Utah’s Strengths Shine Bright in SKI Magazine’s Twenty-third Annual Reader Survey

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH- Utah ski resorts topped the charts of the 2011 SKI magazine reader survey. Leading the charge, Deer Valley Resort earned the overall number one spot for an unprecedented four years in a row. Joining Deer Valley, seven other Utah ski resorts were listed among the top thirty resorts (#5 Park City, #18 The Canyons, #19 Snowbird, #27 Snowbasin, #28 Alta, #29 Brighton, #30 Solitude).

Of the eighteen evaluation categories included in the survey, Utah resorts received the top rating in ten divisions including Alta for “Overall Satisfaction” and “Snow,” Powder Mountain for “Value,” Brighton for “Weather,” and Deer Valley for “Grooming,” “Service,” “Access,” On-mountain Food,” “Lodging,” and “Dining.”

“These rankings reflect the opinions and sentiments of ski resort consumers nationwide,” said Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty. “We are thrilled to see the Utah wintersports product ranked so highly amongst such an esteemed set of peers.”

Along with incredible representation in the overall rankings, Utah resorts dominated the categories Ski Utah considers its greatest strengths - snow, access and value. As Utah is famous for having The Greatest Snow on Earth®, it was no surprise that eight of the top ten listings for “Snow” were Utah resorts (#1 Alta, #2 Snowbird, #3 Powder Mountain, #4 Brighton, #5 Solitude, #7 Deer Valley, #8 Snowbasin).

Additionally, seven of the top ten resorts listed in the “Access” category were in Utah (#1 Deer Valley, #2 Park City, #4 Brighton, #5 Solitude, #6 The Canyons, #7 Snowbird, #9 Alta).

“Value,” another vital component of Utah’s wintersports product, had five Utah resorts in the top ten (#1 Powder Mountain, #3 Alta, #4 Brighton, #6 Solitude, #9 Snowbasin).

New this season, SKI magazine added a section of Lifestyle awards where Alta was awarded best “Skier’s Mountain” followed by Snowbird in second place. Snowbird also received the title of best “Weekend Escape” followed by Deer Valley in second place. Brighton Resort was awarded as the number one “Value Trip” with Alta and Snowbird listed as second and third. Snowbasin also ranked number five in the "Value Trip" category.

To view a complete list of Utah resort rankings visit http://bit.ly/bHHp7T.

Jessica Kunzer
Ski Utah Director of Communications
801.433.2016
jessica@skiutah.com