The 2011 TransWorld Snowboarding Resort Guide, which hits newsstands this week, lists Northstar and Sierra-at-Tahoe resorts among the Top 10 Overall Resorts in the United States.

“To make it as one of the 10 best a resort has to rank high in both the park and pipe categories, as well as in other crucial areas such as nightlife, snowfall, vibe, lodging, food, et cetera,” explain the editors of TWS. “All the other stuff that matters when you’re looking for the best shred experience possible.”

Bashful terrain park at Sierra is one reason TWS likes the resort. Photo/Kathryn Reed

The rankings speak to the commitment by both resorts to creating and maintaining innovative freestyle terrain that appeals to an ever-growing demographic of skiers and snowboarders, resort officials said.

Designed, built, and maintained throughout the season by the lead innovators in the industry – Snow Park Technologies (SPT) – the freestyle terrain at both resorts offers an experience that caters to the young and old, first-time jibbers and seasoned park riders, families and college students alike.

Both resorts were also recognized as among the Top 10 Best Parks in the nation, earned by scoring high in specific categories like jump and rail design, grooming, variety of features, overall vibe, and park challenge.

The cumulative rankings for Sierra-at-Tahoe are:

* No. 7 Overall Resort

* No. 10 Best Parks

* No. 4 Best Value

* No. 7 Best Vibe

The cumulative rankings for Northstar-at-Tahoe are:

* No. 6 Overall Resort

* No. 6 Best Parks

* No. 9 Best Pipes