 #1 It's fast - New England skiers longing for waist deep powder and western sunshine can hop a nonstop Delta flight from Boston to Salt Lake City, hit the tarmac by 10, and be getting nonstop powder shots all afternoon. Park City's three ski areas, The Canyons, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain, are just a half-hour drive from the airport. |
 #2 - Your first ski day in Utah is free. Thanks to the Quick Start promotion from the Park City Chamber of Commerce, you can ski on your arrival day free of charge (March 24 til resort closing dates on or about April 13) simply by showing your QuickStart voucher and your boarding pass. The Canyons is the first resort on your 30-minute drive from Salt Lake – making it a smart place to start. |
 #3 -Park City is the best western ski town because you get three ski resorts all within minutes of each other. This 1868 silver mining town is now a gold mine for skiers. The funky frontier Main Street brims with western saloons, just enough boutiques for après ski retail therapy, and an artsy vibe. Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival (2nd only to Cannes Film Fest) is staged in Park City every January. |
 #4 - “The greatest snow on earth.” They call it the Great Salt Lake Effect when lake water rises into the clouds, producing squalls of light, fluffy and dry snow that dumps on the nearby Wasatch Mountains. This Utah trademarked snow phenomenon causes an epidemic called “powder flu” - highly contagious amongst skiers – causing extended work absences and irrepressible grins. |
 #5 - You must ski Deer Valley before you die. This #1 rated ski resort (Ski Magazine readers’ poll) is a posh, semi-private ski paradise where the service is as sublime as the snow. Snowboarders are banned and lift ticket sales are limited (so buy your Deer Valley tix in advance). Deer Valley’s reputation for first-class service is still polished after 27-years. Yes, they carry your skis from the car, and groom their slopes to perfection. But don’t assume that Deer Valley’s 2,026-acres are all buffed and behaved – Empire Canyon has steep chutes and adventurous aspen glades to rock your otherwise regal resort stay. All this top-notch alpine amusement works up an appetite and Deer Valley’s mountain lodges are elegant environs in which to eat (and drink, and roast your toes by the fire). You can also ski to The Goldener Hirsch Inn for an Austrian-inspired feast of fondue, or stop by legendary Stein Eriksen’s Lodge for the après ski “see and be seen” scene. |
 #6 - Park City Mountain Resort is where the US Ski & Snowboard Teams train. You can push your limits here too amid 9 bowls and 3,300-acres. McConkey’s and Jupiter Bowl offer high-alpine high adventure skiing up to 10,026’. Back in the 1960’s skiers would ride 3-mile mine shafts to access the snowy slopes, today you can coast on comfy six passenger quad couches to hit Park City’s signature runs. Park City is now sister resort to Killington & Pico with parent company Powdr. |
 #7 - The Canyons is Utah’s largest single ski resort spanning 8 mountains and 3,700-acres. It’s not just big – its abundant from well-groomed winding cruisers, to scenic well-spaced glades on Dream Peak, to serious and steep stuff on Peak 9990’. The six natural half pipes (my personal faves - Pinball Alley and Canis Lupis) are crazy fun runs at the Canyons. This former ASC resort has some resemblances to its Eastern siblings – a Grand Summit Hotel and a Killington-style gondola, but the terrain is western, wide-open and worth two days of exploration. |
 #8 - Cool Runnings! Utah hosted the 2002 Olympics, and you can witness all the winter venues - the moguls and monster jumps at Deer Valley, the Slalom and Superpipe at Park City, even the Nordic 90-meter and the official Torch at Utah Olympic Park. For $200, you can ride the full track four-man Olympic Bobsled in 50-seconds. But when they warn you that this is "an aggressive, violent minute-long ride during which you will pull 5G’s and 80 mph" – that's no joke and no refunds are given at the conclusion of the ride. This ride is no amusement park thrill - it’s more like being hurtled over the frozen falls of Niagara in a metal trash can. |
 #9 - Deep snow and deep discounts! Your third night’s lodging is free on Park City’s Spring Stay & Ski promotion from March 23 – April 13 at participating properties. You can book slopeside lodging for two nights at the luxurious Lodges at Deer Valley, the revered Stein Eriksen Lodge, or the Grand Summit at the Canyons, and your third night is gratis. I recommend the brand-new Silver Baron Lodge at Deer Valley – each beautifully appointed unit has its own hot tub on the private deck (I told you Deer Valley does it right!). |
 #10 Three resorts, one great town! What are you waiting for? Utah skiing is less than a day away. Park City’s the place – to ski Deer Valley, Canyons and Park City. The sun is high – so pack your sunscreen, the snow is deep – so bring a snorkel, and the deals are sweet. |
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All Stories by Heather Burke
All Photography by Greg Burke
