So here's the thing. Brezovica ski resort has got the snow, its got the terrain, its even got a good cat ski operation, but it just needs someone to pour a few dollars and a dose of professionalism into the place to make it work better. That, or rip all the resort infrastructure out & just have cat skiing! I doubt the locals would accept the later, so fingers crossed for the afore mentioned outcome.

There is a lot to love about Brezovica. Its an adventure getting there. Kosovo isn't your everyday 'vanilla' ski destination by any stretch. It still feels edgy and probably for good reason. Crossing the border from North Macedonia into Kosovo is interesting & best done with a local. Visitors are treated exceptionally well though, so no need for any fear.

The snow & north aspect terrain in and around the resort is wonderful. Even though wind effected on our visit, we still found some great stashes, and with more time would have found alot more. On a true powder day, it would be sublime.

Another thing to love is the deserted off-piste & freeride terrain. From the summit ridges all sorts of tastiness runs down into the resort & aside from a handful of very hardcore locals, there will be no one else plundering the powder ahead or behind you.

Dane Freeride cat skiing is definitely worth a visit. Whilst it utilises some of the resort’s terrain on occasions (that’s the reason it started in the first place – lack of lift operation), they efficiently get you to the best of it & beyond. We have reviewed it elsewhere on the site.

The cosy David’s Restaurant Pub was another thing to love. The food is spectacular.

But with the good, comes the bad. There are some things to loathe. The basics are not done well at Brezovica. Clearing & maintaining the road & car parks, traffic control, cleaning up rubbish, clearing & maintaining the ski lifts, lift queue race & loading/exit zone prep, slope grooming, opening lifts on time etc are all lacking or totally non-existent. Granted that the lift price is low in the eyes of an international tourist, but that shouldn’t excuse the unfortunate lack of professionalism when it comes to running a ski resort. The resort village is screaming for some organisation on busy days. The car parks & entry road can best be described as chaos in the morning. There is apparently a move to improve the ski resort & perhaps this review might push it along a bit! Would be an excellent outcome for everyone.

Thankfully, we had a fantastic local host & guide, a warm place to stay on the mountain & some of the best food & drink going around. All the negatives could be overlooked as one steps into the privileged seat on the cat & rumbles up the hill while the lifts stand silent. on a powder morning.

If seeking to a visit to somewhere different, come to Brezovica. Check the current conditions, check the forecast & give it a try. Be prepared for the late opening lifts, book into cat skiing & bring your touring gear to get that little bit further up the ridge. Oh, and leave the family at home. Brezovica isn't quite the family ski destination yet, maybe one day, but no now.

You will not visit a more authentic 'non-Alps' ski resort in Europe! And that’s a good thing.