From Deseret News archives:
Utah resorts just can't be beat for skiing, boarding and burgers
My question is: Why did it take so long?
Without a doubt, Utah has the best snow, the best mountains and the some of the best slope-side hamburgers available anywhere. Its mountains are groomed, its lift lines short, its runs are long and, best of all, its snow is soft.
Think soft snow isn't something skiers like? Try falling on a block of ice sometime. That's what it's like at some resorts I've skied outside of Utah.
Consider this, too, even at its worst, Utah gets more snow than eastern areas and many out here in the West. In the 2007-08 season, Alta got 404 inches. This year it got 702 inches. A good year in the East is 300 to 350 inches.
And when it comes to convenience, there's nowhere in the world where skiing is more convenient. A group of five, of which I was one, skied 11 of Utah's 13 resorts in a single day, all during daylight hours.
It's taken skiers a long time, though, to appreciate convenience and snow.
Leading the charge has been the staff at Ski Utah, most recently led by past-president Kip Pitou and now president Nathan Rafferty. Where others have shown doubt, Ski Utah has shown nothing but optimism and hard work.
All made harder, by the way, because the past administration never grasped the importance of tourism and, in particular, Utah skiing. Utah's tourism budget was the lowest, by more than half, of any of its neighboring states.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. recognized the error of the past governor and tripled the budget through the Utah Office of Tourism and the results are clear.
Utah resorts continue to draw record crowds, as for the first time skiing and snowboarding topped the $1 billion mark in contributions to the economy.
Congratulations are definitely in order here.
Looking back, though, to the 1955-56 ski season, only 121,000 passes were sold. It wasn't until 1971-72 Utah hit the million mark and nine years later the 2 million mark. Utah hit a record 4 million in 2005-06 and upped that to 4.25 million last season.
I can't count the number of times I've ridden a lift with visiting skiers and listened to them rave about Utah snow.
Or how many times I've heard the comment from a first-time visitor promising that now they've discovered Utah skiing, "I'll be back."
I've learned, though, it's hard to pry skiers away from runs and restaurants they're familiar with and get them to come to Utah.
It takes a lot of hard work, and repeating over and over again, that Utah does, indeed, have the Greatest Snow on Earth.
E-mail: grass@desnews.com
Recent comments
Utah Skiing is the Bomb!!!!!
Anonymous | June 19, 2008 at 6:02 p.m.
The snow is unbeatable. Props Utah!!
SLC'er | June 19, 2008 at 12:41 a.m.
- Sports briefs 10:55 p.m.
- Tavernari has matured 10:54 p.m.
- Williams plays despite back and calf... 10:45 p.m.
- Wade honored to join 'Air Jordan' 10:25 p.m.
- PTSD lingers for war veterans 10:25 p.m.
- Veterans event on chopping block? 10:24 p.m.
- Pride Center lauds service from gays 10:20 p.m.
- Historic Armistice Day in Paris 10:19 p.m.
- Obama honors veterans at Arlington 10:17 p.m.
- Hezbollah says Obama shows bias 10:17 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Gays get Mormon support in SLC
- House passes health care bill
285 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
241 - TCU showdown has big implications
193 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
108 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
100
totally agree with other reviews!! don't waste your time or money! worst...
Worked all night so i didn't see the game, but reading the quotes in the...
And Hezbollah doesn't show bias against Israel? Go figure...
You dipped the chip, you took a bite, and you dipped again!
Sorry if you only have 10 people reading your blog. There may be more than u...
why does everyone think that the weather will effect SJ so badly and SS will...
thanks for trying to explain something complicated in a way that most people...
Here we go boys Bingham vs alta What a game i want to call it the best...
Much respect Davis u have a great squad. Let's go boys Davis will be ready we...
Everyone knows it's an LDS owned venture, anyone who does not simply is...
