Learning to ski in beautiful Park City, Utah
(photo: Sarah Rohoman)
As someone who has never skied before, I was understandably nervous when I first saw the beautiful mountains at Park City Mountain Resort.
With over 300 trails and 40 lifts, I knew I most likely wasn’t going to make it to every slope - but I was determined to leave my trip without any broken bones and the ability to call myself a skier. To my complete surprise, I accomplished both of those things.
Park City
With convenient shuttles at the Salt Lake City airport, it’s easy to get to where you’re going. It’s a short drive to Park City, but an incredibly scenic one. Along the way I was in total awe of the mountains which are unlike anything I’ve ever seen and spotted a few deers amongst the trees at lower altitudes. As of now, there’s no direct flight from Toronto to Salt Lake City but they will be available later this year, via United Airlines.
In town, Main Street is a delight with fairy lights, countless restaurants, bars and shops. Despite being exhausted from the whirlwind of the Sundance Film Festival that had just ended, everything was still bustling and cheerful.
After checking out the sights, I start to get ready for my first day on the slopes, so I download the EpicMix app that’s free for all guests of Vail Resorts. Vail has locations across the globe, from Keystone, Breckenridge and more in the U.S. to Perisher in Australia. This handy app lets you track how many vertical feet you you log on the mountain, which trails you’ve done and generally let’s you know what you’ve accomplished during your day on the slopes.
The adventure begins
As small children whiz by me fearlessly, I find myself frantically trying to ingest all the information my instructor, Chuck Herzog, is telling me.
Chuck was truly incredible, taking the time and patience to ease my fears and going over all the minute details that a beginner needs to know, like how to fall without hurting yourself and how to avoid crashing into other people.
He also made me put on the sunscreen he carries around in his pocket so I wouldn’t get a weird goggle tan, which was much appreciated. If you’ve never skied before, I highly recommend getting an instructor. From learning to ‘pizza’ to simply getting out of the skis, there are some seemingly straight-forward things that you just need to be taught.
Our first few runs down the beginner’s slope go smoothly and Chuck declares that I’m a natural, of which I am skeptical, but am grateful to hear. He decides I’m ready for my first green hill, appropriately named First Time.
Armed with my EpicDay Lift Ticket, I feel ready for the hill and but a little apprehensive about the chair lift. What if I fall off as I’m getting on? What if I fall off as I’m getting off? What if I fall off and hold up hundreds of people?
As it turns out, I shouldn’t have worried. The lift was easy to manage and actually turned out to be my favourite part about skiing. It gives you an opportunity to rest your sore muscles while taking in the absolutely majestic scenery and chat with fellow skiers and snowboarders sharing the ride with you.
At the end of the day, Chuck filled out a progress card for me and to my absolute delight I went from a total beginner to Level 4 in one lesson!
(photo: courtesy of Park City Resorts)
By the second day, Chuck decided I was ready for the blue hills which meant I’d be able to check out the new QuickSilver Gondola. It opened in January as part of a $50 million improvement campaign and connects to the neighbouring Canyons Resort, which makes it the largest ski and snowboard resort in the United States.
At around eight and a half minutes long, riding the Gondola is a good break on your legs and a stunning treat for your eyes as you get the chance to see both mountains. I knew the resort was big, but being up so high up gives you a chance to fully appreciate how massive it is and just how much work goes in to maintaining and grooming the slopes.
After our ride we stopped for lunch at Miners Camp, which is located at the base of the Gondola and was also part of the improvement campaign. With over 500 seats, it’s a loud, fun spot to fuel up and chat with others about the best slopes to hit up.
As I finished my second and final day on the slopes, my new progress report puts me at a level 5 and I am truly in shock at how far I’ve come. I find the blue hills to be a little intimidating, but I know in the future I will tackle them. One of the best parts of the experience was having enough confidence to look up from my skis to be able to appreciate the beautiful scenery around me.
My advice to new skiers: you’ll get used to the ski boots, the lift isn’t as scary as you think it is, and yes, you will fall, but it won’t be nearly as bad as you assume.
The delicious food in Park City
My first night began with a whiskey tasting at High West Distillery, which is truly an excellent way to unwind after a long day of travel. Over flights of their own small-batch award-winning whiskey and apps, I learned about the distilling process and how unusual it is to have distillery in a Mormon area.
(photo: Sarah Rohoman)
Our second night of dining at The Farm was absolutely exceptional. Named one of the top 25 restaurants in the state, I found it to be truly deserving of the award. I had the braised oxtail onion soup to start and the best beef tenderloin I’ve ever had in my life as a main. With a focus on ingredients from local farms and artisan purveyors, it’s easy to see why celebrities such as Taylor Swift ate there during The Sundance Film Festival.
Another night I head to Handle, a trendy restaurant that specializes in small plate fare. The atmosphere is bubbly and fun, much like the delicious cocktail I’m drinking. Over roasted shishito peppers, fried chicken and decadent caramel pudding, I find myself wishing I could stay in Park City longer just to eat here again.
Other adventures
If you find yourself in Utah, you must visit Park City Yoga Adventures. As someone that rarely does yoga and has never been on a paddleboard, I was nervous to try paddleboard yoga, but it turned out to be a really fun experience.
(photo: courtesy of Park City Yoga Adventures)
Located in the Homestead Crater, the hot mineral water was a treat after spending so many hours in the cold. While I can’t claim to be any good at paddleboard yoga, I laughed a lot, fell in even more often and had a thoroughly memorable experience.
The company also offers snowshoeing, which I’m sorry to say I wasn’t able to take part in due to my leg muscles being sore from my skiing adventures. Perhaps on my next trip I’ll get to do it!
With so much to do, Park City is truly an adventure. Beginner or not, the mountain is a place for anyone, whether it’s the gentle green slopes I enjoyed or the daring black hills I might one day return and conquer. As someone that doesn’t really like the cold, I can honestly say that I came to love winter while skiing down the slopes with the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen.
