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Discover the “biggest snow in the world” without breaking the bank
There’s no better way to experience the Utah winter than on a pair of skis. But, let’s face it, it can be very expensive – a few hundred dollars for ski clothes, a few hundred more for skis and – oh yes – a few hundred more for a ski pass. As a college student with $30 allotted for groceries each week, the thought of spending that much money on a new hobby drove me crazy. So I talked to Alison Palmintere about Skiing in Utah for some tips and tricks for cutting costs without sacrificing comfort or safety.
Second-hand shop
Savings is a fantastic way to reduce your costs when you start skiing. Utah is full of thrift and discount stores where you can buy clothes and gear for less. Some second-hand ski shops and outlets:
Level Nine Sports, multiple locations, levelninesports.com
Ski Trucks, 1260 W. North Temple, SLC (not a real truck anymore), skitrucks.com
Replay the sport6910 Highland Drive #3, SLC, playitagainsports.com
Ski and see, multiple locations, skinsee.com
Recreation Center, multiple locations, leisureoutlet.com
what to wear
When it comes to skiing, if you layer your clothes correctly, you can stay dry and warm even in sub-zero temperatures. You want to make sure you have a good base coat. Stay away from cotton, as it will absorb moisture like a sponge. You want something that will allow mobility, dry quickly and keep you warm. Opt for a synthetic wool base layer to wick away moisture. You can also add a fleece or sweater over your base layer before putting on your coat. When choosing your coat, it should be completely waterproof to keep your other layers dry. A longer coat that covers your waistline will keep snow from falling on your pants all day. Speaking of pants, usually a pair of synthetic leggings under waterproof snow pants will keep you warm all day.
To rent
If you are not yet ready to invest in your own ski equipment, rent it! Most ski resorts offer rentals of skis, boots, helmets and poles. Some ski resorts even offer jackets, pants and gloves. After choosing your ski resort, check their website to see available rentals. Where to rent:
Utah Skiing and Golf, multiple locations, utahskigolf.com
Wasatch Ski and Snowboard Rental, 6755 S. Wasatch Blvd., SLC, wasatchskiandsnowboardrental.com
Rental U of U, campusrec.utah.edu
BYU Outdoors Unlimited Rentals, exterior.byu.edu
Out N Back, 418 N. State Street, Orem, outnback.com
Breeze Ski Rental, 1284 Lowell Ave, Park City, skirentals.com
Alpine Sports, 1165 Patterson Street, Ogden, alpinesportsutah.com
Consider smaller ski resorts
If you just want to ski a day to see if you like the sport, consider buying a day pass at a smaller ski resort. The tracks are perfect for learning and the cost will be significantly cheaper. Many of these resorts offer great deals if you pre-purchase online:
Brian’s head
brianhead.com
cherry woodpecker
skicpr.com
Eagle’s Point
eaglepointresort.com
northern valley
nordicvalley.ski
Powder Mountain
powdermountain.com
pebble stream
pebblecreekskiarea.com
Try multi-station passes
“If you’re committing to skiing for a season, I recommend taking advantage of the multi-resort packages,” says Palmintere. Multi-resort passes allow you to explore different mountains and resorts without purchasing an individual pass for each one. Ski Utah may offer you one of these packages on its website, but beware, some have waiting lists:
EPIC: Access to Park City Mountain and seven days at Snowbasin
ICON: Unlimited access to Solitude Mountain Resort, limited access to Brighton, Deer Valley, Alta and Snowbird
INDIA: Access to Beaver Mountain, Powder Mountain and Eagle Point
POWERFUL: Unlimited access to Brian Head and Nordic Valley
SUPER SKI CITY PASS: Access to Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude
UTAH GOLD AND SILVER SKI PACKAGES: Unlimited access to 15 Utah ski resorts
YETI: Voucher for a lift ticket at all ski and snowboard resorts in Utah
Find yourself a teacher
Many resorts offer exceptional offers for ski schools. (Some even include rentals.) If the whole family is getting into skiing this year, there’s the Ski Utah Grade 5 and 6 Passport. For $45, fifth graders can get three days at each station and sixth graders can get one day at each station. They also offer deals for an adult companion pass. And some resorts, such as Snowbasin, have deals that give you three lift tickets, three lessons, gear for the season, and a pass for the rest of the season at the end of their ski school program. You can also search for offers on the Ski Utah website.
Once you have your outfit, your equipment, your ski pass and a learning plan, you are set. When asked for his final piece of advice, Palmintere says to “come prepared with a snack and a big meal in your stomach” and “try to get into skiing with an open mind.” Don’t let more experienced skiers and snowboarders intimidate you. Everyone learns at their own pace. And the point is just to get out and work, try something new, and have fun. See you soon on the slopes!
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