#9 - Sun Valley

Skiers pushed Sun Valley down two spots in Ski magazine's 2010 ranking of North America's winter resorts.

The magazine has done the survey for 23 consecutive years, asking its readers to rate the continent's ski mountains. The end result is a list of the top 30 downhill destinations, and Sun Valley fell from seventh to ninth place over the last year. While this year saw a two-spot drop, Sun Valley climbed four spots from 2008 to 2009, ascending from 11th place to seventh.

Why the reversal?

The explanation comes in the survey's 18 categories of evaluation covering satisfaction with both on- and off-mountain amenities. The magazine only shows those placing in the top 10 of these categories, and Sun Valley made the cut 10 out of 18 times, one more than last year. However, Sun Valley more often than not fell a few spaces per category compared to last year.

Sun Valley's lifts were ranked as fourth best in all North America in 2009, but placed 8th this year. Sun Valley's service ranking dropped from second to third. It dropped from third to seventh place for lodging, third to fourth for dining, from third to eighth for off-hill activities and from seventh to eighth for family programs. Whereas it earned seventh in après-skiing in 2009, it didn't make the top 10 this year.

However, skiers awarded Sun Valley a higher position for three categories, placing it 10th for scenery. Last year, it didn't make the top-10 cut in scenery, which can also be said for Sun Valley's weather. But the weather ranking changed to eighth place this year. Sun Valley's largest gain came in its grooming score, jumping from seventh place in 2009 to fourth this year.

Sun Valley repeatedly didn't make the top-10 cut for snow, terrain variety, challenge, value, access, terrain parks and overall satisfaction.

But some skiers told the magazine they see lower scores as a good thing, especially when it comes to access. Sun Valley's isolation keeps the crowds away.

"[It's a] well-kept secret and the locals like it this way," remarked a reader.

One reader wished Bald Mountain was "more challenging" while another contended "the blues are blacks."

The magazine said last year's lack of snow left some patrons wanting. The resort reported 186 inches of snowfall last season. The average is 220 inches. However, skiers liked what the resort did with the snow it had, giving it high marks for grooming. The resort also did well in on-mountain food.

"No wonder," remarked Ski magazine. "At Seattle Ridge, one of the resort's extraordinary day lodges, they'll cook trout to order. Upscale appetites will flock to the renovated Roundhouse restaurant and the nice addition of the new gondola that serves it all."

However, the magazine said Sun Valley's calling card has become its service.

"You're treated like royalty," a reader wrote.

Striving for "100 percent customer satisfaction" has been the self-stated goal of Tim Silva, Sun Valley Resort's new general manager, who oversaw the business for his first winter in 2009-10. Survey responders put staff in high regard for "remembering names and faces" and "carrying skis from the shuttles."

One skier summed up 75-year-old Sun Valley as "the last of the really special ski resorts."