Steamboat Springs top our list of the top 10 places to live for skiers -- did your town make the cut?

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Steamboat Springs, Colo., bills itself as Ski Town, USA. We happen to agree. The marvelous downhill skiing of what may be the best resort in the country is combined with great cross-country skiing up on Rabbit Ears Pass -- not to mention the Olympic jump at Howelsen Hill overlooking downtown. Everything you can do on two skis you can do in style in Steamboat. And our praise of Steamboat takes nothing away from the other nine towns on our list, which span the country from Truckee, Calif.; to Hayward, Wis.; to Stowe, Vt. Read on to see the rest of our choices for the best towns for Masters skiers.

1. Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Set amidst the ranchland of northern Colorado, 150 miles from Denver, Steamboat
Springs has maintained its Western character while earning its nickname of "Ski
Town, USA." After all, the town of 9,000 snow worshippers has produced more winter
Olympians -- 69 at last count -- than any other community in the country. It was also
here that the term "champagne powder" was coined to describe the snow in Steamboat.
A few miles from downtown, the Steamboat Resort offers 165 trails on 3,000 acres of
powder-covered glades, bumps and cruisers. Need a ski partner? Show up at the top of the
gondola at 1pm for a run with longtime Steamboat resident Billy Kidd, the first American
male to win an Olympic gold medal. He'll be wearing a Stetson. There are four Nordic ski centers (including Howelsen Hill's Olympic-style ski jump overlooking downtown Steamboat, where the U.S. national Nordic combined team often trains) within 30 miles of Steamboat in addition to hundreds of miles of backcountry trails in the Routt National Forest.

Climate: 5 stars
Facilities: 5 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local skiers: 5 stars
Total: 20 Stars

2. Salt Lake City
Superb skiing and urban amenities are usually mutually exclusive. Not so in Salt Lake City. In 2002, the Utah capital became the most populated area ever to host the Winter Olympic Games. Just west of town, the Cottonwood Canyons - Big and Little - provide 35-minute access to the resorts of Solitude, Brighton, Snowbird and snowboard-free Alta. In any other place, the claim of "greatest snow on earth" would sound like typical Chamber of Commerce hype. Salt Lake delivers the goods to back up the boast. An average of 500 inches of the weightless fluff - that's 41 feet! - blanket the nearby slopes of the Wasatch Range each year. For variety, the city's snowsport enthusiasts head to Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley and The Canyons. All are within an hour's drive of downtown Salt Lake. Cross-country fans get their kicks (and glides) on the groomed tracks of a half-dozen venues including the Olympic-tested paths of Soldier Hollow.

Climate: 5 stars
Facilities: 5 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local skiers: 4.5 stars
Total: Stars 19.5 Stars

3. Truckee, Calif.
Sitting in the heart of Lake Tahoe ski country, only 40 miles from Reno, the California community of Truckee is no gamble when it comes to skiing and snowboarding. The town of almost 16,000 offers small-town appeal. Its 19th century downtown provides a living link to its colorful pioneer past. Located a dozen miles north of Lake Tahoe, Truckee is a jumping-off point for the area's numerous alpine and Nordic ski destinations. The largest and best-known of the downhill resorts is 4,000-acre Squaw Valley, host of the 1960 Winter Olympics. When the weekend crowds descend on the huge resort, locals head to smaller venues such as Homewood or Alpine Meadows. The area offers a plethora of choices for cross-country aficionados. Royal Gorge, the largest cross-country ski resort in North America, is in Soda Springs, just west of Truckee.

Climate: 4.5 stars
Facilities: 5 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local skiers: 4.5 stars
Total: 19 Stars

4. Jackson, Wyo.
Sitting in the dramatic landscape of northwestern Wyoming, Jackson has found a balance between its Western heritage and worldly sophistication. With Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks close by, the lively town is the gateway to spectacular outdoor recreation and world-class skiing. Twelve miles north of town is the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Averaging more than 400 inches of annual snowfall, the resort's two mountains - Apres Vous and Rendezvous - are known for deep powder, short lift lines and 2,500 acres of diverse terrain including an ample supply of expert-only chutes and steeps. For a change of pace, the one-hour drive to Grand Targhee provides skiers an additional 2,000 acres of powder pummeled glades, bowls and groomers. Close-in Snow King Resort overlooks town and offers night skiing. Four nearby Nordic centers -- Jackson Hole, Grand Targhee, Spring Creek Ranch and Teton Pines -- offer miles of groomed trails and jaw-dropping scenery.

Climate: 4 stars
Facilities: 5 stars
Events: 4.5 stars
Local skiers: 5 stars
Total: 18.5 Stars

5. Ketchum, Idaho
Laid-back, quirky and marching to its own beat are attributes often applied to the tiny central Idaho town of Ketchum, next to Sun Valley Resort. It's these very qualities that have long attracted high-profile personalities seeking refuge from the spotlight. With its proximity to rushing rivers and the rugged Sawtooth Mountains, Ketchum has earned a reputation as a relaxed retirement destination for those with an affinity for year-round outdoor activity. Since it was developed in the mid-1930s to claim the title of the country's first major ski resort, Sun Valley has been frequented by celebs such as Gary Cooper, Ernest Hemingway, John Kerry and Arnold Schwarzenegger. With 75 trails on over 2,000 sun-splashed acres weighted toward intermediate skiers, the resort is noted for impeccably groomed slopes and a welcome dearth of lift lines.

Climate: 4.5 stars
Facilities: 5 stars
Events: 4.5 stars
Local skiers: 4 stars
Total: 18 Stars

6. Stowe, Vt.
Before there was a ski resort, Stowe was a quintessential Vermont village with a white-steepled church, clapboard houses and the scent of boiling maple sap in the fall. Now considered "the ski capital of the East," the town of almost 5,000 has managed to maintain its bucolic New England character while embracing the accoutrements of an upscale resort. Eight miles from town looms 4,393-foot Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. Considered the top resort east of the Mississippi, Stowe maintains trails for all skill levels with a surplus of expert caliber terrain. The mountain is also considered a haven for snowboarding. Stowe boasts an enviable Nordic scene with four area cross-country centers including Stowe Mountain Resort, Trapp Family Lodge, Edson Hill Manor and Topnotch. Together, they offer over 200 miles of interconnected trails accessible with one ticket.

Climate: 4 stars
Facilities: 4 stars
Events: 4.5 stars
Local skiers: 5 stars
Total: 17.5 Stars

7. Frisco, Colo.
For those with a hearty appetite for snow sports, Frisco sets the table with a feast of alpine and Nordic opportunities. Situated in the heart of Colorado ski country, only 80 miles from Denver, the town is a short commute by free shuttle to the resorts of Cooper Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin as well as two nearby Nordic centers. Vail is a mere 35 miles away. At 9,000 feet, Frisco is surrounded by some of the highest elevation lift-accessible terrain  in North America. With a ski season that runs from mid-October to early June, locals can explore at  their leisure the area's surplus of bowls, bumps, secret powder stashes and secluded backcountry  trails while avoiding the influx of city-dwelling weekend warriors. Frisco shuns the glitz, glamour and boutique mentality typical of many ski-centric communities in favor of a down-to-earth all-comers-welcome ambiance.

Climate: 4.5 stars
Facilities: 4 stars
Events: 4 stars
Local skiers: 4.5 stars
Total: 17 Stars

8. North Conway, N.H.
Sitting in the shadows of the Northeast's tallest peak, North Conway is the premier staging area for outings in the 700,000 protected acres of the White Mountain National Forest. The bustling New Hampshire community is located in Mount Washington Valley, a playground for outdoor enthusiasts with near-limitless options for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and other winter pastimes. Downhill devotees can ski every day of the week and not visit the same resort twice. A total of 250 trails adorn the slopes of nearby Attitash, Black Mountain, Bretton Woods, Cranmore, King Pine, Wildcat Mountain, Shawnee Peak and Bridgton. Cross-country enthusiasts are equally well served. The area boasts 300 miles of trails at six Nordic centers including Bear Notch, Bretton Woods, Great Glen, King Pine, Jackson Ski Touring Foundation and the Mount Washington Valley Nordic Center.

Climate: 4 stars
Facilities: 4.5 stars
Events: 4 stars
Local skiers: 4 stars
Total: 16.5 Stars

9. Hayward, Wis.
Anyone who has used the words "skinny" and "skis" in the same breath recognizes Hayward, Wis., as the site of the American Birkebeiner, North America's largest cross-country ski marathon. Beginning in 1973 with 35 participants, the Birkie now attracts about 7,000 skiers from around the world for February's grueling 51K race and the 23k Kortelopet. But there's more to Hayward than the Birkie. The North Woods town of 3,000, 130 miles from Minnesota's Twin Cities, sits a snowball's throw from the best cross-country ski trails the Midwest has to offer. Once considered a blue-collar resort town, Hayward has upped its image in recent years. The outdoorsy community now boasts art galleries, bed-and-breakfasts and brewpubs. When the snow melts, attention turns to a variety of fair weather pursuits. Northwest Wisconsin is a haven for hiking, biking, golf and fishing. Each September, Hayward hosts the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, the country's largest off-road bike race.

Climate: 3.5 stars
Facilities: 3.5 stars
Events: 5 stars
Local skiers: 4 stars
Total: 16 Stars

10. Bozeman, Mont.
If this Southwest Montana community isn't on your winter playground short list, it should be. With a population of 32,000, Bozeman is large by ski town standards. But it maintains a friendly, small-town feel that suits its diverse population of ranchers, skiers, students -- Bozeman is the home of Montana State University -- and a growing number of recreation-minded retirees. The hometown ski area, Bridger Bowl, is a mere 20 minutes from town. Its 71 trails are spread over 2,000 acres. About one-third of the terrain is considered extreme. An hour south of Bozeman is sprawling Big Sky Resort and its neighbor, 6-year-old Moonlight Basin. A joint lift ticket provides access to 5,500 acres of skiing nirvana.

Climate: 3.5 stars
Facilities: 4 stars
Events: 4 stars
Local skiers: 4 stars
Total: 15.5 Stars