Ski Resort Report
First and foremost, Park City Magazine congratulates our three mountain resorts for being tops. All three made the top 15 cut in SKI Magazine’s annual rankings issue, with Deer Valley Resort being named #1 resort in North America, Park City Mountain Resort, #5 and The Canyons, #14. You can’t go wrong skiing anywhere in Park City!
THE CANYONS
New this year at The Canyons is the Snow Rewards Program for 2005/ 2006 season pass holders. “The more you use your season pass at The Canyons, the more cool stuff you’ll get in return!” says Katie Eldridge, resort communications director.
The Snow Rewards Program provides incentives such as dining certificates, ski tune sessions and ski vacations to season pass holders who use their season pass a certain number of times during the 2005/2006 season.
For instance, an adult season pass holder who skis 25 days or more at The Canyons this season will receive a certificate for the breakfast buffet at The Cabin Restaurant at The Canyons Grand Summit Hotel. Guests who have their season pass scanned 45 times will receive a free ski or snowboard clinic with Olympian Holly Flanders or a lift ticket for a friend.
“We are always trying to find new ways to show our pass holders how important they are to us,” explained Scott Pierpont, president of The Canyons. “This program does just that. If you ski for 100 days next season, we’ll give you lodging and skiing for two days at our sister resort, Steamboat,” said Pierpont. “It’s like getting paid to make powder turns.”
The Canyons has also added an additional terrain park this season, off of Saddleback Express. The new park will have several features geared toward first-time park skiers and snowboarders. “We’re seeing all ages and levels of skiers who want to try out the features in the park,” said Tim Hagan, director of operations at The Canyons Resort. “This new area will give people the opportunity to work up to the more challenging jumps and rails in the main park,” he added.
The Canyons also recently announced a three-year, $400 million expansion plan. The planned investment will include new lifts, new terrain, new lodging, a golf course, and continued development of The Canyons Resort Village. The investment is the result of the combined efforts of many of the landowners at The Canyons Resort and American Skiing Company. 435.649.5400 or www.thecanyons.com.
DEER VALLEY RESORT
Deer Valley celebrates its 25th anniversary this season. Congratulations! Deer Valley has invested $8 million in improvements for the 2005/2006 ski season, including the replacement of the Sultan chairlift on Bald Mountain with a high-speed detachable quad. The old Sultan lift, a triple chair, was one of Deer Valley’s originals. The new lift can transport 2,400 skiers per hour (as opposed to 1,800 on the old lift) and offer 1,000 additional feet, bringing its vertical drop to 1,760 feet. Extending the lift opened 75 additional skiable acres which include a new intermediate run and approximately 65 acres of glade skiing. The addition of the new lift will make it possible for the Stein’s Way run to split and end at either the Wasatch or Sultan lifts, and a new run, the Sultan Connector, will allow guests to ski from the bottom of the Wasatch Lift to the bottom of the Sultan Lift. Expanded snowmaking was also added around the new and improved Sultan chairlift.
A new ski corral holding 2,000 pairs of skis was added on to the Silver Lake Lodge last summer, doubling the space of the old corral. The Silver Lake Lodge deck was increased by 1,200 square feet, increasing available outdoor dining space for sunny lunches. The heated Village Plaza was expanded by 2,200 square feet. In addition, Deer Valley replaced four snowcats, 12 snowmobiles and 10 snowguns with new equipment. 435.649.1000 or www.deervalley.com.
PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT
Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) has lots to report in the “new” category this season. The resort now boasts the largest superpipe in North America, for starters. PCMR purchased a pipe cutter that gives new definition to “super” in the Eagle Superpipe. With 22-foot walls, the superpipe will be the largest in North America. PCMR also added new rails and funboxes to its four terrain parks.
The Legends Bar and Restaurant has been relocated to the plaza level of the Legacy Lodge (it used to be on the upper floor), making it easier for après-skiers to find. The new Legends will boast excellent drinks and food, making it the perfect place to relax after a long day on the mountain.
PCMR has added two new snowcats, including a winch cat, to its fleet to enhance its commitment to on-mountain grooming. Last season, the Resort introduced grooming on several of its advanced runs. These “Signature Runs” help to open up more of the mountain to the intermediate skier. PCMR has added 10 snowmaking guns providing more efficient snowmaking. 435.649.8111 or www.parkcitymountain.com.
Your comments may be edited for brevity and foul language.