Though the official calendar may disagree, conventional wisdom says that summer officially kicks off on Memorial Day Weekend, and who are we to disagree? So we're firing up PayDay lift, heating up the Crescent Burger grill, putting the finishing touches on the Adventure Zone, running the alpine coaster cars and making all the other preps needed to open the summer 2012 season tomorrow - just in time for the big weekend!

Here's the deal: we're looking to ring in our best summer season yet on Friday, so we're giving "First Slide" privileges to the first six guests to show up tomorrow with a sign saying why they love summers at Park City Mountain Resort. That's right: our winners get to christen the alpine slide for 2012, and the ride is on us!

PayDay lift and all of our summer activities open to the public at 1 p.m., we'll be out in advance scoping for our sign-carrying winners and giving them the VIP treatment up PayDay and down the slide.

There's no better place to scream this summer than with us in the mountains. Will you be here?

From first chair to last drop, this has been an eventful winter season at Park City Mountain Resort. We rallied the gates of NASTAR, soaked in the sunshine on the deck of Mid-Mountain Lodge, hucked ourselves off huge jumps in 3 Kings terrain park, hiked the peak and raced each other down the tubing lanes at Gorgoza Park.

Our jam packed event schedule included the annual Thriller Snow Dance, Santa Comes Down Town Lift, Torchlight Parade and Easter Celebration for families. The ski racing community came together for Master's Nationals in the Spring and for the first time ever it took THREE DAYS for someone to find one of the coveted Golden Eggs in our all-mountain Easter Egg Hunt.  We celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Winter Games with past, present and future Olympians. When mother nature held out on delivering snow the Northern Ute Tribe performed a blessing ceremony for snow and boy did it DUMP.  The avalanche dog teams welcomed a new member to their ranks by the name of Calamity Jane. Three Utah resorts came together to hold a ten stop rail jam series by the name of Friday Night Jib Fights with the heart-pounding finals taking place at Park City Mountain Resort.  Are you exhausted yet? I am!

 Season Recap Video

While the media may have written off ski resorts claiming they were plagued with a bad snow year, we beg to differ. Those of us that are lucky enough to call Park City home and call this mountain our office rallied together to make the most out of what we have. They say that in the face of adversity your true colors show and I would say our true colors are something to be proud of. The 2011-2012 winter season allowed us to embrace the fundamentals of what makes us Park City Mountain Resort. We are not JUST our ski runs, JUST our snow or our lifts. We are a family creating life-changing moments and memories.

From the team members whose faces our guests may never see, to the liftie you see each morning as you load PayDay chairlift, we are a family working together with the same goal. Park City Mountain Resort's snowmaking and grooming teams worked tirelessly to ensure that the skiing and riding conditions appeared effortless. In fact, Park City's Mayor made a declaration that they be called "The Greatest Snowmakers and Groomers on Earth." They provided the foundation for a season full of wedge turns, hot chocolate mustaches and ear to ear grins. It is from this foundation that the rest of our departments could build upon and form life-long memories.

In season's past we were spoiled with an abundance of snow. This season six inches of fresh snow was an amazing powder day. Whereas in years past waking to six inches we would have hit the snooze button and slept in, this year you found yourself waiting for first chair at 8:30 a.m. with the whole community lined up beside you. The same hoots and hollers could be heard from Jupiter lift and powder covered beards were in abundance. We are all here for the same thing, but at the end of the day the basics are all the matter….sliding on slow with a smile on your face.

To those of you reading this both near and far, we say thank you for your support and dedication and we look forward to sharing many more memories with you!

Photo by Clifford Potter Courtesy of SharpShooter Imaging

As the season comes to a close, I asked a few of my fellow instructors to tell me about the highlight of their season.

Of course, it is only fair that I start. I had many great moments meeting people from all over the country and the world, skiing with lots of people who love Park City, and witnessing skiers explore and discover a sport I love. However, my favorite moment of the season so far has to have been today- skiing with my son, Oscar. The corn cycle was perfect this morning and we went up for a few laps on Bonanza. He has improved so much this season and his smile while he follows me down Homerun seems like it could barely fit under his helmet. He described his first lap through Blaster as a "little bit bumpy”. It was still half frozen. When we were almost at the top of Bonanza, he said, “We can go one more time before we take a break.”

We had our snack at the Summit House and headed down. The second run through Blaster was much better. When we passed the old trees on the Drift Road, he very specifically reminded me that they are my favorite trees. Just a little downhill from Blanche, we were headed for the parking lot and he stopped and asked, “Daddy, can we have a rest on the side of the run?” And then I have to remember he is not yet 4, and it really is a long way.

Gunars Berzins - "I had a level one group and I taught them how to clap hands by clicking their poles. What made me feel best inside the whole year was that at the end of the lesson I asked them if they had any questions, and they all started clapping with their poles."

Martin Drayton - "It was a mother with tears in her eyes, thanking me for giving her daughter a love of snowboarding. The doctors had told her that if she didn't get out and do something active she might not see her 20th birthday. This girl is still snowboarding and still loving it!"

Erin Deleeuw - "My favorite moment this year was every time it was a powder day. I really enjoyed my Saturday Learn to Race kids. They were a bit of a challenge but ended up being really fun and my favorite part of the year. They loved powder days too!"

Ray Stone - "My favorite moment was when I finally got video recording of my backflip. It wasn’t the prettiest one, but it is recorded and has been proven."

Jimmy Jackson - "At the top of Scott’s Bowl with a 5 year old who is a level 7, we stood looking at the run we were going to ski and we had a little chat about life. Then we put the skis on and I watched this little 5 year old go off the cornice and land it. I was so proud."

Jose Maghiar – "Sunday, March 13 when we had a foot and half of powder, my client got rockered powder skis for the first time and we went and skied a chute. It was his first time in this chute and he couldn’t believe he could do it. It was magnificent."

Rob Newey - "In February, a student of mine, an adult, started laughing and giggling like a little kid because it was fun!"

Bill "Frenchy" Loizeux - "I had a very nice couple from Argentina. The lady, who happened to be very pretty, had spent two years in the Israeli army. She appeared very sweet but she was tough as nails and they were beginners but boy did we get them going. It was just a fun day."

Leslie Moss - "I was with a 77 year woman and we were coming down the mountain after skiing. We were doing the high road down above Bonanza and I am taking it easy because, well, she is 77. I look over my shoulder and she has the little chicken wing arms, she’s in a tuck going for it! That was the highlight of my season."

Thanks everyone for sharing. As it happens, there are still a few more days in our season and I am looking forward to skiing with Oscar at least one more time…

These Team Members chosen as the Peak Performers recipients for the month have gone above and beyond in their job descriptions.  They have shown continued guest service and made a difference in the resort and those that work and play here.  We thank them for their service and hard work. Please congratulate the winners as you see them out and around the mountain.

• Food and Beverage – Randy Matthews, Legacy Lodge
• Mountain Operations – Jamin Burchard, Lift Operations
• “The Others” – Charlotte Edwards, Resort Services Office
• Skier Services – Russ Petersen, Mountain Host
• Skier Services – Mike Holliday, Parking

A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE NOMINATED AND CHOSEN FOR THE PEAK PERFORMER AWARD !!

The 2011-2012 season may not go down as a landmark one for snowfall, but we’re giving you a fantastic reason to keep thinking SNOW this spring with special rates available now for Park City Mountain Resort 2012-2013 season passes!

Through May 15, adults (ages 25-64) can book a Mountain Access season pass for as low as $650. Youth (7-12) passes start at just $125, Teen (13-17) passes begin at $165 and children’s (2-6) passes are free. These rates make Park City Mountain Resort season passes some of the most affordably-priced season passes in Utah. They can also be used for the remainder of the Resort’s current season, which closes April 15.

Buying your season pass by the May 15 deadline comes with a few perks as well: automatic 10 percent savings if you add Fast Tracks express lane access or night skiing/riding privileges – part of our “My Pass. My Way.” program that lets you build the right pass at the right price. Underground parking and season-long access to all of the Resort’s summer activities can also be added as pass options.

There really has never been a better time to book your season pass at Park City Mountain Resort. This offer expires May 15. We look forward to seeing you back here in 2012-2013 and remember – it's always a good time to think SNOW!

Park City Mountain Resort is confident it will be open for the 2012-2013 season, but in the unlikely event the pending lawsuit against Talisker Land Holdings results in the Resort closing for the season, the Resort will refund the full season pass price paid by holders of 2012-2013 season passes.  If the Resort is required in the lawsuit to close for a portion of the 2012-2013 season, the Resort will prorate the refund based on the period the Resort is closed.

This past December I was sitting at my computer typing away and suddenly found myself staring out the office window. The sun was shining bright and the sky was nothing but blue. I found my thoughts drifting to how lucky Park City Mountain Resort's front line team members are. Each day they get to call this gorgeous mountain backdrop their office. Granted there are a handful of chilly days when I would much rather snuggle in the warmth of my office, but a majority of days I wish I was outside.

As Interactive Content Editor it is my job to help communicate the ongoings of the mountain to the public, but I realize that I miss out on so many of these special moments each day. Let's face it, I'm glued to my computer monitor much more than I would like to be. So, to make sure YOU weren't missing out on anything, I decided to open up a team member photo contest so these employees could share the amazing scenery they see each day on the job.

The result was much more than beautiful images. I was introduced to the hidden talents of many of Park City Mountain Resort's Team Members.

We have photographers disguised as ski instructors. Filmmakers disguised as groomers. Former and current professional athletes are in our ranks.

I also found some hidden "perks" of the job. Our snowmakers and groomers are witness to both breathtaking sunsets and early morning colorful skies. Ski and Snowboard School instructors are treated to perfectly groomed runs and on some occasions untouched powder. Lift operators, Ski Patrol and Food and Beverage employees load chairlifts before the mountain is open to the public.

Many of these photos have appeared as Photo of the Day or on Park City Mountain Resort's Facebook page, but here a few of my favorites from the season.

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and shared a piece of their joy with me and YOU!

Every run at Park City Mountain Resort is groomed a bit different than the next run. Depending on the trail and fall line, a run will get groomed from one side to the other. Passes up and down are standard and are made on all runs. Some runs get sections of them groomed at a time. What it comes down to is how to groom a run the most efficient way possible while still making the finished product the best for skiers and snowboarders.

Signature Runs

Our signature runs are some of the steeper, more noticeable runs at the resort. A lot of these runs are the steep ones in the front of the resort. All of our signature runs get winched because of how steep they are. We are one of the few resorts that I know of that will groom runs this steep. It takes a lot of time and a very good operator to do these runs but when they are done they stand out and give the guests the opportunity to ski a steep groomed run. Make sure to check the trail report in the mornings to see what signature runs were groomed that night!

Adventure Alleys

The adventure alleys are some of the most popular trials for both kids and adults at the resort. Every time we groom them it is a challenge because of how beat up they are from so much use! We have 5 adventure trails and when it snows, we try to groom them at least once a week. This year has been a bit tricky because of the lack of natural snow. You really need a lot of snow to be able to groom the adventure trails out. We have a special cat for a few of these trails too. This cat is a small cat, almost half the size of a normal cat. With the small cat we are able to shove it down in some of the tight spots of these trails. Some nights it gets pretty interesting in there. You are in the middle of the woods, in deep snow, in a tiny cat. It is fun, scary, and frustrating all at the same time. If you want to ski the adventure trails when they are groomed make sure you check the trail report and get out there ASAP for them because by late that day they will not looked groomed due to so much use!

Terrain Parks

PCMR’s Terrain Park department is separate from our trail grooming department. Terrain Parks has their own department, manager, snowcats, and team members. Terrain Parks and Grooming do work with each other and help each other out from time to time but for the majority of the year the departments are both doing their own things separate from each other.

Terrain Park Grooming also has their own fleet of cats. Terrain park cats have a few extra options usually built in to help make jumps and move features easier. These extra options include forks built into the blade to pick up and move features and more movement in the blade and tiller to help reach up high or down low to groom jumps and landings. Our Terrain Parks departments also has the Zaugg halfpipe cutter. This device is on the front of a cat and is used to go up and down the halfpipe to groom out the walls of the Eagle superpipe.

Scary Stuff, Risks and Conditions

There are many times we go out to groom in crazy conditions or we have to go somewhere that gets a little scary. One place that is known to be a bit scary is going out the West Face road to get to the top of Jupiter Lift. This is a narrow cat track that always gets drifted in with snow. Most times the cat track is gone and you have to “cut the road in” just so you can travel on it.

 

I don't talk about a lot of terrain park happenings on this blog, but this event is way too much fun not to highlight. This season we have partnered up with Snowbasin and Brighton to host the biggest rail jam series in Utah with ten stops! It all culminates at Park City Mountain Resort this Friday, March 30th. Come on out and support your local rippers as they battle it out for the top spot and bragging rights as best rail slayer in Utah! For more info head on over to irideparkcity.tv.

The event kicks off at 5:30 in front of Cobra Dogs.

I’m not a Billy goat!” shouted Susie with her group of new ski friends and her instructor Georgia when they all looked over the edge of a cornice. They all laughed and shouted encouragement. It was a great moment when Susie, who no one could any longer mistake for a Billy goat, decided she could ski that little bowl and dropped over the cornice. I think I have since heard almost all of the women who were in that group shout the “not a Billy goat” line at some crux moment since then. It became an old joke within that group to express a bit of outrage and then shrug it. It is part of the special dynamic that happens when a group of women come together for a lesson.

In our continued effort to create a safe, positive and non-intimidating group for women to learn new skills, the Ladies Club was formed. Led by Park City Mountain Resort's own female pro instructors, this group will teach you more than just a few tricks to improve your skills. The Ladies Club is a two hour, ski only lesson, grouped by ability. The group dynamic instills confidence, friendship and the instructor just might reveal a few tips to have you navigating the mountain like a local.

Dottie Beck who is a legendary Park City Mountain Resort instructor says, “A group of women can often relate to each other’s experiences and create an amazingly supportive atmosphere.” She explained to me that women will often avoid certain parts of skiing like skiing the moguls under the lift out of self-consciousness. But in one of Dottie’s all-women groups, they seek it out. Dottie often finds that, with a little encouragement, the inner “Wildwoman” emerges!

If you want to indulge your inner "Wildwoman" you can join the Ladies Club this Spring. Ladies Club is offered Saturday - Tuesday from March 10, 2012 to April 3, 2012. Reservations recommended, but not always required. *No beginner skiers please.

Photo: Jacob Hinton

Some people refer to groomers and snowmakers as a different breed of person/employee. They say we must be crazy to work those hours and be out at night all alone in a snowcat. But to be honest, almost everyone that grooms or makes snow loves what they do and doesn't mind the hours or shifts at all. Snowmaking can be quite tiring and long; especially with long hours on cold nights. The few snowmakers that come over to grooming mid-season really enjoy the warmth and comfort of a snowcat all night. Being in a snowcat all night is not boring or lonely as some may think. We have CD/MP3 players to play music. We have CB radios so we can be in contact with all the other snowcat operators. Late at night the groomers tend to get a bit “free” on the radios but it is all in good fun and it keeps the spirits up and vibe happy.

The graveyard crew (midnight – 9:30 a.m. shift) is made up of a crew of younger guys, most under the age of 30. A lot of them have come back year after year and they are all friends. Any new crew members seem to fit right in with them and they all get along great and are always smiling and joking with each other; even at 9:00 a.m. after a 10+ hour shift.

A lot of the graveyard guys are also die hard skiers and snowboarders. On nice days and powder days they all have their gear with them and are ready to get out and get first tracks on the stuff they groomed or the fresh powder. That's the beauty of working the graveyard shift...you'll never miss a powder day.

A snow day 1 of Masters - March 19, 2012. p. Eric Hoffman

From March 18th to 24th Park City Mountain Resort has the honor of hosting the 2012 USSA Alpine Masters National Championships.  Ski racers may qualify as Masters Athletes beginning at 21 years of age, and some of the competitors at this event will be well into their eighties. These skiers are all top notch – having qualified for the National Championships through many other events during the season – and fly down the hill, regardless of age. Events at the Masters National Championships cover nearly the entire gamut of alpine ski racing – there will be super giant slalom, giant slalom, and slalom events, as well as race format known as a “super combined.” A super combined event consists of one run of super giant slalom and one run of slalom per competitor.  This unique format combines a speed event and a technical event back-to-back, forcing racers to show proficiency in different skill areas.  

We are lucky to host close to 240 racers for each of the five days, which will create some hustle and bustle in our race arenas. For the first time all year we will run two separate races at PCMR on the 22nd and 23rd: one on PayDay and one at Eagle Race Arena. We challenge you to find the sweet spot where you can view both races at once.

Finally, on behalf of the entire Race Department we would like to thank everyone that has supported us or participated in our races throughout this season. We encourage everyone to come out and take a few more runs at NASTAR before it is too late (keep your fingers crossed for snow, or at least highs below 60). Thanks for racing!

Guest Post by Tim Slocum

Helly Hansen's Big Mountain Battle is a family-friendly competition that tests not only your skiing ability but your knowledge of Park City Mountain Resort's terrain. This competition is made up of mandatory chairlifts you must ride, mandatory runs you must ski from the top to the bottom, and checkpoints that you must find and pass within five feet of (the length of a ski pole). Keeping you honest is a Flaik GPS device strapped to your ankle.  

The Big Mountain Battle is divided into two divisions. The intermediate division focuses more on the resort's blue terrain and adventure alleys. The advanced division features two of Park City Mountain Resort's classic hikes as well as some of our steepest groomers. This division is sure to challenge even the most die-hard skiers and riders.
 
At the end of the day, each team will receive a print out from the GPS device which shows the details of your team's performance including top speed. The winners from both divisions will receive $2,000 in H/H merchandise as well as the knowledge that they are the most radical duo on the mountain!  There will be prizes for fastest timed hike and plenty of others just for participating, not to mention a free H/H baselayer top just for participating.  

Anyone interested in participating in this event can visit http://bigmountainbattle.com/Venues/park-city/  There is a maximum number of participants, so don't wait until the last minute to register!

Who doesn't love waking up to a Powder Alert?! Monday, March 19, powder alert subscribers awoke to an email letting us know that Park City Mountain Resort received 14 inches in the past 24 hours and 20 inches in the past 48 hours. I love to press the snooze button, but I sure jumped out of bed!

If you made your way out today, you will probably agree that it was the best day of the season. Light fluffy powder and face shots for days. Jupiter opened early and it seemed everyone on the mountain was getting their share. Did you get yours? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Our mountain patrol team continues to train all season long. Recently our Human Resources Recruiter Steve Mullins volunteered himself to be buried and rescued as part of a Wasatch Backcountry Level "A" Rescue Test. All dog teams take their "A" test at other resorts, rather than their own. In this video Park City Mountain Resort is host to Jessie Martin and her dog Izzy from Deer Valley Resort.

Enjoy this unique look into how the dog teams search and rescue during a simulated and controlled avalanche event. We're sure you'll agree it is truly astonishing and we are thankful for our mountain patrol teams and all that they do to provide a great experience for us and our guests.

Filmed by: Sean Cronin and Steve Mullins

Gluten-Free Pizza Crust at Legacy Café and the Summit House

On any given day at the resort, we encounter people from all walks of life. Whether you are from 300 or 3000 miles away, our culinary team does our best to offer something for everyone.  One thing we focused on this season, is guaranteeing that our gluten free guests have options at all of our dining outlets.   

Even just a few years ago, this would have been a daunting task – a gluten free hamburger bun that didn’t fall apart and tastes good? Yeah right.  Luckily the people have spoken and suppliers have listened.  Many companies have full gluten free lines with a variety of products that are not only great quality, but they taste good too.

One of our best selling items at the resort is a bowl of our homemade soup. This year we didn’t want our gluten free guests to miss out, so we made it a priority to make every soup without gluten.  After tweaking recipes here and there, we can proudly say every soup is gluten free.  

When our local bread supplier partnered with New Grains gluten free bakery out of Provo, Utah we immediately started taste testing and loved what we found.  We now offer gluten free sliced multi grain and sourdough bread at every outlet.  We also sell New Grains brownie cookies and coconut macaroons at Kristi’s Coffee Café.  Local, gluten free, and delicious. That’s a combination everyone can love.

Next time you are the resort check out some of the additional gluten free products we carry:

• Gluten free hamburger buns & hot dog buns at every outlet
• Gluten free pizza crust at Legacy Café and the Summit House 
• Gluten free pasta at Legacy Café
• Gluten free muffins at Kristi’s Café
• Gluten free beer (yeah!) is available at Mid-Mountain, Summit House, Snow Hut, Legacy Café and Legends Bar & Grill 
• Corn tortillas available at Legends Bar & Grill, Legacy Café and the Summit House.

Keep these things in mind when ordering gluten free:

Always ask.  If you are not sure if we have a gluten free product, just ask one of our team members. We might surprise you. 

Be Patient.  It may take a few extra minutes for our team members to make your plate with a gluten free item.

Be careful.  We do not have a gluten free kitchen at the resort.  We do our best to mitigate any interaction with a gluten free product with gluten, but no guarantees.  For some people, gluten free is a lifestyle choice and a few wheat crumbs won’t hurt, but for others a few crumbs are a serious issue. 

Make suggestions.  Odds are, you have a favorite gluten free product or two and others will benefit from your trial and error.  We are always willing to look into your suggestions and see if we can carry your recommendation. 

These Team Members chosen as the Peak Performers recipients for the month have gone above and beyond in their job descriptions.  They have shown continued guest service and made a difference in the resort and those that work and play here.  We thank them for their service and hard work. Please congratulate the winners as you see them out and around the mountain.

• Mountain Patrol - Mark Sauer
• Information Technology - Craig Casey
• Food & Beverage - Josh Dye - Warehouse
• Alpine Coaster/ Zip Line - Justin Losee
• Vehicle Maintenance - Magnus Irving

A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE NOMINATED AND CHOSEN FOR THE PEAK PERFORMER AWARD !!

YES..BUT MAYBE I SHOULD DEBUNK A FEW MYTHS FIRST!

Snowboarders do occasionally take showers, maybe only once a week but it's a start right? Some snowboarders have even gone to college and I have even heard whispers of some snowboarders holding down professional jobs. There are many myths that snowboarders are non-conforming misfits out for themselves with no consideration for others. This may have been true twenty years ago, but it is no longer this way. Your kid should definitely learn to snowboard and so should you and your friends. Innovations in snowboard equipment has made it a lot easier and safer. You might not be the next olympic champion but I guarantee you will have a lot of fun and maybe pick up a sport that you can enjoy for the rest of your life!

The advantage of taking snowboard lessons is that it has a much shorter learning curve than skiing, but the first two days can be quite challenging. However, with a trained instructor you can make those first few days fun as well. I relate learning to snowboard to learning to ride a bicycle. You have those first few days where the bike is wobbly and your training wheels are helping you stay upright and you may even have the occasional fall, but you get back up on that bike and try again. Once you learn to snowboard and are able to turn left and right, you can take a long break and pick it up again quite easily. Just like "riding a bike".

If you are planning on learning on how to snowboard I strongly suggest that you give it a full two to three days of lessons to get over that learning hump. Then the whole mountain is your oyster! Some people pick up snowbaording quicker than others, but giving yourself time really is the way to go. During the many seasons that I have worked in the snowsports industry, I have seen a great deal of teaching techniques and one thing I find very frustrating is when friends teach friends. I overhear "just do this it's easy" and the person is teaching the wrong thing and is totally clueless! We call it the blind leading the blind. I've seen husbands trying to teach their wives without any success and I can only imagine the silent ride home in the car! When it comes to teaching, leave it to the professionals and step away from the snowboarder. Your wife, your friends, your loved ones will thank you.

I hear people say "some snowboarders are out of control." Yes this is true, but so are some skiers. If your child takes a lesson, they will be introduced to the skier's responsiblity code and learn how to share the mountain safely with others. They will learn which terrain is suitable for their skill level and how to navigate the mountain succesfully.
 
If you are still feeling skeptical about letting your kids learn to snowboard, let me share a few success stories from long term participants of Park City Mountain Resort's snowboard school.

"My fear of learning to snowboard has turned into a fear of not making it out to hit the slopes – thanks to world-class coaching by Park City Mountain Resort snowboard school.  Even an hour of their guidance does wonders for my progress – in form and in confidence!" - Molly

"I'll be coming back to PCMR for lessons for ONE reason...in ONE word...that's MARTIN!!!   I could find mountains and snow elsewhere, but I could never find another instructor like MARTIN!  He exudes knowledge, patience, kindness and sheer positive energy!  I will be planning my next trip around HIS schedule!"

"We go back to PCMR for lessons because they make it fun and we (myself and my 2 boys 11 and 3) actually get better with every lesson we take! And since we always get the same instructor, he knows where we started from!! Could not say enough good things about you guys!"

At age ten my parents attached my feet to a pair of skis, pointed me in the direction of a ski instructor and then sprinted off to the tubing hill. As a beginner, I learned that one of the most intimidating aspects of the sport was getting on and off of the ski lift.

Today, as an experienced skier and snowboarder, as well as a lift operator at Park City Mountain Resort, I realize that riding a chairlift is not nearly as difficult as I first thought it was. Watching hundreds of people get onto the lift every day, I’ve seen just about every simple mistake that can be made while loading (getting onto) or unloading (getting off of) the chair. So here are some simple tips to keep in mind in order to have a successful ride on a chairlift.

Loading the chair:

• If you think you need the chair slowed at the bottom or top, feel free to ask the lift operator. The lift operator might even ask if you need a “slow load” or “slow unload”, this basically means that they will slow the chair down when you are loading or unloading from it.
• Line up together at the red line.
• Make sure your pole straps are off your wrists.
• As the chair approaches, look over your outside should and grab the bar or backrest.
• When the chair touches the back of your legs, just sit down.
• Sit all the way back in the chair and make sure young kids know how to use their hands to push their rear ends to the back of the chair.

Unloading the chair:

• Stand up when your feet are on the ground. You want to stand up when your feet are on the flat snow, this way you are ready for the downward slope that follows.
• Do not try to slow down or stop as soon as you push away from the chair. You want to move away from the chair after getting off, this means keeping your skis straight and keeping your back foot on the snowboard (don't try to skate away from the chair).

Before and during the ride:

• As you approach the lift look for signs. You will find many signs with tips, general rules, and warnings about the ability level of the lift or the runs that it leads to.
• Watch the people in the line in front of you as you approach the chair. By doing this you can see how the more experienced riders load the chair, and then imitate their actions.
• Communicate with the lift operator (or lifty). If you are nervous, tell the lifty. If you think you need assistance, tell the lifty. If you just don't know exactly what to do, ask the lifty. 
• If the chairlift has a bar, don't be afraid to use it.

As Lift Operators at PCMR, our top priority is your safety while riding the chairlift. We also want you to feel comfortable with your riding experience, so keep these tips in mind and enjoy the ride.

Now, by no means will I say operating a snowcat is easy, but let’s just say it is not as hard as a lot of people may think. Getting into a cat and just “driving”, is not hard at all. Being able to “operate” a cat and be efficient, pay attention to detail, and leave a good product takes time and skill to accomplish. There is a lot more than just putting your blade and tiller down and driving around all the trails. Groomers have intricate patterns to follow, different methods to groom steep trails vs flat runs, different techniques for different snow, and so on. All of this takes time and practice to master.

Someone that is brand new to the grooming team at Park City Mountain Resort is put through a decent amount of training; a majority of which is hands on. Most rookie operators have some sort of machine experience before coming in. This usually works out to their advantage because they are already comfortable in equipment. Another big factor that helps make a good groomer is if they ski or snowboard. If someone is out skiing or boarding everyday, they know what a trail or grooming should look like. When they jump in a cat this transfers over and they know what they should be leaving as far as a good product goes.

The tiller of a snowcat. The grey section with the teeth in it is the cutting bar. That rotates at a very high rate of speed and chops up the snow. The Yellow sections are the mats that smooth the snow out after it has been chopped up and leave a nice corduroy finish.

What Goes Into Grooming a Trail

Besides the comforts of heated seats and mp3 players there is a lot that goes into operating a snowcat to make precise, groomed runs. The two main parts of a snowcat are the blade and tiller. The blade is in the front of the cat. and is controlled by a joystick inside the cat. The blade is used to push snow, flatten bumps, move snow, fill in holes, and anything else that it takes to make a trail level and smooth. As the cat moves along and the blade flattens out the snow, the tracks then run it over and chew it up a bit more. On the back end of the snowcat there is the tiller. The tiller chops the snow up even more and then flattens it out into a nice “corduroy” finish. The tiller has a rotating cutter bar that spins at a very high rate of speed. This chews up the snow into a fine and soft powder. Once the snow passes through the cutting bar it is made smooth by the tiller mats into a “corduroy” finish.

As you can see in the photos, there are computers and many more gadgets inside a snowcat. I've given you the basics of how to operate a snowcat, but as any groomer will tell you, there are hundreds of way to adjust settings to get the corduroy just right!

The joystick for blade operation as well as tiller functions. Touch screen computer allows you to go through many useful functions. Very helpful for mechanics. An array of gauges and toggle switches which show/do everything from temperature to horn to RPM’s.

You may have seen some additions to our on-mountain restroom facilities in the past month. We have posted "Your Responsibility Code" in many of the restrooms. While it may be intuitive for most of us to follow the basic safety rules, its always a good idea to give yourself a refresher on the rules of the mountain. An old motto is "safety, fun and learning." If safety comes first, fun and learning are sure to follow. So make a promise to yourself to follow the responsibility code and share it with others - this is the best recipe for a great day on the mountain.

Your Responsibility Code:

1. Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
3. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
4. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
5. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

KNOW THE CODE. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
This is a partial list. Be safety conscious. Officially endorsed by:
NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION.

Our website features a whole section on safety. Be sure to review this section for helpful tips and other information.

Live the Code - Watch the Video!