Mark your calendars, registration for the Utah Summer Games opens on March 1! The Utah Summer Games is an Olympic-style sports festival that takes place June 9–27 and is for athletes of all ages and abilities that reside in Utah. For the past 25 years, this event has taken place in Cedar City, Utah with an average total of 9,600 participants, 50,000 spectators and 1,000 volunteers in attendance each year. In conjunction with the 25th anniversary, USG announced they will be hosting the State Games of the West in 2010. The event will be held at the same time…
Author: Jenny Willden
Jenny Willden
Jenny Willden is the Managing Editor of Outdoor Sports Guide and a self-proclaimed gear and grammar nut. She's a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and the Adventure Travel Trade Association. A lover of adventure and travel, she's happiest when riding horses or snowboarding in Utah’s mountains. Follow Jenny’s exploits on Twitter @jennywillden or Instagram @jlwillden.
Celebrate the sport of cycling in Moab from March 13–16. Enjoy four days of road cycling and events in Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and the Colorado River Corridor. Demo high end bikes, hear great speakers, enjoy live music and a silent auction. For more information contact Beth Logan at 435-259-2698 or email info@skinnytireevents.com. skinnytireevents.com
Join Brighton Resort on March 13 for the 8th Annual Wasatch Powder Keg backcountry ski race. The Powder Keg is a test of strength and endurance for any backcountry skier. The race division will travel just over eight miles and have four climbs for close to 6,000 feet of climbing. The recreational division will have only three climbs for around 4,000 feet of climbing. Within each division there will be categories for male/female and AT/Tele. Stay after the race and enjoy a barbecue, awards ceremony and raffle following the race. wasatchpowderkeg.com
Spend a weekend learning about backcountry safety at Snowbird. The Basic Avalanche Transceiver Skills Clinic is a free course on February 19 at 5 p.m. in Snowbird’s Alpine Room. It will teach you the basics on avalanche safety and transceiver skills. Bring your avalanche transceiver if you have one. The Backcountry Skills Seminar is a $40 course on February 20 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and is designed to help teach the basics of self-rescue, transceiver search techniques and traveling in avalanche terrain. Dress in snow appropriate clothing. Call 801-933-4147 for more information. snowbird.com
This event takes place at Solitude Mountain Resort on Sunday, March 7 and raises funds for The Heuga Center, which supports research and wellness programs for people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Teams of three tackle the mountain in a scavenger hunt, then race gates at the Solitude Race Course. Each person must raise a minimum of $334 per person, or $1000 per team of three. This fundraising includes your all-day lift ticket, three meals, drinks and a goodie bag! The event begins at 8 a.m. with breakfast, and awards are at 3 p.m. with drinks and hors d’oeuvres provided…
Participate in a ski and snowboard race or terrain park competition at Brian Head Ski Resort on Saturday, March 13th at 1 p.m. Registration takes place on the third floor of Giant Steps Lodge from 10 a.m.–noon on race day only. Entry fee is $12 and regular rates will apply for lift tickets. Bring your own gear or rent at Giant Steps Lodge. Email uwg@olyparks.com for more information. brianhead.com
Alta Ski Area Dine mid-mountain at the newly built Watson Shelter, which offers Alta’s best 100% grass-fed Utah beef hamburger, tasty french fries, deli sandwiches, salads, pizzas, soups, candy and more. For snacks, coffee and pitchers of beer, visit the Espresso Bar downstairs. alta.com
Outdoor Adventures for Couples in SLC and Beyond Whether you’re schussing down a ski slope or soaking in a hot spring, any outdoor adventure is more fun when you can share it with that special someone. In honor of “sweetheart season,” we’ve picked out a few of Utah’s greatest couple-friendly getaways. Find one that fits your schedule—from a stolen afternoon to a leisurely long weekend—and get ready to clear your calendar for some quality time with your best girl (or boy) by your side.
By Rachael Hodson Minimizing our carbon footprint can extend much farther than riding city transit to the ski areas. If you start looking, you’ll find many companies that offer environmentally friendly winter gear, which can make you feel good about the clothing you’re wearing and the equipment you’re buying. Here are several standout companies who are making the effort to search out sustainable products and produce them in a way that is kind to our earth as well as being progressive in design, functional and just plain cool!
By Greg Witt Staying in shape throughout the winter can be challenging. As soon as the Wasatch hiking trails are snowbound and the sun starts setting in the late afternoon, it’s harder to get out and maintain the active lifestyle you enjoyed during the summer. Pretty soon, the extra pounds you put on during the holidays become a permanent fixture. The cold days and the low-quality, inversion-trapped air makes getting outside less appealing. No wonder some people go into hibernation until late May rolls around. If this stay-at-home, hunker-down winter scenario sounds frighteningly familiar, you may find the antidote in…