Time to Ski the World

Iran: A Ski Revolution
There is no shortage of skiable mountains within easy reach of Tehran. Of the more than one dozen ski centers in the country, Dizin, in the Alborz Mountains, is thought to be the best, with long slopes, excellent facilities and a season that lasts into May. Note: The sexes are required to ride the ski lift separately, but women can replace their headscarves with normal skiwear. (Skiing from December to May.)

China: The Next Frontier
The country's national ski association predicts that 10 million Chinese will ski by 2010. In the northern mountain ranges, a slew of winter resorts are springing up, and older ones are being brought into the 21st century. The Ping Tian Ski Resort, which is slated for a staggered opening beginning in November, is angling to become China's premier ski locale with western-quality slopes and infrastructure. American designers have shaped an array of runs on mountains with vertical drops reaching 1,000 meters. Until it is complete, China's best skiers can be found in the Heilongjiang province's Yabuli Skiing Field, with its nine lifts and 11 trails. (Skiing from November to April.)

Argentina: Slopes at the Bottom of the World
Near Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, the ski station of Cerro Castor is the southernmost ski resort on earth—perfect for snow lovers who want to ski off season. There are 19 runs over 20 kilometers at remarkably low elevations (between 195 and 1,057 meters), thanks to steady cold temperatures. Ski trails wind through lenga forests beneath a visual paradise in hues of white. Beyond the slopes, there is the luxuriant five-star Finisterris Lodge Relax & Spa, offering stylish two-story cabins with private decks and spas overlooking the virgin forests of southern Patagonia. (Skiing from July to October.)

© 2008