Ski Utah held its annual press conference this morning, revealing improvements to several resorts, useful apps, safer lifts and delicious menu offerings for when the snow starts to fall. Featuring Snowbird, Powder Mountain, the new Whisper Ridge resort and many more, this year’s season has been revamped for Utah’s renown winter industry.
Sundance Resort and Cherry Peak have opened brand new lifts this year, providing comfortable seating on your way up and expanded terrain on the way down. Ride comfortably on the Arrowhead Lift at Sundance Resort, which has been carried into the 21st Century with safer chairs and increased uphill capacity. Cherry Peak’s new Summit Lift provides the resort with over 400 acres of new skiable area for those up North.
Great options also come out of Ogden Valley at Powder Mountain and brand new Whisper Ridge Cat Skiing. Powder Mountain, known for the largest number of skiable acres in the United States, has opened two more lifts allowing its skier density to remain less than two acres per skier. Whisper Ridge Cat Skiing, opening December 26, adds another dimension to Utah’s ski industry with over 30,000 acres of private ski and ride terrain, eight custom snowcats for access and optional first descent helicopter drops.
Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has remodeled their Creekside Lodge to provide a larger base for ski and snowboard lessons resulting in more time on the mountain. Spending $35 million on improvements, ongoing construction is tripling the square footage of the building.
After you work up an appetite on the mountain, check out one of the several new menus offered mountainside this season. Kansas City-Style BBQ meets you at Brian Head Resort, while Brass Tag at Deer Valley welcomes a new chef serving delicious fresh and local cuisine. Solitude Mountain Resort, focusing on unique Wasatch-inspired and Himalayan cuisine, celebrates the new season with an expanded menu and stellar views. If you are in a rush to get to the peaks, try Pocket Meals offered by the Waldorf Astoria Park City. Featuring a pocket quesadilla and early morning burrito, they are a perfect energy-raising snack.
After a long day of skiing, settle down at one of several resorts offering accommodations. Remodeled amenities and luxury resources greet skiers at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort and the Stein Eriksen Residences. Relax after a long ski-day with luxury lodging and updated appliances and decor.
Perhaps one of the most exciting announcements this year, Ski Utah debuted the combined efforts of the Ski Utah app and SNOCRU app into an aggregated forum. Track traditional total vertical, days skied, vertical-per-resort and “fresh” snow skied all year on the easy-to-use interface. If skiing or riding at Park City Mountain, check EpicMix, which tracks your progress around the mountain, giving you vertical feet and lifts ridden, as well as a chance to hit goals, collect pins throughout the resort and connect with family and friends.
Young beginners and their parents should look into Ski Utah’s annual 5th and 6th grade Passport Program or Epic SchoolKids, offering free ski days, lessons and equipment rentals.
Still haven’t gotten a season pass? Check here for the best deals with many options to fit your seasonal needs.
Now just hope for some snow!
For more information on Ski Utah, click here.
-Brieanna Olds
