If you aren't among those who remain angry with the French for failing to support U.S. foreign policy, they you can easily discover some of the planet's best snowboarding.

Consider Chamonix, which features Mont Blanc, which is Europe's highest mountain. More than 90 percent of the slopes are higher than 2,000 meters, and if you wish to convert from meters to feet, you will have to remember some of your school math. (Okay, we came up with 6,561 feet and a few inches. How? See below.)

Chamonix also advertises "superb culture and nightlife," but of course we're in France, so everyone is going to say that. But it's true! Chamonix also has a reputation of being more "snowboarder-oriented." Publicists for the resort emphasize that beginners and intermediates need fear not, because Chamonix is not just for experts.

Among the offerings at Meribel, meanwhile, are "645 kms of pisted trails." Seems like they could have worded that a little differently. But indeed the trails are well-packed. And a cool thing about Meribel, like Chamonix and some other French resorts, is that they offer special vacations just for snowboarders. Many snowboarding super-enthusiasts feel they get more respect in Europe than in North America.

If you really want to make a snowboarding vacation out of it, Meribel is a neighbor of Courchevel and Val Thorens, located in the Trois Vallees. That's three valleys, of course, and the Meribel folks proclaim that theirs is the prettiest.

These three valleys, which in the United States would be called "tri-valleys" or "tri-cities," reach a peak of 3,200 meters. That's 10,495 feet and a few inches, by the way.

Other spots in France to consider: Alpe D'Huez Resort, Les Arcs 2000, Let Gets, Morzine, Sainte Foy, Tignes and Val D'Isere.

And now (drum roll), time for the math explanation: A meter is 39.37 inches or 1.0936 yards, give or take. Go from there. And if you don't remember that from high school or junior high, well, we won't speculate . . .

Sources:

http://www.alpineelements.co.uk/snowboarding-holidays/resort/chamonix.html

http://www.alpineelements.co.uk/snowboarding-holidays/resort/meribel.html

http://www.worldreviewer.com/experiences/snowboard/