As autumn approaches, skiers and snowboarders are getting stoked for winter. So it’s only appropriate that the new film from Teton Gravity Research is titled Stoke the Fire. And if you’re like me, the stoke really begins after watching a ski movie premiere. Well, Stoke the Fire will screen at Red Butte Amphitheatre in Salt…
Category: Skiing
Despite COVID-19, Utah Ski Resorts Set Record Highs
The COVID-19 pandemic shook up the ski industry. In the spring of 2020 when ski resorts shut down early for safety reasons, the industry was in a state of gloom. The next season saw resorts open, but with many restrictions including mask wearing, social-distancing on lifts, and outdoor dining. Nobody quite knew if skiers would…
Friday Video: Can Dynamite Save You From an Avalanche?
Can dynamite save you from an avalanche? Anyone who skis steep slopes at resorts knows explosives are what makes avalanche terrain safe in-bounds. But what’s the science behind intentionally triggering avalanches? Why does ski patrol have to mitigate slides nearly every day to keep skiers safe? And what does the future of avalanche forecasting look…
Family Friendly Skiing at Eagle Point Resort
Do you long for the old days of skiing? Do you miss a time when there were no crowds, the resorts felt small, and lift tickets came in the form of wickets you attached to a jacket zipper-pull? Well, those simpler times still exist at ski resorts like Eagle Point. I took my family to…
Friday Video: Alta’s Farmer Dave
If you’ve ever skied Alta, perhaps you’ve seen dozens of perfectly spooned ski tracks falling in a row across a slope. Those parallels of turns were “farmed” by Dave Van Dame, also known as “The Farmer.” Van Dame is an icon at Alta, with his recognizable, sun-faded red Marmot jacket. Ever more recognizable are the…
Eight Feet of Snow Falls on Utah Resorts
For Utah’s 2020/21 ski season, there’s either been not enough snow, or there’s been too much. Some parts of Utah are in the “too much” column and have to dig out after 8 feet of snow has fallen at Alta, with more storms on the way. Alta wasn’t the only ski area to get buried….
Pandemic Skiing: Up Your Tailgating Game
COVID-19 has certainly changed the way we can enjoy ski resorts this winter. From mask requirements to social distancing in lift lines, the ski season not only looks different, but it feels off as well. One of the biggest changes is the lack of indoor seating at some resorts, which has forced skiers to tailgate…
Utah ski resort opening dates for 2020/21 season
COVID-19 has impacted a lot of ski resort operations, including Utah’s opening dates for the 2020/21 ski season. From required reservations at Park City Mountain, to reserved parking at Snowbird, the landscape certainly has changed. 2020/21 Opening dates have not been spared. Solitude has already pushed back opening day to allow for more terrain and…
Featured Video: The WURL
The Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup (WURL) is an endurance test for Utah trail-runners. But that’s in the summer. In the winter, The WURL has never been done. The route is 58km of continuous ridgeline running/hiking/scrambling that forms a horseshoe around Little Cottonwood Canyon. Only the best athletes can complete the route in under 24 hours….
Alterra and Solitude Mountain announce COVID-19 plan
Skiing at resorts is going to look and feel a lot different during the 2020-21 season. A few weeks ago, Vail Resorts announced their COVID-19 reopening plan. And now Alterra Mountain Company, which owns Solitude Mountain and Deer Valley here in Utah, also released a plan to keep visitors safe during the pandemic. Alterra’s plan…