Armed with a pair of thrifted junior rental Völkl skis, boots weathered with years of abuse from equally negligent seven-year-olds, and a haphazardly assembled ski kit that only a protective mother could concoct, I took to the bunny hill at Park City Mountain, Utah, for my first season of ski school. Only two runs down “Turtle Trail” after what seemed like countless drills of pizza and french fries, my tiny fingers already freezing together and my equally bitter toes struggling to find any warmth in the December shade, it was clear that I was hooked and there wasn’t any turning back.
Years later, I still return to the Park City slopes every season. Despite the concern of rising pass prices shared across the Wasatch mountains, I find it’s still worth it to ride one of Utah’s most versatile mountains. With an average snowfall of 355 inches spread over a vast 7,300 acres and operating with 40 lifts giving access to over 300 trails, USA’s largest lift-accessed resort offers plenty of exciting terrain. From charging over rugged cliffs under the towering Jupiter Peak to ripping corduroy on the infinite groomed trails at Canyons Village to absolutely greasing the iconic green rails of Three Kings, Park City offers something for everybody. Countless times, I’ve created lasting memories with friends, submerging myself through powder stashes in the aspens or taking a good slam on the hard pack trying to land a new rail trick only to have the locals hype me up with a good hollering “Yeeeeeeeeeeew!” which is enough motivation to slap the sticks on to try one more time (I didn’t land it the next time either, but I digress).
It isn’t just another ski resort, it’s built on a community. It’s easy to see the “tourist town” side of Park City with its countless amenities that bring in people from across the world to ski and experience mountain living. What gets overlooked is at its core, locals and their culture are what make the resort what it is. Park City started as a mining town, scouring the hills for silver and zinc. The small, tight-knit communities formed back in the late 1800s have survived and shaped the town we know today and local pride is as strong as ever. The stories recounted of a slushy bluebird day wouldn’t be the same without following the locals to a Davanza’s pizza run on Main Street to finish it off. Years of the Park City holiday, Gaper Day, exists only because of the local hype year after year. If there’s one thing that makes a ski town, it’s the people.
Skiers will defend their home mountain to the last stand. It’s especially true of local Utahns, and when it comes to Park City locals, I only hear stories of love and appreciation for the town and the slopes that they grew up with. My subpar high school report cards and attendance records are testament enough that I’d rather be skiing than doing anything else. I’m blessed that I can enjoy the outdoors in one of the more visually spectacular parts of Utah, be a part of the Park City skiing community, and continue to rip down the tried and true runs of my home mountain.
