Intermediate skiers have the run of the mountain at most resorts in Europe. But when you've mastered the basics and are ready to push yourself a bit further, what makes a resort stand out?To start with, larger ski areas with extensive terrain or resorts where the slopes are well groomed are ideal. This will give you a chance to try out different types of terrain, whilst keeping your confidence up.

Ski maps equate blue runs to ‘intermediate runs', but also look for red pistes, as well as blue-black runs that will give a confident intermediate a chance to stretch themselves. You can even try out some of the easier off piste. If you're a snowboarder, look for resorts that include small jumps and kickers in their parks.

Keep fit before you go, it will mean you hit the ground running, and continue taking lessons (even if it's just the odd refresher). If you're travelling with a group, try to ski with someone slightly more advanced than you - keeping up will push you to progress.

1. Courchevel

Well groomed and extremely well-linked, Courchevel is much loved by intermediates. Offering a wide range of mid-level skiing, you have most of the valley to choose from. Early intermediates will enjoy blues from the Loze / Chenus sector back towards 1850 and the high runs of 1650 (accessed by the Pyramide double drag) are great for improving turns. Courchevel will also help you take the next step up to more challenging runs. There's a choice of difficult red runs which have wide, quiet pistes making them ideal for progression.

2. Courmayeur

A classic Italian resort in the Aosta Valley. Most of the terrain here is varying levels of intermediate; over half the runs are red, a quarter are easier blues. The large, treeless bowls are ideal for cruising, and you'll find a good quiet run at Le Greye. If you think you're ready to try some off-piste, head to the forest area by the Gabba lift. The highest point reachable for intermediate skiers is Cresta Youla at nearly 2625m where there is a good and challenging route that ends at the base of the cable car. Access to most runs is quick.

3. St Moritz

Around 70 per cent of this glamorous resort caters for intermediates. Most pistes on Corviglia are very well groomed, easy-ish reds that could possibly have been classified blue - ideal cruising terrain. Corvatsch has some slightly harder runs which twist and turn above the tree line. St Moritz has invested heavily in upgrading lifts, and the system is high-tech and efficient.

4. Davos

A big, sprawling ski resort. Skiing at Davos is spread out across five mountains, and offers some of the best runs for improvement. Try the long open runs on Parsenn to get started, but with 40 per cent of the resort graded intermediate, you'll have plenty to move on to. Find some great long intermediate runs down to Klosters and other villages. If you like a bit of peace and quiet, the out-of-town areas tend to be much quieter than the ones directly accessible from the resort. Jakobshorn is perfect for intermediate snowboarders to ride.

5. Meribel

Wide, flattering motorway runs and one of the most extensive ski networks in Europe. Meribel is the central valley of the 600km of trails and terrain called the Trois Vallees. The resort and the rest of the ‘Three Valleys' are an intermediate paradise, with many long linking trails. Even early intermediates should find the runs over to the other valleys acceptable. The Biche run is a nice cruisy slope with fantastic views out over the valley. Renard, a quite steep, difficult red, offers a challenge to those willing to take it.

6. La Plagne

Now linked to Les Arcs by the Vanoise Express double-decker cable car, La Plagne forms part of the giant Paradiski ski area. Intermediates will be grinning when the discover the sheer amount of piste available to them. Many of the connecting runs are scenic blues, so even early intermediates can explore most of the mountains. For the less confident there are plenty of gentle blue motorway pistes in the main La Plagne bowl. Things do get harder though - from the top of Roche de Mio, Le Clapet is a well-groomed red that develops some bumps when it joins Les Crozats. There are also the challenging red moguls down from Roche de Mio to Les Bauches.

7. Les Arcs

Most of the main routes at Les Arcs have an easy and more difficult route option, making this the perfect resort for mixed ability groups. Just over from La Plagne, almost every lift at the resort has at least one intermediate trail leading down from it. There are some serious challenges on the steeper slopes of Arc 1950 and 2,000 or some wider, gentler blues and reds at Arc 1600, Arc 1800 and Peisey Vallandry. The higher you go, the steeper the runs generally are, but they are well groomed. Definitely pencil in at least a day trip to La Plagne.

8. Cervinia

The lack of crowds at Italy's Cervinia will give intermediates free reign to improve quickly. It also gets the best snowfall in the country - which means confidence boosting soft landings. The runs are generally long and wide, and there are mountainside restaurants to stop at and enjoy the view along the way. One of the best long runs is the 8km cruise down from the top of Plateau Rosa to the Cervinia lift base area. If you improve quickly, you can head over the Swiss boarder to Zermatt.

9. Kitzbuhel

This attractive medieval town offers mainly intermediate slopes, set against a backdrop of some dramatic scenery. The Hahnenkamm is full of numerous blue runs, and the whole area at the back of the resort all the way up to Pass Thurn is an intermediate skier's paradise filled with reds and blues. There are also long blue runs from Pengelstein and Ehrenbach-höhe down to Kirchberg (a satellite resort which has its own small ski area). Reasonably experienced intermediates should try the Ski Safari, where the ski guiding service leads you through 35 km of non-stop skiing.

10. Serre-Chevalier

A south-facing valley stretching between the Col du Lautaret and Briancon, Serre Chevalier is a group of 13 villages in France's Hautes-Alpes. The resort's varied slopes mean intermediates of all levels get the best of the mountain here. Wide motorways, challenging reds and cruisy forest blues provide a lot of fun. The resort has a great lift system and attractive, rustic villages full of character. Beautiful runs through France's biggest larch forest provide protection and visibility even when the snow is falling.