David Holyoak
Areas of expertise
Member statistics
- Member since
- 5th June 2008
Founder of Ultimate Sports Media Ltd and Ultimate-Ski.com, David has a passion for all things skiing, especially St Anton am Arlberg which he has visited more often than we care to remember, always taking regular tea breaks between turns - as the picture proves! David is the driving force behind Ultimate-Ski.com but fortunately he is mostly too busy with commercial activities and Internet to have time to ski or to write, so those better qualified than him get the opportunity to do so with minimum interference.
David Holyoak's activity
- June 2009
David Holyoak reviewed Skiing Lake Louise in Manitoba, Canada
Lake Louise is the largest resort in the Canadian Rockies, with the four mountain faces offering everything from steep slopes for experts, long cruises for intermediates and a beginner's run off every chairlift for beginners. Unsurprisingly, the resort …"
- October 2008
David Holyoak reviewed Skiing Val Thorens in Val Thorens, France
Val Thorens offers a huge variety of ski areas for skiers of all abilities. The resort provides beginners with nursery slopes and wide choice of blue runs, whilst the enormous ski area makes this an excellent resort for intermediates. Advanced skiers may…"
- June 2008
David Holyoak reviewed Ski Whistler in Whistler, Canada
Whistler is undoubtedly one of the world's top ski resorts, offering a variety of superb skiing as well as fantastic facilities away from the slopes. Whistler is North America's biggest resort, with the greatest vertical rise -5,279 feet- and a ski area…"
David Holyoak reviewed Vail in Vail, United States
Rated as one of the world's best resorts, Vail offers great skiing, with one of the biggest ski areas in the US. The Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin offer great skiing for experts, who wnjoy a vast extent of skiing on offer in Vail, with just over half of…"
David Holyoak reviewed Breckenridge in Breckenridge, United States
With four peaks surrounding the resort, Breckenridge gives nothing away to its more illustrious sister resort Vail in terms of scenery. Furthermore, with an array of wonderfully groomed runs dissecting each of the mountains, there is excellent skiing to …"
David Holyoak reviewed Beaver Creek in Beaver Creek, United States
This upscale resort offers hugely varied terrain, with runs to suit skiers of all abilities. With neighboring Vail the more renowned of the two resorts, Beaver Creek is an exclusive and secluded resort, with the luxury hotels, fast chair-lifts and well-g…"
David Holyoak reviewed Lake Louise in British Columbia, Canada
Lake Louise is the largest resort in the Canadian Rockies, with the four mountain faces offering everything from steep slopes for experts, long cruises for intermediates and a beginner's run off every chairlift for beginners. Unsurprisingly, the resort …"
David Holyoak reviewed Banff in Banff, Canada
One of Canada's largest ski areas, Banff offers extensive skiing with stunning scenery. The array of black and double-black diamond runs appeals to more advanced skiers, whilst heli-skiing is on offer, albeit after a two-hour drive. Whilst there is a nur…"
David Holyoak reviewed Jackson Hole in Jackson Hole, United States
With one of North America's biggest vertical drops and vast backcountry skiing, Jackson Hole is predominantly a resort for advanced skiers. With roughly half of the designated routes black or double black, experts will find an extensive array of challen…"
David Holyoak reviewed Squaw Valley in Squaw Valley, United States
Given Squaw Valley's reputation as the birthplace of American extreme skiing, you may be surprised at the amount on offer for beginners, with a selection of nursery slopes, easy pistes and even a beginners' lift pass. Whilst intermediates can enjoy the c…"
David Holyoak reviewed Telluride in Telluride, United States
The historic mining town of Telluride has slopes to appeal to all skiers, ranging from long greens for beginners, cruising blues for intermediates, to steeps, bumps and powder skiing for experts. However, despite the opening of the Prospect Bowl in Janua…"
David Holyoak reviewed Steamboat in Steamboat, United States
Although relatively remote, Steamboat continues to attract visitors with its copious 'champagne powder'. Despite its low altitude compared with other Colorado resorts, Steamboat boasts an excellent snow record with an average snowfall of nearly 30 feet e…"
David Holyoak reviewed Snowmass in Snowmass, United States
Aspen's quieter neighbour, Snowmass is the biggest of the resorts in the Four Mountain ski area, offering the greatest diversity of terrain of the four resorts. Beginners will enjoy the hundreds of acres of beginner trails, whilst the bus links to the …"
David Holyoak reviewed Mammoth in Mammoth, United States
An excellent resort for skiers of all abilities, Mammoth is one of North America's biggest resorts, with 3,500 skiable areas, 150 marked trails and 30 lifts, ensuring there's always a vast array of skiing to be had for all skiers. With a dedicated begi…"
David Holyoak reviewed Aspen in Aspen, United States
Part of the Four Mountain ski resort area, Aspen is one of the world's premier resorts, excelling in almost every department. With the exception of the skiing on offer on the Buttermilk Mountain, experts will be encapsulated by the quality and difficulty…"
David Holyoak reviewed Val d'Isere in Val d'Isere, France
Although increasingly expensive, Val D'Isére has much to offer for advanced skiers, with an array of off-piste skiing easily accessible through the lift system. The vast extent of ski areas within the resort ensures intermediates are also very well serv…"
David Holyoak reviewed Saas-Fee in Saas-Fee, Switzerland
Based at 1,800m, Saas-Fee is a snow-range high altitude resort, with thirteen of the brooding mountains surrounding the resort exceeding 4,000m. The resort is very well suited to beginners, who can enjoy a selection of gentle blues having practised on th…"
David Holyoak reviewed Les Arcs in Les Arcs, France
Les Arcs is truly a resort for skiers, with an excellent mix of skiing, but little to offer away from the mountain. The resort is particularly good for mixed ability groups, with its varied terrain offering an unusually equal mix of routes to skiers of …"
David Holyoak reviewed Lech in Zürs, Austria
Along with its twin resort Zurs, Lech offers an extensive array of skiing, appealing to skiers of all abilities. With nursery slopes in Zurs and an assortment of gentle pistes in Lech, beginners will be able to progress throughout the holiday. The majori…"
David Holyoak reviewed Alpe-d'Huez in Les Deux Alpes, France
Suitable for skiers of all abilities. Alpe-d'Huez boasts a wide array of sunny slopes, with over 300 sunny days per year. Although not as extensive as some other French resorts, Alpe-d'Huez's scenic terrain of varying difficulty, with plenty of appealing…"
David Holyoak reviewed Snowboarding Val Thorens in Val Thorens, France
Val Thorens offers a huge variety of ski areas for skiers of all abilities. The resort provides beginners with nursery slopes and wide choice of blue runs, whilst the enormous ski area makes this an excellent resort for intermediates. Advances skiers ma…"
David Holyoak reviewed Tignes in Val d'Isere, France
Tignes lurks in the shadows of its more illustrious neighbour, Val D'Isére, yet still has a lot to offer. Although the simple, purpose-built accomodation of 40 years ago detracts from its allure, Tignes offers an extensive range of challenging ski…"
David Holyoak reviewed Cortina d'Ampezzo in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Cortina is an excellent resort for beginners, with a vast choice of long cruising runs and nursery slopes, although the lack of challneging skiing on offer means advanced skiers are likely to become frustrated. The fragmented ski areas add to this sense …"
David Holyoak reviewed Grindelwald in Grindelwald, Switzerland
If it's stunning scenery you're after, Grindelwald is the place for you. The striking north faces of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau provide the resort with picturesque surroundings, whilst the cog railways add to the resort's rustic ambience. The resort …"
David Holyoak reviewed Ischgl in Ischgl, Austria
Famous for its bustling aprés-ski, Ischgl is a family-friendly resort, suitable for skiers of all abilities. The blue runs and nursery slopes provide for beginners, and whilst there is a lack of challenging pistes, advanced skiers can enjoy the off-piste…"
David Holyoak reviewed Megéve in Megéve, France
A traditional Savoyard town, Megéve possesses a great deal of character, with the exclusive boutiques and traffic-free cobbled streets and top notch hotels contributing to the personal feel of the resort. The huge ski area caters to skiers of all…"
David Holyoak reviewed Kitzbühel in Kitzbühel, Austria
The Tirolean town of Kitzbühel has a surprisingly extensive variety of skiing, despite its low altitude of just 760m. With four main ski areas, there is a wide choice of ski routes, with intermediates favouring the Hahnenkamm area, where skilled intermed…"
David Holyoak reviewed St Moritz in St Moritz, Switzerland
This scenic resort finds favour amongst both skiers and non-skiers, with an extensive range of other activities including shopping and a wide cariety of other sports. The numerous ski areas favour advanced and intermediate skiers, though there are nurser…"
David Holyoak reviewed Ski Zermatt in Zermatt, Switzerland
With a variety of ski areas, including the world-famous Matterhorn, Zermatt possesses an extensive array of high altitude skiing, making it a fantastic resort for expert and intermediate skiers. The option of heli-skiing provides further appeal for adva…"
David Holyoak reviewed Verbier in Verbier, Switzerland
With great skiing, stunning scenery, a bustling nightlife and a pleasant setting, Verbier is one of the great Alpine resorts. There is an extensive array of challenging skiing with the variety of off-piste slopes, just one of the reasons why Verbier fin…"
David Holyoak reviewed Davos in Davos, Switzerland
Perfect for intermediates, Davos is comprised of five mountains, offering a huge variety of ski areas. The nursery slopes offer beginners an opportunity to gain confidence, whilst there is a choice of long, gentle routes spread across the resort. The off…"
David Holyoak reviewed Courchevel in Courchevel, France
With four villages to choose from within Courchevel, there is something for everyone; Le Praz, 1550 and 1650 tempt families to the resort, whereas 1850 provides a sense of glamour, attracting affluent skiers and other tourists seeking only conveniently s…"
David Holyoak reviewed Chamonix in Chamonix, France
Easily accessible from Geneva, Chamonix Mont Blanc offers a huge choice of challenging skiing, making it the ideal escape for advanced skiers seeking a short break. The array of ski areas results in a segmented resort, necessitating the use of the gondo…"
David Holyoak reviewed St Anton am Arlberg in St Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Ideal for experts and intermediates, St. Anton offers a huge array of ski routes, though with many difficult pists and unclassified routes, the resort is far from ideal for beginners. Deservingly considered the ski capital of Austria, with abundant off-…"
