What’s New in Utah for the 2013-14 Winter Season
Collectives and co-ops are hot on Utah’s slopes this season. Our resorts are banding together like never before to offer better deals for season passholders with perks like free ski days and discounted lodging to entice you to get away. Learn more about these initiatives and resort updates for the 2013—14 season.
Alta
This season Alta joins the Mountain Collective, an alliance of amazing resorts around the world. Become a member and receive two tickets to each member resort, half off subsequent tickets, and discounted lodging. In lodging, The Rustler Lodge remodeled for this season and features new guest rooms with gas fireplaces, new indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, and spa amenities. To promote these and other base lodging facilities Alta is hosting a Sleep-Around from December 5-8 that includes: a night at three of Alta’s five lodges, breakfast on-site with lunch and dinner on-mountain, three days of lift tickets, daily demo ski rentals, and a mountain portrait for one price. alta.com
Brighton
Brighton and Solitude will join forces to offer the Big Cottonwood Pass, an unlimited season pass with no blackout dates for the two resorts. Upgrades to the SolBright Trail make traveling between the resorts easier than ever. Brighton will implement a hands-free RFID ticket system like Solitude’s so passholders can access chairlift entry gates at both resorts the same way. Grete Elliassen, a professional freeskier, will work with Brighton, Burton, and Red Bull to design Utah’s first girls-only terrain park. brightonresort.com
Canyons Resort
Recently purchased by Vail Resorts, Canyons is now part of the Epic Pass. For $709 the Epic Pass gives adults unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton, Arapahoe Basin, and Eldora, and includes 5 days at Verbier, Switzerland and 5 consecutive days at Arlberg, Austria. If holiday blackouts aren’t a problem, pay just $549 for an adult Epic Pass. thecanyons.com
Deer Valley
Deer Valley joins the Best Pass Benefit in the Wasatch to offer passholders free tickets to other participating resorts: Alta, PCMR, and Snowbird. A new beginner’s ski run on Little Baldy Mountain called “Gnat’s Eye” will open this season, and the resort cut a new hiking trail on Flagstaff Mountain for summer 2014. The resort is also spending $4.5 million to upgrade snowmaking guns, purchasing two more ultra-low energy efficient SnowLogic tower guns, and 24 new EPA-approved Ski-Doo mountain snowmobiles. deervalley.com
Park City Mountain Resort
PCMR’s biggest news for 2013 is their participation in the new Best Pass Benefit in the Wasatch program. Buy a qualifying PCMR pass and receive three days at three other participating resorts: Deer Valley, Alta, and Snowbird. The passes are valid seven days a week, but holiday blackout days apply. 2013 also marks Park City’s 50 Anniversary. They will be celebrating accordingly with fun events all season long. Finally, their new Teen Select instruction program, exclusively for ages 15-17, offers small group instruction with flexible itineraries dependent on the groups needs. parkcitymountain.com
Powder Mountain
New management brings some healthy alternatives to the typical ski cuisine like the fresh Kale and Grapefruit Salad, among other tasty offerings. powdermountain.com
Snowbasin
Snowbasin joins the Powder Alliance this season as the only Utah member resort. Joining the Powder Alliance gives you three days of skiing at 12 resorts, discounted lodging, buddy passes, and rentals. They’re also partnering with Rossignol to become a Rossi Experience Center to offer better rentals, and teaming up with Burton to promote snowboarding for little ones with a kids’ park and specific lessons. Building a fourth well to improve snowmaking will help the resort open more terrain earlier in the season. snowbasin.com
Snowbird
Snowbird’s biggest announcement is replacing Gad 2’s old chair with a high-speed quad. They’re also expanding their Cat Skiing for Nature program and joining the Mountain Collective. Snowbird also joins the Best Pass Benefit in the Wasatch to offer season passholders free tickets to other resorts. A new program for out-of-towners allows guests of Alta and Snowbird to receive half-off lift tickets and free valet within 24 hours of arrival by plane. More details on that program will be available soon. snowbird.com
Solitude
Solitude is rebuilding the SolBright Trail above the Twin Lakes Reservoir to allow for intermediate skiers and boarders to move easily between Brighton and Solitude. The Big Cottonwood unlimited pass for both resorts will be $999. skisolitude.com
