My relationship with Ski Utah actually began way back in 5th grade, as a participant in the newly minted 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program. Though my parents had plopped me on skis around age 3, the opportunity to hone my passion for skiing in elementary school undoubtedly shaped the trajectory of nearly every major decision in my life. It wasn't until my mom enrolled me in the Passport Program and also signed me up for ski lessons in 5th and 6th grade that my desire to ski flourished into a lifelong hobby.
I returned to Utah after college in Washington to reunite with The Greatest Snow on Earth. I couldn't live without the mountains that framed my favorite childhood memories. My closest friends are all skiers and snowboarders. My career choices have all revolved around the outdoor industry or the ability to ski often. Today I work as the Director of Freeride for the IFSA, an organization that sanctions over 90 competitive freeride skiing and snowboarding events across the US and Canada. I’ve never had a romantic partner in my adult life who didn’t ski or snowboard. Skiing has shaped nearly every facet of my life!
Photo Credit: Matt Crawley, Snowbird
For the past twenty-one years, Ski Utah has offered 5th and 6th grade elementary school students the opportunity to head outdoors and sharpen their skills on skis or a board. I recall the confidence that skiing brought to my life in elementary school. This confidence and sense of self carried me through the tumultuous years of tween and teenage angst. I didn’t mind being a bit of an outcast in high school, because I was a skier. What mattered to me most was getting to the mountain each weekend. The snow and cold shaped my identity and gave me swagger. In late spring, I would suntan with my goggles on, in hopes that my high school yearbook photo would memorialize my goggle tan.
The Passport Program is so fantastic because, for just 45 bucks, 5th and 6th graders can enjoy access to all 15 of Utah’s incredible mountain resorts. In addition, the Passport Program offers tons of exclusive deals, discounts on adult lift tickets, buddy passes, family deals, free rentals, and more. For a mom's complete guide to the Passport Program, click here.
The 5th Grade Passport
5th Graders can ski or ride 3 times at each of Utah's resorts. That's 45 days on the mountain for only $45!
The 6th Grade Passport
6th Graders can ski or ride 1 time at each of Utah's resorts. That's 15 days on the mountain for only $45!
I can still recall the first day I proudly rode the tram and skied down the Regulator Johnson black diamond run at Snowbird, bragging to my mom about such a highly-anticipated conquest. My first time experiencing neck-deep powder was in the Cecret Lake area at Alta. I refused to embark upon my first ski lesson at Solitude because the grizzled instructor clomped into the building for my afternoon class looking like an animated Yeti with a frozen snow beard. Skiing shaped my childhood, and I have Ski Utah (and my parents) to thank for providing me with the opportunity to learn how to face life's ups and downs by way of valuable lessons learned on the mountain.
I was lucky to discover passion at such a young age and I’m grateful Ski Utah continues to support the up-and-coming generation of skiers and snowboarders. We want you to make the most of your 5th and 6th grade Passports, so we’ve compiled comprehensive guides for each of Utah’s 15 resorts.
These resort guides will remove many of the headaches and logistical uncertainties parents or grandparents may have about visiting a new resort. Equipped with this information, your family can embark on a host of new experiences and fun excursions this winter. Ski Utah could not be more proud to showcase the incredible diversity of terrain and culture at each of the state’s fantastic resorts. We hope these resort guides inspire you to try new ski areas or travel to new places within Utah.
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: WOODWARD PARK CITY
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: PARK CITY MOUNTAIN
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: SNOWBASIN RESORT
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: POWDER MOUNTAIN
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: NORDIC VALLEY
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: SNOWBIRD
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: CHERRY PEAK
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: EAGLE POINT RESORT
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: DEER VALLEY RESORT
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: BRIGHTON RESORT
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: ALTA SKI AREA
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: BEAVER MOUNTAIN
FAMILY SKI RESORT GUIDE: BRIAN HEAD RESORT
Ambitious 5th and 6th graders will want to collect a photo at each Ski Utah resort to enter the Little Yeti of the Year Contest. This annual contest awards prizes and swag to five lucky 5th or 6th graders who complete a visit to all 15 resorts. Just snap a picture in front of each resort’s signage and post to Instagram using the hashtags #SkiUtah and #LittleYeti and tag @skiutah.
For details on how to redeem your day passes and Passport FAQs: click here.
For the best family ski deals at Utah's ski resorts: click here
