Best Utah Ski Resorts

Utah’s Ski Resorts Prepare to Open

As another cold early winter storm is blowing into the Wasatch at press time, snow depths are increasing as resorts complete their final preparations for the ski and snowboard season ahead.

Weather permitting, Utah resorts will be opening on the following dates:

* Alta: Nov. 20, 2009
* Beaver: TBA
* Brian Head: Nov. 21, 2009
* Brighton: November 16, 2009
* The Canyons: Nov. 27, 2009
* Deer Valley: Dec. 5, 2009
* PCMR: Nov. 21, 2009
* Powder Mountain: Nov. 28, 2009
* Snowbasin: Nov. 26, 2009
* Snowbird: Nov. 21, 2009
* Solitude: Nov. 6, 2009
* Sundance: Dec. 11, 2009
* Wolf Creek Utah: TBA
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Ski Utah Has Gold Passes Left

Can you imagine skiing the Greatest Snow On Earth every day of the season? With Ski Utah’s Gold Pass, it’s possible.

Every year, the state’s ski resort marketing organization sells 120 of the fully transferable passes and usually has a waiting list. This year, however, a few of the passes — the “Holy Grail of powder plundering,” according to Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty — remain available.

For $3,400, passholders get up to 40 days each at all 13 of Utah’s ski and snowboard resorts. And because they’re fully transferable, businesses may give them to clients or friends to use any day of the season.

And at Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons Resort, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Alta Ski Area, Solitude Mountain Resort, Snowbasin and Sundance Resort, the pass offers direct-to-lift convenience. At Park City, it even includes Fast Tracks privileges to cut the lift lines.

For more information, or to buy a Gold Pass call (801) 359-4644

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Vail Resorts Abandons Effort to Acquire The Canyons

In a motion filed with Denver District Court last week, Broomfield, Colo.-based Vail Resorts indicated that it is no longer seeking control of The Canyons Resort near Park City.

Vail Resorts filed suit in 2007 after the now-dissolved American Skiing Company agreed to sell the ski resort to Toronto’s Talisker Corporation for $100 million. Vail Resorts asserted that it had previously entered into an agreement with American Skiing Company to acquire the resort.

The motion now leaves Talisker as the undisputed owner of The Canyons, along with extensive real estate holdings in the Park City area.

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5th and 6th Graders Ski and Ride Free in Utah

In Utah, 5th and 6th graders ski and ride free with Ski Utah’s 5th Grade Passport and 6th Grade SnowPass.

In exchange for a small processing fee, Passports and SnowPasses are valid at all 13 Utah resorts. The 5th Grade Passport allows you to ski or snowboard free three times at each of Utah’s 13 participating resorts. That’s 39 days of free skiing and snowboarding. The 6th Grade SnowPass allows you to ski or snowboard one day free at each of Utah’s 13 participating resorts.

The Passport and Snowpass includes not only free lift tickets for you, but it also has special deals on equipment rentals, lessons and other activities for you and other members of your family.

To learn more or to apply, visit one of the following pages at Ski Utah’s website:

*5th Grade Passport
*6th Grade SnowPass
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Utah Tourism Industry Leaders Appointed to State Board

Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert has appointed two new members and reappointed four others to the Board of Tourism Development. The 13-member policy board is located within the Utah Office of Tourism, an agency of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Board members oversee the state’s $7 million Tourism Marketing Performance Fund that is used to promote the state’s “Life Elevated” brand to out-of-state visitors.

New to the Board of Tourism Development are Nathan Rafferty, the president of Ski Utah, who will represent the ski industry, and Joel Racker, the president and chief executive officer of the Utah Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, who will represent Utah, Summit, Juab, and Wasatch counties. Rafferty was communications director for Ski Utah for seven years before he was promoted to president in 2005. He’s a graduate of the University of Arizona. Prior to joining the Utah Valley CVB in March 2003, Racker was employed with Marriott International for 17 years. He received a degree in business management and marketing from Brigham Young University. Their appointments have been confirmed by the Senate.

“Their vast knowledge of the tourism industry has been invaluable in our efforts to market Utah’s destinations and events to targeted domestic and international markets,” said Leigh von der Esch, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism.

The board has selected Steve Lindburg as the chairman and Colin Fryer as the vice-chairman. Lindburg is general manager of the Hilton Salt Lake City Center and represents the Utah’s lodging industry on the board. Fryer, owner of the Red Cliffs Lodge and several other properties in Moab, was reappointed by the governor to his second term on the board. He represents Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, and Uintah counties.

Several other board members who were reappointed include: Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, who represents the Utah Association of Counties; Frank Jones, car rental industry representative; and Georgianna Knudson, who represents Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Rich, and Weber counties.

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Snowbird Customer Appreciation Days Began on Halloween

Halloween and early November brought two weekends of free Aerial Tram rides at Utah’s Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort with a donation to the Utah Food Bank.

Snowbird Customer Appreciation Days will took place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, and will also take place on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8, weather permitting. The dates were set later than normal this year to accommodate routine maintenance on the ski resort’s Aerial Tram. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in costume over Halloween weekend and “trick or treat” on the Tram ride to Snowbird’s 11,000-foot Hidden Peak.

One can of food equals one free Tram ride per person during Customer Appreciation Days. In lieu of food, a $2 donation may be made for a Tram ride. All food donations benefit the Utah Food Bank and monetary donations benefit the Wasatch Adaptive Sports program.

The Tram will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both weekends. Bring food to the front entrance of the Snowbird Center, accessed by Snowbird Entry 2. Cash donations will be accepted at the Snowbird Center ticket office.

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Open Houses Scheduled to Discuss Update to Wasatch Canyons Master Plan

Salt Lake County’s Wasatch Canyons Master Plan has governed recreation, traffic and other land use issues in City Creek, Emigration, Red Butte, Parleys, Millcreek, Big Cottonwood, and Little Cottonwood Canyons above the Salt Lake Valley since 1989. The canyons provide more than half of Salt Lake City’s water supply, and significantly add to the quality of life for area residents. The canyons are home to four ski resorts — Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude — as well as limitless backcountry and cross country skiing and snowboarding.

The Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow process is an opportunity to help update Salt Lake County’s 1989 Wasatch Canyons Master Plan. With the doubling of the county’s population expected over the next 30 years, Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow is designed to ensure the long-term health of these treasured Utah canyons, balancing land-use, transportation, and environmental concerns.

Salt Lake County has scheduled Open Houses Nov. 4 and 5 to solicit public input regarding Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow. All are invited to attend the events which will occur as follows:

6:30-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 4th

* Skyline High School Cafeteria
3251 East 3760 South, Salt Lake City 84109

* Sandy City Hall
10000 Centennial Parkway, Sandy 84070 (second floor multipurpose room)
6:30-8:00 p.m., Thursday, November 5th

* West High School
241 North 300 West, Salt Lake City 84103 (Commons Area)

* West Jordan High School
8136 South 2700 West , West Jordan 84088 (Media Center)

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Expanded Spa to Open at Deer Valley’s Stein Eriksen Lodge

With Utah’s ski season approaching, Stein Eriksen Lodge, located mid-mountain at Deer Valley Resort is putting the final touches on The Spa’s expansion. The ambitious remodel, set to open in December, has taken the award-winning facility from 4,300 square feet to more than 20,000 square feet dedicated to wellness and relaxation.

“Throughout our 27 years, the Lodge has consistently raised the bar when it comes to alpine hospitality, and expanding The Spa by such a large measure further demonstrates our continued commitment to providing guests with the utmost level of service,” said Russ Olsen, CEO of Stein Eriksen Lodge.

Highlights of the spa makeover at Utah’s only Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond lodging property include 16 treatment rooms, featuring two couple treatment rooms with a shared relaxation room, and two wet treatment rooms. The Spa has added a number of treatments to its menu, such as The Great Salt Stone Therapy, Pigment Balancing Facial, and a line of Signature Soaks. All of the spa’s treatments are focused on hydration and combating the effects experienced at high altitude.

Guests this winter will find expanded fitness facilities with mountain views and separate locker rooms. Wedding parties and groups will benefit from pedicure and manicure facilities that have more than doubled, along with a new make-up and hair styling room. Additionally, the year-round outdoor heated pool deck was built out by 2,000 square feet and a fireplace was added to provide guests a cozy location to relax and take in the surrounding Wasatch Mountains.

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Changes in Food and Beverage at The Canyons

The Canyons Resort has announced several changes in its food and beverage department. With the winter season approaching, The Canyons has been preparing updated menus for both on-mountain and base area dining locations and has announced several new staff members joining the food and beverage team.

Clement Gelas has been appointed as Executive Chef of The Grand Summit Hotel. Since coming to the United States from his hometown of Boege, France in 2004, Gelas has showcased his skills in both the east and west. In 2005, Gelas moved from Long Island, New York to Utah, where he became Executive Chef for Wahso, of Bill White Enterprises. In 2008, Chef John Murcko of The Talisker Club approached Gelas and invited him to join the Talisker culinary team. At Talisker, Gelas was responsible for the Tuhaye Table Café. Now, as Executive Chef of The Grand Summit Hotel, Gelas is responsible for menu creation at The Cabin restaurant, Doc’s at The Gondola, and First Tracks Café. Gelas will be working to incorporate seasonal menus using local products and styles from his home country at each of these places and looks forward to the upcoming winter season.

Ali Kelly has also been named as the new General Manger of The Cabin restaurant, located in The Grand Summit Hotel. Kelly will oversee the restaurant’s front end dining experience. She comes to The Canyons from The New Yorker in Salt Lake City, where she served as Manager for three years. Kelly is a native of Seattle, Washington, where she honed her fine dining and management skills in various restaurants and resorts throughout the Pacific Northwest.

On-Mountain Executive Chef, Jacob Guay is slightly revamping the Sundial Café menu to make the items more convenient for those looking to “grab and go,” while also keeping flavor and quality strong.