Ride Utah Blog

A critical need exists for basic avalanche education for all ski and snowboarders in Utah.

Just as students in Hawaii learn about the dangers of rip tides and shore breaks at an early age, snow sports enthusiasts in Utah need to learn about snow safety and avalanches. The rising number of avalanche victims have demonstrated an obvious need for basic avalanche education.

“Know Before You Go” is a free 50-minute presentation from the Utah Avalanche Center.

We hope you and your friends and family can join us for this very important discussion.

Tuesday, January 6

7:00 pm

Canyon Sports

517 South 200 West

After the presentation we would like to encourage you to have dinner at Red Rock Brewing Company, you’ll receive a complimentary appetizer with your dinner purchase and you can try the “Avalanche” brew. A portion of the proceeds of your dinner will be donated to the Utah Avalanche Center for all their hard work in keeping us on top of the snow!

Not sure why you should attend this?  Check out the latest from the Utah Avalanche Center:

The economy is rough, gas is expensive, and airline tickets aren’t much better.  Does that mean you shouldn’t come shred the Greatest Snow on Earth this winter?  HELL NO!  Here are some tips for planning a winter vacation on a budget from an article I found on MSNBC that originally appeared on WeJustGotBack.com.

Book now: Every year around this time, awesome early-bird ski vacation deals begin popping up all over. But time is ticking; you have to snap them up before ski season gets underway. For example, if you book the “Lift Off” package before November 23 at Copper Mountain, a family-friendly resort in the Colorado Rockies (see our review), you can save 15 percent on lodging when you book a lift ticket. Book a four-night stay at Steamboat Springs by November 3 and get 20 percent off lodging, lift tickets, and equipment rentals. Book before November 15 at Mont Tremblant, voted the No. 1 ski resort in eastern North America by SKI Magazine readers, and you can save up to 25 percent on your stay of three nights or longer. These act-quick opportunities are a dime a dozen right now, but they typically dry up by Thanksgiving.

Aim off-peak: Timing is everything. Depending on where you want to ski, the season can last anywhere from four to six months. Many resorts out West are open by mid-November and remain open through April. In general, prices at ski resorts are highest when there is a greater chance of snow (read: coldest months) and also during school breaks. Resorts’ rates can fluctuate wildly throughout the season. To wit: At Smugglers’ Notch, voted the No. 1 resort for family programs by SKI Magazine readers (see our review), prices during SuperSaver Value Weeks are a full 50 percent lower than over the New Year or President’s Week. Opting to ski before December or after mid-March can almost always save you a bundle. Hint: If your travel dates fall on the fringes of ski season, it’s wise to choose a resort with a reputation for good snow-making capabilities, in case Mother Nature doesn’t oblige with a layer of the white stuff.

Go midweek: Lodging and lift tickets are always more expensive on weekends, so a Monday-to-Thursday ski break can cost half of what a Thursday-to-Sunday getaway does at the same resort. But saving money is just the beginning of the good news. Midweek typically means fewer crowds, shorter lift lines, and smaller group sizes during lessons.

Read the rest of the articles tips here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27361902/

Appeared originally here: http://wejustgotback.com/default.aspx?mod=oct_10easyskideals

Everything you ever wanted to know and more about snowboard fashion (or lack thereof) in the 80’s and early 90’s.

Maybe it’s the East Coaster in me, but, I love night riding. There’s just something about being out in the evening with the lights on that make snowboarding so much fun. When I was a kid it was all about night riding. I grew up in Virginia and I would estimate that I probably did about 80% of my snowboarding at night in those days. We’d get out of school and head straight for the mountain, an hour and a half drive. We’d ride in the cold until they shut the chair down. It always felt like an adventure. Especially if you’ve ever tried to ride off trail in Virginia at night.

Now that I live in Utah, I haven’t given up on night riding. And I’ve always wondered why more Utahans don’t do it. Especially because here in Utah we’ve got something that Virginia never had, POWDER. On Thursday night we got a nice dose of the real thing. After work (yes RideUtah.com/SkiUtah.com is a full time job) I met up with a couple of buddies with Brighton passes and headed for the hills. We arrived to find a good 6 inches of creamy springtime pow in the parking lot and more nuking down from the heavens. With the new early Day Light Savings time shift, it’s light out until almost 8 o’clock and we happily rode the trees in Wren Hollow, Mary’s, and off of Crest until the way past dusk. Because of the low hanging clouds, the lights on the runs was refracting everywhere and we kept riding the trees until dark.

Now, if you can get off work and shred powder until 9 o’clock why wouldn’t you? Then of course there is also the added bonus of heading to Molly Greens after the lifts have closed, tilting back a couple of pints, and enjoying a plate of their fine nachos. See you under the lights.

Here’s the real video from yesterday’s action at Powder Mountain.  The snow we’ve been getting has been unbelievable.  If you haven’t been out riding yet, you better get on it.