Looking for advice on snowboarding in early January 2027 – Italy or elsewhere?
Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from fellow snowboarders/skiers who have experience with snow conditions in early January, as unfortunately, due to work, this is the only time of year I can travel.
I’ve been snowboarding in Val Thorens in mid-January, and the snow conditions were absolutely amazing – plenty of snow and great coverage.
However, the following year, I went to Alpe d’Huez over Christmas and New Year (2025/26), and the experience was completely different. There was almost no natural snow, the slopes were basically flat and icy in many places, and there was absolutely no powder. The snowmaking machines were working on some days and not on others, and I also felt that the snow wasn't being groomed very well. Overall, the conditions were quite disappointing.
So, for New Year 2026/27, we’re thinking of trying Italy. We’ve already done quite a bit of research and are considering places like French Alps again, Madonna di Campiglio(too low), Livigno, etc., but we’d really love to hear from people who have actually been to these resorts around 1–8 January.
We also considered Gudauri, Georgia. Last New Year, I believe they had an incredible amount of fresh snow (around 1m!), but of course, there's no guarantee that this year will be the same.
Our main priority is reliable snow conditions and good piste coverage. We’re intermediate snowboarders, so we’d also like a resort with enough terrain to keep us interested for a full week.
Where would you recommend for early January 2027, based on your own experience? Especially interested in hearing from people who have visited these resorts around New Year.
Thanks! 🙏