While I can't comment on all of Europe, I can speak to US vs Austrian skiing. I actually found the skiing in the Austrian Europa Sportsreigon (Zell am See-Kaprun) to be similar to the Northeast U.S. But in a good way. Think Jay Peak/ Sugarloaf. Obviously the Austrian alps have above treeline skiing, but they haven't had really big snow dumps over the past few winters. When I skiied Zell in Jan 08 there was plenty of snow on the mountains, but nothing in the town of Zell. On the mountain they didn't have powder skiing like they do out West. It was mainly groomed trails & decent off-piste tree-skiing as well. I definitely prefer the atomosphere in Europe better, but as far as intense skiing goes you're probably better off in Western U.S.
While I can't comment on all of Europe, I can speak to US vs Austrian skiing. I actually found the skiing in the Austrian Europa Sportsreigon (Zell am See-Kaprun) to be similar to the Northeast U.S. But in a good way. Think Jay Peak/ Sugarloaf. Obviously the Austrian alps have above treeline skiing, but they haven't had really big snow dumps over the past few winters. When I skiied Zell in Jan 08 there was plenty of snow on the mountains, but nothing in the town of Zell. On the mountain they didn't have powder skiing like they do out West. It was mainly groomed trails & decent off-piste tree-skiing as well. I definitely prefer the atomosphere in Europe better, but as far as intense skiing goes you're probably better off in Western U.S.
Source: American Skiing vs. European Skiing