Extreme ski champion Kim Reichhelm reveals the inside track on skiing Western slopes. Photo by Robb Pennie

Expert: Kim Reichhelm, World Extreme Skiing Champion

Field of study: Insider skiing in the West

Favorite skiing in the West: Alta (State 210 at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta, UT; 801/359-1078)—a real skier’s mountain.

“Secret” ski trail to try: Big Burn at Snowmass (800/308-6935) in Aspen has wide-open runs flanked by trees and is great for midlevel to expert skiers. It’s the place to be on Colorado powder days.

Best crowd-free resort: Snowbasin Resort (3925 E. Snowbasin Rd., Huntsville, UT; 888/437-5488) hosted a few 2002 Winter Olympics events and did a lot to improve the facilities. It has the nicest base lodge of any place I’ve seen.

Most inspiring view from a ski mountain: Alaska’s Alyeska Resort (1000 Arlberg Ave., Girdwood, AK; 907/754-1111). Looking out over the Turnagain Arm—an inland sea channel—you can sometimes see pods of orcas.

Go-to après-ski hangout: 39 Degrees Lounge at the Sky Hotel ($$; 709 E. Durant Ave., Aspen; 800/882-2582): a fairly young, hip place without the Aspen celebrity vibe—it’s for real skiers, and fantastic for people-watching. There’s a huge crackling fireplace, and the lounge spills out into a pool area with a hot tub.

Reichhelm's Ski Adventures sponsors a trip to Portillo, Chile. Photo courtesy skiwithkim.com

INFO Visit skiwithkim.com for information on Reichhelm’s ski camps and adventure skiing programs.