WINTER SPORTS LOVERS: HEAD FOR UTAH

Photos and article by Eleanor S. Morris

Utah's Wasatch Mountains rang with the sound of hammers and the buzzing of saws when Salt Lake City and Park City perfected the venues for that feather in Utah's cap, the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. 35,000 athletes competed in ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, slalom and giant slalom, free-style aerial, moguls, snowboarding and more. From February 8th to the 24th, 2002, all of the valley was involved, and you can imagine the excitement that was in the air.

It all began on February 8th with the Opening Ceremony in Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium, inaugurating figure skating and short track skating at the Salt Lake City Ice Center. Salt Lake City also hosted ice hockey at the E Center at West Valley City. Here, with 55 games scheduled over the 16 days, ice hockey proved to be one of the most exciting and popular events at the Olympic Winter Games. Closing ceremonies on February 24th were also held at Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium. (http://www.saltlake.com)

The action continued at Park City Mountain Resort, with Alpine giant slalom on longer course and wider gate combinations than slalom. Snowboarding, the fastest growing winter sport (it debuted at Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998) showcased the 2002 generation of the sport's finest athletes.

At Deer Valley Resort in Park City you may have watched more giant slalom, as well as moguls and free-style aerial. These athletes are often former gymnasts. They ski down a small slope and launch themselves off jumps into the air to perform amazing acrobatics before they land.

Up at Snowbasin Ski Area in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, downhill racers were challenged by a two-mile course designed by Swiss Olympic champion Bernard Russi. During the slalom events, skiers tested their balance, speed and agility as they zig-zag between hinged breakaway poles.

You may be inspired to indulge in some winter sports on your own after you're inspired by these professional athletes. Here are what some of them offer:

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT's season is from mid November to mid-April; hours of operation, 9am to 4pm daily. From Christmas to April 1, night hours are from 4 to 9pm. Four high-speed six-passenger chairs lift 27,200 guests an hour. Of the 100 trails, there are 18 easier, 44 more difficult, and 38 most difficult. Homerun, the longest, is 3.5 miles
long.

"I am committed to giving the best of myself to my sport and to sharing my experiences with Park City Mountain Resort guests and the world in 2002," says Picabo Street, Director of Skiing and herself an Olympic gold medalist.

DEER VALLEY RESORT reports that "even the mountain had goosebumps" about the Olympic excitement. But they add that before, during and after the Olympic Winter Games, their first priority is their skiing guests. If you're a novice, in honor of the Olympic year the resort has designed an new Ski School program. "First Tracks" allows groups to enjoy Deer Valley's slopes with a guide before the mountain opens at 9am.

The resort's season runs from early December to early April. Hours are from 9am to 4:15pm. There are 88 trails, with 15% easier runs, 50% more difficult, and 35% most difficult. 19 chairlifts lift 39,700 skiers per hour.

Although there aren't going to be any Olympic games at SNOWBIRD, you might want to be acquainted with this great ski lodge just 20 miles from the Salt Lake City airport. The season is from Nov. 18 to Memorial Day. Hours are from 9am to 4:30pm. Trails include 25% for beginners, 30% intermediate, and 45% expert/advanced. There are 10 lifts, one a 125- passenger aerial tram.

There are a range of additional activities: outdoor heated pool and hot tubs at every lodge, an ice skating rink, tubing hill, and night skiing and luging.

So relive the excitement of the Olympic Winter Games 2002--and give yourselves a winter sports holiday at one of these great resorts.

Copyright Eleanor S. Morris