terrain parks have for years been one of the focal points of the Swiss freestyle scene, drawing big weekend crowds from Zurich, and each season they play host to high-profile competitions. For young guns keen to get noticed, it’s a must-visit destination. The rest of us can admire their acrobatics from the safety of the chairlift.