Hi Lianne,
I have been going to the Canyons Resort for the last 4 years to visit my son James who has been working at the Canyons for the last 5 seasons as a NZSIA 1, PSIA Level 111 Certified Ski Instructor. Not only do I have quality time with James, but get the best skiing vacation one could have, with consistently good skiing conditions, and experiencing what we all go there for “ POWDER’’.
Utah logo is, ‘’The Greatest Snow On Earth’’, it certainly lives up to its name and gets a average snow fall of 355 inch (889 cm).Last year I was skiing powder up to my waist, infact Utah had a astounding snowfall average during the 07/08 season, and snowed at an almost unheard of 700inch for the year. This year during mid January when I arrived it hadn’t snowed for 3 weeks, the locals were saying the skiing was average. Despite the lack of snow there was still really good cover and the conditions were good, hard pack dry snow and no ice to be found. The snow came and in 2 days we had 18 inch (46cm) of awesome Utah light dry fluffy snow.
The Canyons is so large that you will find a bewildering amount of varied terrain to explore, having James as my guide on a powder day is an awesome experience, as he just knows where to find fresh untracks. From my trusty Volkl P60, I was given a pair of Blizzard Magnum 87 side cut, 176cm to try in the powder. Well what fun, I was floating effortlessly through trees and open bowls.
It fascinates me that I have never lost a day skiing due to bad weather, its almost unheard of for the mountain to close, even when it snows the light and visibility is fine to ski with out being a white out and windy. Even when it’s minus 10 C it not freezing to ski, it’s a dry cold, if you are well geared up with warm woolen Icebreaker Thermals/jerseys you don’t feel the cold.Infact buy the hand and feet warmers that adds a lot of comfort.
I am still discovering new terrain , after 4 years it’s a field that caters to people of all standards that love to ski and snowboard, with 3700 acres (1500 hectares) of widely –varied terrain,163 trails, 17 lifts, 8 mountains, 6 natural half pipes, 5 bowls, and 2 cutting-edge terrain parks. It blew me away when I first went there, no wonder its Utah’s largest single ski/snowboard resort and one of the 5th largest in the U.S.
With recent takeover from Talisker private real-estate development and investment company, the Canyons Resort has exciting times ahead with major project. Already it has 6 World-Class condo-Hotel ski in/ski out accommodation all with in the Canyon Resort Village and more to come even with the possibility of having an 18 whole golf coarse to be added to the resort village. The trail map shows in the near future an extra 250 acres of new terrain that will be opened and will give you some great intermiadiate and advance runs.
I was there for the 2 weeks during the Sundance Film Festival,if you are a film buff great time to go to see a variety of interesting films and see film stars, but a great time also to be on the mountain skiing as its relatively quite. .
When I get a Groomed trail map each day, I study it while I go up on The Flight of the Canyons Condola, which take you to the mid mountain area, the hub of the Canyons where the ski school is, beginners and intermediate ski runs, the start of taking you to other lifts and the Red Pine Lodge a great place to meet and have lunch. James goes to work and I hit the slopes away from the mid-mountain area and find those nice open pristine groomed corduroy runs. It’s like first tracks all morning and my favourite runs are Cloud 9, Sidewinder, Chicane off the Tombstone Express. I literally have these runs to myself and after a few repeats I would have skied over 10,400 vertical feet (3170 m). A quick Starbucks coffee at the Sun Lodge over towards Super Condor and again ski the groomed trails like Upper Boa, Aplande and Kestrel all really nice chutes long and wide with grippy dry snow.
At mid-day I meet up with James at the Red Pine Lodge which offers a selection of excellent food, from soups, gourmet Pizza, Angus Beef burgers, sandwiches and salads. Love how all your chutneys, sauces, mustards, mayonnaise, are free. On my Last day James treated his father at the Lookout Cabin, great location and incredible views of the Wasatch Range, with equally nice sit down table served award winning menu. It’s affordably priced and has an impressive wine list. A glass of Oregon Pinot Noir went down nicely with my Prime Cut tender fillet of Angus meat.
Some great runs can be had over at Dreamscape, Dreamcatcher and around here is The Colony, an award winning, private, gated community that is home to the largest ski-in/ski-out home sites in North America. These million dollar log cabin houses are amazing nestled amongst the magnificent forest of aspen and fir and is in the Canyon Ski Resort area. Going back to home base the Harmony trail lives unto its name it’s long, cruzy, wide easy run, skiing past all those lovely Colony Houses, only hoping that you might get an invitation!!
After a full day on the mountain you can ski right along side the local hangout, Smokies Bar and Grill. Has a great atmosphere, friendly staff, good music and a menu that wets your appetite. Try the spicy chicken wings with a pitcher (jug) of local Cutthroat Ale, gets the taste bud going and thirst!!
This sets you up for a great après night out, Park City historic old mining town, has upto 100 bars, nightclubs and Restaurant along the Main Street. There is something for everyone, endless choice. The Restaurant I always enjoy for value and a fantastic wine list is Bangkok Thai on Main. Lots of good Sushi Bar and Grill, and fun bars to go to is Wasatch Brew Pub or Bistro 412 upstairs. Later kick your heals up at Cisero’s Club, great atmosphere. Free transport runs to 12, otherwise plenty of taxi around later to get home.
I left on Waitangi Day, James had a Kiwi Party and it was snowing. It snowed for 3 days, had over 50 inch, typical when you are leaving.
To summaries my time at The Canyons, it is a ski destination made easy, closer than you think, and has all the makings of a perfect hassle free vacation that lies within a mere 30-minutes drive from Salt Lake City International Airport. The hardest thing about the experience is LEAVING.
Regards, Willie K.
Yes, you get 7 days free skiing at The Canyons ski resort in Park City, Utah…..see details below: