How we score ski resorts
ShredIndex shows three kinds of number: a resort score, a snow score and terrain stats. Each comes from different data and answers a different question.
Last updated 7 November 2026
Resort score (out of 100)
Skiers rate resorts in categories such as snow quality, grooming, crowds, lift access, expert and beginner terrain, food and après. Each rating is out of 100. Ratings come from votes on ShredIndex and from scores a language model reads out of skiers' written reviews.
For each category we take the average rating. The resort score is the average of those category averages, rounded to one decimal place. A resort needs ratings in at least six categories to get a score; with fewer it is shown as unrated.
The score says how well a resort does what it offers, in reviewers' eyes. It does not measure size, so a small local hill can outscore a famous resort. Questions about size are answered with size figures instead: the largest resorts list is sorted by skiable terrain, and country pages name the resort with the most lifts.
Snow score (out of 100)
The snow score rates the coming 24 hours, 3 days or 7 days for fresh, good-quality snow. It is worked out from the Open-Meteo forecast for each resort, refreshed through the day, from four parts:
| Part | Points | How it is scored |
|---|---|---|
| New snow | up to 50 | Forecast snowfall over the period. Full marks need about 30 cm in 24 hours, 60 cm over 3 days or 105 cm over 7 days, with a curve that separates small amounts. |
| Temperature | up to 25 | Average temperature. Best between -15 and -10 °C (25 points), falling to 12 at around 0 °C and 0 above 2 °C, where rain and wet snow are likely. |
| Wind | up to 15 | Average wind speed. 15 points at 10 km/h or less, 8 at up to 30 km/h, 0 above 40 km/h. |
| Elevation | up to 10 | Height of the forecast point. 10 points at 3,000 m or higher, 2 at 1,000 m, 0 below that. Higher snow lasts longer. |
Because temperature, wind and elevation make up half the score, a cold, calm, high resort can reach 50 with no new snow forecast. Check the snowfall figure beside the score. Snow scores are forecasts, not measurements, and change every day.
Terrain stats
Vertical drop, peak and base elevation, number of lifts and runs, longest run, total kilometres of runs and skiable terrain are measured from the ski runs and lifts mapped in OpenStreetMap, via OpenSkiMap. They can differ from a resort's own figures, which often count terrain the map does not, and they are only as complete as the map for that resort.
These basic stats are free to see on every resort page. Deeper insights and some filters need a free account.
Common questions
What does a ShredIndex resort score mean?
It is the average of the resort's category ratings, each out of 100, such as snow quality, grooming, crowds and après. It shows how highly skiers rate the resort, not how big it is.
Why does a small ski hill sometimes score higher than a famous resort?
The score rates how good a resort is at what it offers, as reviewers see it. A friendly local hill with short lift lines can rate higher than a large resort with crowds. For size, compare vertical drop, number of lifts and kilometres of runs instead.
Why do some resorts have no score?
A resort needs ratings in at least six categories before it gets a total score. Below that it is shown as unrated rather than given a number based on too little information.
Can a resort get a snow score without any new snow?
Yes. Temperature, wind and elevation make up half the snow score, so a cold, calm, high resort can score up to 50 with no snow in the forecast. Read the snowfall figure next to the score before planning a powder day.
Do resorts pay to be ranked?
No. ShredIndex is independent and rankings are not paid placements.
Spotted a wrong number?
Tell us through the contact page with the resort and the figure, and we will check it against the source.