Park City ski pioneer dies

PARK CITY — Nick Badami, the former owner of Park City Mountain Resort and a key figure in bringing the 2002 Olympics to Utah, has died. He was 87.

Badami died Wednesday at his home in Tucson, Ariz., of undisclosed causes, the resort said.

Badami bought the Park City Ski Area in 1975 and built it into one of the most prominent resorts in North America. He is credited with adding the first snow guns at Park City, allowing the resort to host World Cup Alpine races in November instead of waiting for the natural snowpack to build.

The resort was the site of the 2002 Olympic giant slalom and snowboarding events.

"Nick Badami's contribution to our organization and sports is immeasurable," said Bill Marolt, president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.

Badami also served in various leadership positions with U.S. skiing's governing body, which moved its headquarters to Park City in 1988 when it was known as U.S. Skiing.

Badami was chairman of the U.S. Skiing Board from 1994-98.