Après-Ski Around the World: Best Vibes from BC to Japan

by Jordan Darcy

You crushed lines all day. Your legs are jelly. Your goggles are fogged. Your stoke is high.

Now what?

Après-ski—literally “after ski” in French—isn’t just about drinks. It’s a ritual. A global celebration of riding hard, resting harder, and reconnecting with the crew. From mountainside saunas in Scandinavia to sake-fueled hot springs in Japan, here’s how the world really does après—and where to chase the vibes.

British Columbia, Canada — Craft, Comfort & Campfire Vibes

Where: Whistler, Revelstoke, Fernie, Nelson

Vibe Check: Chill and cozy with deep-snow energy. Think flannel, local brews, and live folk bands with more powder stories than lyrics.

Go-To Moves:

• Grab a pint of local IPA at The Village Idiot (Revelstoke) or HandleBar (Whistler)

• Hit a cedar sauna or natural hot spring (Ainsworth Hot Springs = gold)

• Order poutine. No, seriously.

  
  

Après Mood: You might end up talking terrain strategy with strangers who feel like family. BC après is earned, not staged.

The MWD Team enjoying some drinks post rippers out in the French Alps

The Alps — Champagne & Chalet Culture

Where: Chamonix, St. Anton, Verbier, Courchevel, La Grave

Vibe Check: High-end meets high-altitude. You’ll see fur-trimmed jackets, rosé bottles in the snow, and DJs spinning under peak sunsets.

Go-To Moves:

• Order vin chaud (hot mulled wine) or génépi (herbal liqueur for the brave)

• Catch après DJs on-slope at La Folie Douce (France) or Krazy Kanguruh (Austria)

• Stay late. Somehow après turns into après-après, and you're dancing in ski boots ‘til 2 a.m.

Après Mood: Boujee chaos with legendary mountain energy. Hangovers happen—but so do heli-drops the next morning.

Japan — Onsens, Sake, and Soulful Soaks

Where: Niseko, Myoko, Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen

Vibe Check: Quiet, warm, meditative. The steam rises as the snow falls. You’re not shouting over music—you’re soaking in centuries of tradition.

Go-To Moves:

• Strip down and slide into an onsen (hot spring)—public or private, but always sacred

• Sip warm sake or Sapporo beer while your body reboots

• Finish with bowls of ramen, crispy karaage, or Japanese curry

• Pro tip: Learn a few bathing etiquette rules first (clean up before soaking, no towels in the water)

Après Mood: Reset, not rage. Japan’s après is about presence, and it will heal your soul as much as your quads.

United States — Dive Bars & Local Legends

Where: Jackson Hole, Crested Butte, Alta, Mt. Baker

Vibe Check: Rugged, beer-soaked, and story-filled. Locals, legends, and lifties gather for high fives and low expectations.

Go-To Moves:

• Tallboys and burgers at The Mangy Moose (Jackson Hole) or Grumpy’s (Sun Valley)

• Catch free bluegrass or local punk acts at night

• Sore? Slap on some Tiger Balm and a trucker hat. You’re fine.

Après Mood: Low-key but high-stoke. You don’t après for the ’gram—you do it for the crew.

MWD Destination South Lake Tahoe Trip right before Après Ski Time

Chile & Argentina — Wine, Fire, and Views That Hit Different

Where: Las Leñas, Nevados de Chillán, Portillo, Cerro Catedral

Vibe Check: Mid-winter is summer here. Long sunsets, asado (BBQ), and world-class Malbec with Andean peaks glowing pink behind you.

Go-To Moves:

• Lounge fireside with empanadas and local reds

• Hit hot springs or spa-style après in boutique resorts

• Practice your Spanish—because the stories hit different when you connect over culture

Après Mood: Elegant, earthy, and full of warmth—literally and figuratively.

MWD Destination Durango: The Crew at the Chalet in Durango doing some shots right before heading into town

Bonus: Backcountry Après – Build Your Own Vibe

Some of the best après moments don’t happen in a bar—they happen:

• In the trunk of a car, boots off, sun dipping below the ridge

• Around a fire pit at your Airbnb with cheap whiskey and shared footage

• In the skintrack silence, eating jerky and snow-warmed beer

• Wrapped in a poncho sleeping bag, watching stars instead of ski edits

  
  

Après is a mindset, not a location.

Cheering to a well earned day on the Slopes

Final Thoughts: Ride Hard, Après With Intention

Whether you’re shoulder-to-shoulder in a Euro dance tent or solo in a hot spring in the Japanese Alps, après is where we celebrate the mountain, connect with each other, and pause to soak it all in.

So this season, don’t just race to the bar. Find your vibe. Sip something warm. Say yes to that dance. Share the story. Tip your bartender. Thank the mountain.

Because the turns might fade—but the après memories? Those are forever.