Ski Utah Blog - Related Articles
Showing 10 articles out of 40.
Sweet Spring Powder at the Bird
Posted by The Ski Utah Yeti on March 8, 2010
Have you skied powder lately? Well, there is plenty of it to be found in Utah. Check out this video shot this past weekend at Snowbird. And, don't forget that you could still win a free trip to come ski with me by becoming a fan of the Ski Utah Yeti page on Facebook by Wednesday, March 10!
Down Memory Runs
Posted by Ray Grass on February 10, 2010
I made some runs at Brighton Resort over the weekend and a lot of old memories surfaced. My second attempt at skiing was at Brighton . . . and I spent many a day after waiting in lines for the Majestic and Mary (now the much longer and faster Crest Express) lifts, and catching a burger and fries in the very crowded old lodge.
Things were so difficult in the beginning, and I look back now and wonder why. A little weight on the right ski and it turns. Simple. But not back then. Skis had a mind of their own and went were they wanted and not where I wanted.
As I see it now, the old run I skied most often was off what was the Mary lift. It starts out as Mary Back and is a perfect beginner’s run -- gentle slope, in the trees for protection and just wide enough for slow, controlled turns. Back then it was more like a triple-black-diamond run.
On this latest trip, there was a woman midway down the run having a difficult time. She’d make a couple of forced turns -- hard steps instead of sliding -- then do the reverse wedge with tails touching and tips wide apart. She’d fall back and struggle to get up. I could never understand the urge to lean back as a method to slow down, but I did it. It’s the old digging in the heels to stop, I guess.
I stopped and asked if I could help and got a terse “no thanks.’’ She was determined. Had she asked I would have suggested a lesson. Lessons do make life on the slopes a whole lot easier in the beginning.
All in all it was a perfect day. There was a firm base, groomed flat, with a few inches of new fluffy powder on top. Ego skiing, I call it. You glide into a turn and there’s enough new snow to help, but not so much that it doesn’t easily give.
Over on Millicent there was a junior race being held. More memories. I’ve been to a lot of junior races over the years and they’re fun to watch. Kids as young as five and six playing the role of a Ted Ligety, the Utah-based Olympic skier, walking around in their skin-tight race suits, encouraging teammates and cloaking nervousness.
There’s more determination and drive in this one area than you could ever find elsewhere. Standing on the sidelines are parents and grandparents cringing and hoping with every turn for a good run.
The one run I had to make that day was on, according to the map, the “Face.’’ It’s right below the off-load area on the Majestic lift. It’s fairly steep, maybe 75 yards long and drops maybe 100 feet.
That was a run in the early days that proved your grit. Runs for our group were never pretty. We’d make more falls than turns. Course we didn’t have to tell anyone that part, only that we skied the “Face.’’
This time, for me, it was another of those good runs and one that at the end left me wondering what it was about the run that was so difficult.
Of course, the resort has changed a lot over the years. Back when, and I’m dating myself, Majestic and Mary were standard doubles and Millicent was a historic single. Now there’s not a double on the mountain -- four high-speed quads, one regular quad and a triple.
Now there are specially sculptured terrain parks for skiers and boarders. Our big challenge was ungroomed bumps and moguls, and pockets of snow that stopped turning skis.
It was fun, though, looking back in time and skiing on runs that were once so intimidating, but now, I realize, are perfect learning runs at all levels.
Good day, good snow, good memories.
Photos from the 4 Area Interconnect Tour
Posted by The Ski Utah Yeti on February 5, 2010
When people talk about the Ski Utah Interconnect Tour they usually think of the 6 area tour that goes through Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort, Solitude, Brighton, Alta, and Snowbird. But the 4 area Interconnect Tour going through Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, and Solitude offers an arguably better backcountry experience. Check out the photos from yesterday's 4 area tour.
Favorite Runs
Posted by Ray Grass on January 26, 2010
I rode up the lift last week at Park City Mountain Resort with a gentleman from California who is planning a move to Park City. Jeremy Ranch was, at that point, his area of choice -- convenient, mountain setting, quiet and no traffic problems, “nothing like California.’’
He asked the question: Which of the Utah resorts is my favorite?
Having skied all 13, I had to honestly tell him I liked them all and for varying reasons . . . the larger resorts for variety and long runs, smaller resorts for atmosphere and well established runs.
I told him I’ve had great skiing at all. Oh, I’ve had bad days when temperatures were below zero, high winds and blinding snow. But, even on those days I’ve enjoyed the skiing.
Personally, I like to ski different areas. Each has a look and feel of its own. It’s also fun to sample their signature meals.
He then asked if I had a favorite run. Tougher question. All total there are nearly 1,200 runs at the 13 Utah areas.
One thing I’ve done, and repeat on occasion, is make sure I ski a resort’s signature run. They all have one.
Five years back a group of five of us, led by Nathan Rafferty, now president of Ski Utah, skied 11 of Utah’s 13 resorts in a single day. We tried as best we could to hit the signature runs.
That, I would say, was one of my more incredible ski days.
Looking at some of the signature runs I’ve skied, I’d place Alf’s High Rustler at Alta at the top. Ski magazines have listed it as one of the country’s best with a “perfect fall line.’’ It’s steep and not easy to reach, but it is truly an exciting run.
Good skiers will like the Great Scott run at Snowbird. This wide open bowl has a 45-degree slope, making it one of the steepest runs in North America. Personally, though, I like Chip’s Run. It offers open bowls, tree-lined trails, moguls, groomed meadows and hairpin turns -- all within one run.
Jupiter Bowl is considered the signature run at Park City and I love the bowls and chutes in the area, but for absolute splendor I love Hidden Splendor. It is really a fantastically beautiful run.
The signature run at Solitude is Challenger and up the canyon at Brighton Sunshine. Challenger is, as the name suggests, a steep, challenging run. Sunshine is more of an intermediate run with incredible views.
If you want to get a greater appreciation for Olympic downhillers, test your nerves on Snowbasin’s signature run, the Grizzly Downhill, better known as the men’s downhill run for the 2002 Games. I can’t imagine skiing the run without a speed check.
One of my most memorable powder runs was in Powder Mountain’s Weber Bowl. It’s a wide open bowl with a 30-degree pitch, which makes it perfect for flowing turns on good powder days.
One of the runs at Deer Valley I enjoy most, and it’s considered its signature run, is Stein’s Way, named after the legendary Olympian Stein Eriksen. Why? Because it’s long, 4,500 feet, and has a slope perfectly suited for his classy, giant-slalom-style turns and my not-so-classy GS turns.
And, talking about GS turn, the signature run at The Canyons is 94 Turns. It got its name from the fact a good skier can make 94 GS turns from top to bottom. I made a few more.
Favorite runs? Impossible to say. There are simply too many really good runs and for one reason or another I’ve enjoyed them all.
Have you got a favorite? I’d love to know. Maybe there are great runs out there I haven’t skied.
Powder Day Video
Posted by The Ski Utah Yeti on January 21, 2010
January 20th was a great 15 inch powder day. More snow is on the way!
Utah is Going to Get Dumped On!
Posted by The Ski Utah Yeti on January 21, 2010
Here's the forecast we've been waiting for. Straight from Brian McInerny with the National Weather Service.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/wxbriefing/wxb20jan2010/player.html
If you build it...they will come (the storms that is!)
Posted by Jodi Saeland on January 20, 2010
Living in Utah and skiing in Utah...well, we get pretty spoiled. In fact, we get a bit snobby. If there isn't at least 6" of new snow every few days or a week, we feel cheated. When in fact, other parts of the country would be very excited to see even 1/2 the snow we get.
Besides the point, it has been an El Nino year and maybe not quite the winter we'd like to see....until now! During an El Nino year, there is warming of the waters off the coast of South America, trade winds weaken and the warm water pools in the western Pacific. Ok, so..what's my point? We oftentimes will see a ridge or high pressure over the west and storms go around the high. High is associated with sinking air=no storminess. El Nino also will shift the jet streams. This is important because the jet stream acts as a steering wheel for storms. You want that wheel over you, not around you. During an El Nino, we get a split jet. The storms normally go over southern California (like we're seeing the last few days with floods and if you are one that watched the Golden Globes :)) and scrape by southern Utah. Brian Head resort in southern Utah does well. The storms also go through Canada and drop into the Dakotas. (Remember the big Christmas mess?)
Is this doom and gloom for the north? NOT AT ALL!! Again, we are an impatient group in the north waiting for the powder. Folks, it has arrived! As with all good things..it takes time and patience. The pattern has changed. The high pressure has broken down and the storms are lining up in the west and Pacific. If you had a look at the satellite...the colors are GOOD! This means lots of moisture headed into northern California and right into Utah. It doesn't take much for us to really get hit hard and see the snow pile up. Not only do we need it for skiing, we need it for the reservoirs. In looking back at data for the past 10 years+, El Nino, La Nina...no Nina; there is no pattern that favors a low/high year which is great for Utah!
Point said, the storms are here and I got a chance to experience it first hand Tuesday at Alta. 16" new snow, knee deep! Yep, doesn't get better.
Enjoy the pattern change. Does this mean we're done with El Nino? No, supposed to continue and we will see the pattern swing back and forth; but for now it is stormy and the high has moved on.
Down Memory Runs
Posted by Ray Grass on January 9, 2010
I made some runs at Brighton Resort over the weekend and a lot of old memories surfaced. My second attempt at skiing was at Brighton . . . and I spent many a day after waiting in lines for the Majestic and Mary (now the much longer and faster Crest Express) lifts, and catching a burger and fries in the very crowded old lodge.
Things were so difficult in the beginning, and I look back now and wonder why. A little weight on the right ski and it turns. Simple. But not back then. Skis had a mind of their own and went were they wanted and not where I wanted.
As I see it now, the old run I skied most often was off what was the Mary lift. It starts out as Mary Back and is a perfect beginner’s run -- gentle slope, in the trees for protection and just wide enough for slow, controlled turns. Back then it was more like a triple-black-diamond run.
On this latest trip, there was a woman midway down the run having a difficult time. She’d make a couple of forced turns -- hard steps instead of sliding -- then do the reverse wedge with tails touching and tips wide apart. She’d fall back and struggle to get up. I could never understand the urge to lean back as a method to slow down, but I did it. It’s the old digging in the heels to stop, I guess.
I stopped and asked if I could help and got a terse “no thanks.’’ She was determined. Had she asked I would have suggested a lesson. Lessons do make life on the slopes a whole lot easier in the beginning.
All in all it was a perfect day. There was a firm base, groomed flat, with a few inches of new fluffy powder on top. Ego skiing, I call it. You glide into a turn and there’s enough new snow to help, but not so much that it doesn’t easily give.
Over on Millicent there was a junior race being held. More memories. I’ve been to a lot of junior races over the years and they’re fun to watch. Kids as young as five and six playing the role of a Ted Ligety, the Utah-based Olympic skier, walking around in their skin-tight race suits, encouraging teammates and cloaking nervousness.
There’s more determination and drive in this one area than you could ever find elsewhere. Standing on the sidelines are parents and grandparents cringing and hoping with every turn for a good run.
The one run I had to make that day was on, according to the map, the “Face.’’ It’s right below the off-load area on the Majestic lift. It’s fairly steep, maybe 75 yards long and drops maybe 100 feet.
That was a run in the early days that proved your grit. Runs for our group were never pretty. We’d make more falls than turns. Course we didn’t have to tell anyone that part, only that we skied the “Face.’’
This time, for me, it was another of those good runs and one that at the end left me wondering what it was about the run that was so difficult.
Of course, the resort has changed a lot over the years. Back when, and I’m dating myself, Majestic and Mary were standard doubles and Millicent was a historic single. Now there’s not a double on the mountain -- four high-speed quads, one regular quad and a triple.
Now there are specially sculptured terrain parks for skiers and boarders. Our big challenge was ungroomed bumps and moguls, and pockets of snow that stopped turning skis.
It was fun, though, looking back in time and skiing on runs that were once so intimidating, but now, I realize, are perfect learning runs at all levels.
Good day, good snow, good memories.
Down Memory Runs
Posted by Ray Grass on January 9, 2010
I made some runs at Brighton Resort over the weekend and a lot of old memories surfaced. My second attempt at skiing was at Brighton . . . and I spent many a day after waiting in lines for the Majestic and Mary (now the much longer and faster Crest Express) lifts, and catching a burger and fries in the very crowded old lodge.
Things were so difficult in the beginning, and I look back now and wonder why. A little weight on the right ski and it turns. Simple. But not back then. Skis had a mind of their own and went were they wanted and not where I wanted.
As I see it now, the old run I skied most often was off what was the Mary lift. It starts out as Mary Back and is a perfect beginner’s run -- gentle slope, in the trees for protection and just wide enough for slow, controlled turns. Back then it was more like a triple-black-diamond run.
On this latest trip, there was a woman midway down the run having a difficult time. She’d make a couple of forced turns -- hard steps instead of sliding -- then do the reverse wedge with tails touching and tips wide apart. She’d fall back and struggle to get up. I could never understand the urge to lean back as a method to slow down, but I did it. It’s the old digging in the heels to stop, I guess.
I stopped and asked if I could help and got a terse “no thanks.’’ She was determined. Had she asked I would have suggested a lesson. Lessons do make life on the slopes a whole lot easier in the beginning.
All in all it was a perfect day. There was a firm base, groomed flat, with a few inches of new fluffy powder on top. Ego skiing, I call it. You glide into a turn and there’s enough new snow to help, but not so much that it doesn’t easily give.
Over on Millicent there was a junior race being held. More memories. I’ve been to a lot of junior races over the years and they’re fun to watch. Kids as young as five and six playing the role of a Ted Ligety, the Utah-based Olympic skier, walking around in their skin-tight race suits, encouraging teammates and cloaking nervousness.
There’s more determination and drive in this one area than you could ever find elsewhere. Standing on the sidelines are parents and grandparents cringing and hoping with every turn for a good run.
The one run I had to make that day was on, according to the map, the “Face.’’ It’s right below the off-load area on the Majestic lift. It’s fairly steep, maybe 75 yards long and drops maybe 100 feet.
That was a run in the early days that proved your grit. Runs for our group were never pretty. We’d make more falls than turns. Course we didn’t have to tell anyone that part, only that we skied the “Face.’’
This time, for me, it was another of those good runs and one that at the end left me wondering what it was about the run that was so difficult.
Of course, the resort has changed a lot over the years. Back when, and I’m dating myself, Majestic and Mary were standard doubles and Millicent was a historic single. Now there’s not a double on the mountain -- four high-speed quads, one regular quad and a triple.
Now there are specially sculptured terrain parks for skiers and boarders. Our big challenge was ungroomed bumps and moguls, and pockets of snow that stopped turning skis.
It was fun, though, looking back in time and skiing on runs that were once so intimidating, but now, I realize, are perfect learning runs at all levels.
Good day, good snow, good memories.
Snowbird, Utah December 12-13, 2009
Posted by The Ski Utah Yeti on December 21, 2009
Great video from Snowbird.
