Spot Check: Park City, Utah
photos and words by George Crosland
Utah is a state full of some of the lift served mountains in the US. If you have not made it to Utah to ride, it should be on your list of places to go. The place is sick, from downtown Salt Lake rail jams to the Wasatch to the Northern resorts; Snowbasin and Powder Mountain. Out of the whole state Park City sticks out though. Park City is the only place where a ski resort town really exists. Most of the areas in Utah are just that – areas, insane riding but no real town. Park City is a real town with history, a cool downtown and lots of good places to eat; like Breckenridge, Aspen, Sun Valley and so on. The riding? Oh, yea, Park City Mountain Resort drops down right into town so it is the only real full on destination resort/town in Utah.
Not just a cool town Park City is the most well rounded resort in Utah; good freeriding, great groomed runs, and the best terrain parks in Utah (the world?). Hey at $77 (Brighton is only $55) for a full day ticket, Park City had better give you the goods and they do.
The mountain is not as steep as other nearby resorts, say Snowbird but there is enough to keep you interested. You are going to start out on the Payday lift or the town lift (and so is everyone else) and go from there with a lot of terrain to cover. King Con, Silverlode and Motherlode have some insane mid-level cruising and tree runs. Thaynes and ski team lifts have some really nice black diamond runs. The real gems are located off McConkey’s and Jupiter lifts though. Both of those lifts serve up nice double black runs. One of the drawbacks of Park City is that it is located on the backside of the Wasatch Mountains and does not get the same amount of snow as say Snowbird. This is also nice because all the powder whores head to Snowbird while Park City can have fresh tracks all day. Try riding the Jupiter lift and riding Portuguese gap on a windy day or hiking up to Jupiter peak for pow.
Let us not forget about the parks, the best in the state, heck some of the best in the world. Pick and Shovel (Three Kings lift), Payday (Payday lift) and lower Jonsey’s (Bonanza lift) are great for all levels of riders. Kings Crown (Payday lift) is where Marc Franc, Aaron Bittner, Shaun White and others will be lappin. Upper Jonsey’s is closed to the public (while were there) and where they open up for photos shoots and stuff, pros only. Park City was also home to the Olympic Pipe so you know that thing is tight.
Whether you are on a week long family trip to Park City or sleeping in your car in Park City, check out Park City. Of course, do not forget Sundance a cool experience and the slopes are not too crowded during the event. Discount tickets can be found at Supermarkets in Salt Lake too.
Web: www.parkcitymountain.com
Season: Nov-April
Tickets: All day $77, half day $60
Vertical Drop: 3100’
Top Elevation: 10,000
Terrain Parks: 4
Superpipe: 1
Lifts: 4 high speed sixers, 2 high speed quads, 5 triples, 4 doubles, one magic carpet
Acres: 3,300
Snowfall: 355 inches
Parks: 8-9 out of 10
Terrain: 8 out of 10
Town: 9 out of 10
Vibe: 7-8 out of ten
Who you might see: Marc Franc Montoya, Aaron Bitner, Erin Comstock, Scotty Arnold, Shaun White, Jeremy Jones, Stevie Bell, Drew Fuller, Louie Vito and way more
Events: World Superpipe champs – March 10, Roxy Chicken Jam – March 24
