Jodi Saeland

Avalanche Awareness Week: Avalanche dogs in action

Meet Zak, Brighton's avalanche rescue dog. The dog days of winter is not all play as these rescue dogs undergo rigorous training to be job ready in the case of an avalanche.

Avalanche Awareness Week: backcountry advice from Forrest and Caroline

The week of February 13th was declared Backcountry Awareness Week in the State of Utah. Educating adults and children about the dangers of the backcountry is very important. Forrest Shearer and Caroline Gleich gave advice to Brennan and Emily about the backcountry.

A couples massage..the Sundance way!

If you are the type of person who loves solitude, beauty and everything done low key, Sundance is the place. My husband and I checked out the Sundance Spa for a couples massage...still trying to wake up!

Ski with a ranger and snow good enough to eat!

The Cottonwood Canyons have a great free program to learn about wildlife, the watershed and the environment. It's called Ski with a ranger. And with all the great FEET of snow we've received...Emily thinks it's good enough to eat!

The Deer Valley way...from small classes to the food!

I am often asked "where is the best place to take lessons?". There is no right answer because we all look for something different. In starting our weekly lessons at Deer Valley, the Bambi class is small, the food is awesome and Mommy time is superb!

The pattern changes for Utah this week=BIG SNOW!

It's no secret Mother Nature has been a little off this winter...until now. Going from High Pressure to Zonal flow in a few days spells BIG snow for Utah. Days and days of snow...

A first time lesson for adults! Don't be afraid...

Trying to ski or snowboard as an adult can be scary. For kids, there isn't quite the fear. I followed along as Julie took her first lesson at Snowbird and we got some great tips!

Powder days aren't just for adults!

Snow returned to Utah over the weekend. We're on week 4 of lessons at Snowbird and the kids were ready! As Emily said "we got some pow pow!"

Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month..choosing equipment!

When starting skiing or boarding, it's always tough to decide on equipment. Does it fit right, what about socks and do I need a helmet? I'm doing a 4 week series featuring great tips for parents and kids. First stop...the rental shop.

Holiday fun at the resorts

Santa, Rudolph, the Alpine Coaster and parades. Holiday fun from Snowbird to Park City. We have lots of our own traditions to share!

Weekly lessons at Snowbird

We started a five week ski school program at Snowbird. Tons of tips here, including how to find the right lesson for your kid(s). Hint, hint, don't lie about your child's ability. Follow our adventure as we take on the Bird!

History of the tiny snowboard!

Way back in the day, snowboards were made by just taking an adult board and making it smaller. Not any more! Have you wondered how it is that boards are easier to learn on and why even at 3, kids catch on? I chatted with the Burton folks who made it possible.

Bren's now a "boarder" at 4...first lesson at Brighton!

I'm a skier, not a great one. So, what do you do when your four-year-old only wants to snowboard? I can't teach him. How do you get him to a level to ski with Mom...head to Brighton!

Outfitting the kids from the inside out!

It can be a challenge finding the right gear to keep the kids warm while not breaking the bank. Here are my best tips from hats to skis. And, a savings coupon for you!

Hitting the Spa at Sundance...with kids!

With Sundance being a great destination tucked up in Provo Canyon...you may never want to leave. So after skiing, eating, soaking up the scenery, what's next? How about the Art Shack and the Spa? You can bring kids as young as 3!

Brighton Resort. . .Great Ski Escape #2

Every week for the next four weeks I will feature a different resort and what they do to get the little ones excited and ready to ski or snowboard. What makes each resort unique? Share my adventures courtesy of KSL Television.

Snowbasin tips...Great Ski Escape #1

Every week for the next four weeks I will feature a different resort and what they do to get the little ones excited and ready to ski or snowboard. What makes each resort unique? Share my adventures courtesy of KSL Television.

La Niña returns

After 783" of snow last season, could we possibly top that? Well, the new winter outlook is in and the charts are indicating above average snow AGAIN in Utah!

Gearing up for skiing by hiking to Catherines Pass

Everyone comes to Utah to ski in the winter, but the summers and fall are amazing!! Especially late summer when the snow has finally melted and you can get up to the ridgetops and see the wonderful scenery. Catherines Pass lies between Alta and Brighton and I've done it for years. Now, my daughter Emily joins the tradition...her first pass to 10,500'

Summer at Canyons and Utah resorts!

OK, this is a ski blog...but I'm going to say I LOVE summer in the Wasatch. The smells, the flowers, the hiking, the moose. Yes, lots of wildlife spotting here. And...the crowds are down. I'm just going to come out and say it...I love hiking and I'm a much better hiker than skier. I take pride in the 4-10 mile hikes I can do and still be standing at the end. With that said...my kids have become (or are forced) to be great hikers as well.

Alta kids...last ski day takes us to Alta!

I am an Alta skier. I moved to Utah 14 years ago and fell in love with Alta way back when. The scenery, the ambiance, the skiers mountain. This year we've been to a lot of resorts. Done fabulous lessons from Park City to Brighton. Only one ski day at Alta, so we needed to hustle up for one more day. I wanted to get both kids to mid-mountain for lunch at Alfs and get a few runs in together. It was the first time I had both Emily and Brennan up together for runs at Alta. You see, when I've been doing these runs solo for 14 years, it was pretty special to get the kids up with me. Emily and I had a Mom/Daughter day last year at Alta. This day was Mom/Daughter/Son day. So fun!

Bren becomes a snowboarder at 4 at Canyons! A special Burton board for the little guys!

I'm going to be the first to admit; I know nothing about snowboarding. But, I think I'm about to. Bren has asked to so "surfboarding" for awhile. See, for him, it's a surfboard. I'm a skier and I'll be honest, have really no desire to try boarding. I can barely navigate straight down the hill on my skis, how would I do it falling on my rear and sliding sideways? I'll leave it to my little guy.

So, when a few months ago I found out about The Burton Riglet Tour at the Canyons, I had to check it out. It was a mini snowboard park set up for kids as young as 3 to try boarding. Keep in mind, that also means there needs to be a tiny board for them. Burton has introduced an 80 cm board for the little guys.

Does your type of ski really matter? What I've learned...it does!

I've always had the mindset that you get really good boots and then just get some cheap skis. Well...I've changed my mind! The last couple of years, we've got our rentals from Ski N' See. I've learned a lot! First, you do want good boots. I'd spend a bit of money on boots. If your feet hurt, forget it...your day is ruined. When you go into get rentals, you'll want to talk about boot options. If you have a narrow foot or wide foot, it will make a difference. Race type boots tend to be more narrow. Let's face it, most of us aren't racers. I tend to like a lower on the calf boot with a wider fit. Feels a little bit more comfortable for me. As for the kids. When they are little, a rear entry boot is better. I had a talk with the manager of Ski N' See about boots for kids. Kids need comfortable boots that go on quick. The rear entry boots don't have all the buckets across the top. I asked Ski N' See about that and they said until they get a little older and are really doing some big turns and more agressive turns, they don't need them. I noticed some kids in Em's class had them. Both my kids had the rear entry and they were fine. (note the picture)

The Saturday Adventure at Park City...AWESOME wrap!

After 10 weeks of a great program for Emily, her Saturday Adventure at Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) is over. It was everything I thought it would be and more. There are events in your kids life you will remember and look back on...this is one of them for us.

It started back in early January with a placement day. Em was placed in a class with kids of equal ability and she developed new friends and especially a true trust and bond with her instructor, Lacey. Every Saturday we got up really early, packed the car and made the journey to Park City. I packed the car with enough stuff that my husband asked "are you going skiing or camping?" The class started at 9:15 and didn't end until 3 PM. A big day for a little girl and a big day for this Mom bonding with her 3 year old, just turned 4, Brennan. Of course, this program isn't for everyone. If you're a visitor to Utah, you obviously are going to do a one day or multi day lesson for your child. If you are a seasonal or local Utahn, this is the program for you! I've done many lessons and programs over the last couple of years. They are all different and have different things to offer. This program proved to be all the good things in one. We were lucky to have been placed with Lacey. I can't say enough about the role of a good instructor. It either makes or breaks a child. If they bond, have trust and have a big smile at the end of the day...you scored! We scored in Lacey. I found the combo of caring and tough love a great balance.

Bren turns 4 and becomes a Bambi at Deer Valley, Emily does the Park City Nastar course and talking green trails at the resorts!

So, ski season is winding down and the kids have done so well! Brennan turned 4 this week and it opens up a whole new set of lessons he can enroll in! Most resorts keep the kids 3 and under in a daycare setting with a one hour lesson. Brennan did that at Deer Valley earlier in the season when he was a Fawn. Now, he is a Bambi! This is a big deal! A one hour lesson as a Fawn and in the daycare or a 2 1/2 hour lesson as a Bambi in Bambiland! He was excited and felt pretty big about the situation. We dropped Emily off at Park City for her Saturday Adventure in which she takes part in the Nastar course (video to follow) and Bren and I head over to Deer Valley. The beauty of Utah and Park City is that you can do that. There are 3 resorts in the area close by...The Canyons, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort.

Extend your Utah ski vacation and head to Moab!

Utah is an unbelievable state in that you can go from an 11,000' mountains in the north to red rock country in the south. Utah has the most National Parks in one state of any other state in the union. Within a 3-4 hour drive of Salt Lake City, you can be in the most amazing red rock country and the best mountain biking in the country. March is also a great weather month in Utah. On average, it is the second snowist month. Skiing is awesome, with huge bases at the resorts and it's not too cold. It is also a month where the valleys start to warm up, the days get longer and southern Utah is pushing 70 degrees. So, after you've done your ski vacation, take 3 extra days and drive down to southern Utah. You won't be disappointed and you'll be planning a quick return!

So, with that said, we did our Saturday skiing at Park City. Emily continues to do great in her Saturday Adventure program! Also, Brennan is up and running on the green runs like a champ. More on this in the next blog.

Brenny and Mom ski The Bird and talking Utah weather

I'm going to cover 2 different topics. A quick synopsis of my background: I am a Meteorologist. I have been in the broadcast industry for nearly 20 years (OK, I'm aging myself) and until recently, worked full time as the main Meteorologist for the Fox affiliate here in Salt Lake. I know do freelance weather for the local NBC affiliate in SLC. I'm telling you this because I'd like to give you a little info on SLC weather and a little mountain Meteorology and why Utah really has "The Greatest Snow on Earth".

Second topic will be one of the best ski days I've ever had! A powder day at Snowbird with a 3 year old staying on the Chickadee lift and watching him have such a great time! A mother/son day of skiing and lunch...doesn't get any better or make me more proud!

Em does an obstacle course, Bren does Sig 3 and talking daycare!

For weeks now, I've talked about the weekly ski programs the kids are in at Park City Mountain Resort. Emily continues to do so well in her Saturday Adventure and Bren did another Signature 3 class. I'll give you a quick update with some cute video and then I want to talk a little about daycare since that is so important if you are an out of town visitor and have little guys.

World Freestyle Event Park City/Deer Valley

Kids FINALLY hit the slopes together at Brighton!!

This blog is short and sweet! After a great year of lessons last year for Emily and a GREAT start for Brennan this year, I got the kids up the Majestic lift at Brighton. It was kind of fitting since their first lessons were at Brighton last year! I'm not going to mention that when Brennan got to the top, he decided he was done skiing.

Enjoy!