Shredding mountains: a costly hobby
Ski season is right around the corner and students are preparing to embrace it. For some, ski season has already begun with the opening of six different Utah ski resorts.
“I’m heading down to Park City this weekend with some of my buddies,” Nico Virgi, a sophomore majoring in international business, said. “I wanted to be shredding the whole week of Thanksgiving break, but I have to work the day after Thanksgiving, which sucks. I could have left Tuesday and skied until Monday.”
Many students are season pass holders to their favorite ski resorts. Nico said he has a season pass this year to Park City’s ski resort.
“I just go to Park City because their park is amazing,” Virgi said. “Their jumps and everything are set up so smoothly.”
Getting a season pass can be a better financial decision for those who ski or snowboard regularly.
“I get a season pass to Beaver pretty much every year,” Caden Sorenson, a junior majoring in computer science, said. “I go up to beaver usually about three times a week. So I pay off my pass in three weeks, maybe four.”
Some choose to get season passes to multiple resorts.
“I usually have a pass to both Beaver and Park City, because I usually go to both resorts enough to pay them off,” said Gabe Anderson, a junior majoring in international business.
“This year I only have a pass to Beaver. I don’t think I will have enough time this season to drive down to Park City that often.”
Anderson said he has experienced many different ski resorts, including every Utah resort, and many of the resorts in the surrounding states.
“Utah resorts are my favorite,” he said. “When we get powder here it is the best. The snow is the number one difference between Utah resorts and other states. If we’re not having a good snow day I will go ski Park, but if there is snow I will go ski Powder.”
The quality and consistency of snow can be a pivotal factor in a positive winter sport experience.
“My least favorite resort that I have been to is probably Bogus up in Idaho,” said Sorenson, “The snow is really wet there. It isn’t dry and soft like it is here.”
Some students feel lucky to have such good snow here in utah, and said the snow was a factor in their decision to attend USU.
“I’m from Pittsburgh,” said Virgi, “I have
been skiing since I was about two, so I wanted to come to Utah and ski this amazing snow.”
Factors other than snow can also play a role in a positive resort experience. Anderson said when he goes to a resort he guages its quality by observing factors such as quality of maintenance, line service clutter, as well as the grooming and maintenance of the mountain itself.
“Beaver’s line service is usually cluttered,” said Anderson. “My favorite resort of all time is probably Alta. They have so much terrain and area to ski there – it’s really technical.”
Sorenson said factors such as lift efficiency and park terrain are important to him when considering a resort.
“Quick lifts to the top are important to me. I prefer a fast lift than a slow one. I don’t want to spend my whole day on a lift.” Said Sorenson, “The terrain park is also a big deal. I want to go to a resort with a good park, because I really like getting big air and hitting rails.”
Annually purchasing new equipment is important to some skiers, but can also be pricy.
“I get two new skis every year – park and powder,” said Anderson, “I’m kind of a jerk to my skis. I’m used to the idea of my skis getting beat up in one season, so I need a new pair the next.”
While the price of new skis is traditionally high, Virgi said he became the “Charlie Bucket” of the skiing world, winning a “golden ticket” which entitles him to a free pair of K2 skis every other year for the rest of his life.
“I guess you could just call me Charlie Bucket,” said Virgi. “I bought a pair of skis at Al’s two years ago. So every time you bought a pair of K2 skis they gave you a scratch off ticket, like a golden ticket. I scratched it off and it said ‘you’re the golden ticket winner’ and everything. So I was one of only five to go and compete for free skis for life in Seattle, Washington. It was nuts!”
Nico went on to be the lucky winner of the competition, and receives a pair of free K2 skis every other year. He said he has used those free skis in almost all of the ski resorts in utah, as well as many other out of state resorts.
In spite of the high cost of skiing, many find it provides a variety of positive elements.
“There are so many good things about skiing.” said Michael Gagon, a junior majoring in engineering and former employee of Solitude Ski Resort. “Skiing is great exercise, you get to be outdoors, it can be a good family activity, and it is a fun date idea.”
Some feel that opportunity to ski and snowboard makes the winter cold of Utah more bearable.
“Winter is really cold, but it’s definitely m
y favorite season because of snowboarding and skiing” said Sorenson “That’s how much I like it. It is the closest thing I can do to flying. There is no friction going down the hill. It’s extreme.”
– haileehousley@gmail.com