Chile and Argentina have huge mountains way bigger than our Rockies, but their ski areas are a little too close to the equator to produce cold winter months, and depend too much on elevation than on legitimate snow fall. Valle Nevado, and Portillo (both in Chile) are the snowiest resorts in South America averaging a modest 300 inches per year.
The Alps are where mountaineering and skiing historically developed, so it is easy to associate these rigid European peaks with amazing skiing. However, because of their West-East Orientation, weather flows through the mountains smoother and does not get slammed by storms the way America's North-South Orientated mountains do. Chamonix, France, is one of the world's most extreme ski resorts, but it only averages a respectable 375 inches per year (about the same as Mt Bachelor, Oregon).
Central Asia has the world's biggest mountains, and at higher latitudes some amazing snow.. So I assume. However, I don't really know since the region is not developed enough to have any real ski hills. I would encourage hard core back country skiers to explore the mountains of China, Mongolia, Takikistan, Kyrgystan, Kazahkstan... I bet there are many unskied faces that are among the most extreme in the world.
Japan is the only place in the world with Skiing comparable to that of Western USA and Canada. Rasutsu, and Nagano are among a handful of Japanese ski hills averaging over 400 inches per year.
North America's Rocky Mountains receive some of the world's lightest snow. This is because the desert regions in between the Cascades and the Rockies (Nevada, Eastern Oregon) suck up much of the moisture, and when the storms reach the Rockies the snow comes down as moisture free powder. Skiing in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado are defined by the fact that you are skiing the "cold smoke." A term used to describe snow so light it will feel like you're flying (also a term used to name a delicious scottish ale brewed in Missoula, Montana). Alta, Snowbird, Jackson Hole, Grand Targhee, and Solitude receive around 500 inches per year!!
North America's Coastal ranges don't get snow as light as the Rockies do, but damn do they get a lot of snow. The Sierras, Cascades, and Alaskan ranges get slammed consistently by pacific storms. Sugar Bowl and Squaw Valley average around 450 inches per year, while Alyeska, Alaska receives about 600 inches per year!!!
The Ultimate winner of Snowiest place on Earth goes to Mt Baker. A ski area about 1 hour east of Bellingham, Washington. It Averages 650 inches per year! The 1998-1999 ski season at Baker reported 1,140 inches of total snowfall!!! A world record! The ski area is not even on Mt Baker itself, but on an arm of Bakers neighbouring peak, Mt Shuksan. The max elevation of the resort is only 5,000 feet. The picture below is from a ski trip a made out to Baker in April 2010.
If you plan on skiing Baker there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, it is a wet place. It is not uncommon for it to be raining! Secondly, you will have to hike (don't forget your beeper and shovel) to reach the fun stuff.
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