St. Anton am Arlberg comes out ahead overall — it offers more vertical than Big White Ski Resort. Big White Ski Resort still has plenty to offer, especially for intermediate skiers who don't need the biggest mountain. But if you want the fuller experience, St. Anton am Arlberg wins this one.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Big White Ski Resort | St. Anton am Arlberg | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 777m (2,549ft) | 1,300m (4,265ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 2,319m (7,608ft) | 2,811m (9,222ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 1,543m (5,062ft) | 1,304m (4,278ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 750cm (295in) | 700cm (276in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 118 | 340 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 16 | 88 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | 607ha (1,500ac) | 305ha (754ac) |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 18% | 18% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 54% | 38% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 28% | 44% |
St. Anton am Arlberg edges ahead in more categories, though the gap is close. Both are excellent resorts.
St. Anton am Arlberg has significantly more vertical — a full run takes noticeably longer and the mountain feels much bigger.
Both resorts receive similar annual snowfall — you can expect comparable snow conditions at either.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of beginner terrain — neither has a meaningful edge for first-timers.
St. Anton am Arlberg is much larger — significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Big White Ski Resort's higher base elevation helps snow stay cold and dry longer — better conditions through the day and into spring.
St. Anton am Arlberg wins on the stats that matter most for experienced skiers — more mountain to explore over a full week.
Both resorts offer a similar amount of beginner terrain (Big White Ski Resort: 18%, St. Anton am Arlberg: 18%), so neither has a clear edge for first-timers. Focus on which resort offers better ski school programs and convenience for your group.
Big White Ski Resort (750 cm/year) and St. Anton am Arlberg (700 cm/year) receive similar annual snowfall. Neither has a meaningful snow advantage — other factors like aspect, elevation, and grooming matter more day-to-day.
St. Anton am Arlberg is the larger mountain by trail count (Big White Ski Resort: 118 trails, St. Anton am Arlberg: 340 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
St. Anton am Arlberg has a higher percentage of expert terrain. If you're an advanced skier who will spend most of your day on black and double-black runs, that extra challenge is worth considering when choosing between these two.
Both Big White Ski Resort and St. Anton am Arlberg are similarly suited to families. Look at ski school quality, on-mountain kids' facilities, and accommodation proximity to lifts when making your final decision — those practical factors matter more than raw stats for a family trip.
Other matchups featuring these resorts and their regional peers.