An Interview with Mark Nepermann, DV Summer Lift Operations Supervisor

Posted on June 17, 2013 by JF Lanvers

Earlier this week, as he was busy getting everything ready for this year’s mid-June re-opening, Mark Nepermann, Lift Operations Supervisor took a few moments out of his time to talk about summer lift operations at Deer Valley Resort.

JF: Mark, I can see on your face that you’re ready for summer; I mean you appear to enjoy that season a lot. How long have you been working at Deer Valley Resort?

Mark Nepermann: I have worked here for four winters and this will be my third summer. And you’re right; summer is my favorite time of the year! I’m originally from northern Illinois, I came out here after college for one winter and I loved it so much that I never left.

JF: Now that the weather has been gradually warming up, are you and your staff ready for your summer season opening?

Mark Nepermann: Absolutely! We opened on June 14 and will be operating our lifts through Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., every day.

JF: Which chairlifts are open to the public?

Mark Nepermann: We’ll continue to offer rides on Silver Lake Express, Sterling Express and for the third season, Ruby Express.

JF: Who are your typical passengers?

Mark Nepermann: In the summer, mountain bikers are still the majority of our riders, we mount a hook on the sides of all the chairs to carry their equipment, we also get scenic riders who come to enjoy the incredible views that can be seen from our mountain tops.

JF: Do scenic riders have to ride down the lift?

Mark Nepermann: No, we give them many options. They can either ride up and ride back down, or ride up and hike down, particularly on some of our hiking-only trails. They can also hike up and reward themselves with our complimentary ride down!

JF: I’ve noticed that the lifts seem to be running slowly, why is this?

Mark Nepermann: We run about half the speed that we do in winter, this allows passengers to easily get off upon reaching the top since they have to walk away and this takes just a little more time than sliding off the ramp with skis on during the winter.

JF: What are these poles inside the bin, by the chairlift?

Mark Nepermann: These are ski poles made available to hikers who want to use them, both at the bottom and the top of each chairlift; we just ask the hikers to put them back into the bin when they’re done using them.

JF: Besides mountain bikes, are you allowing other devices on your trails?

Mark Nepermann: Sure, we see everything from old mountain bikes from the 1980’s, to the latest 50 pound downhill bike, to unicycles, mountain scooters or mountain boards, you name it.

JF: And you let them in?

Mark Nepermann: We let riders use them as long as these machines are equipped with at least two brakes, so if one of them were to fail, there’s still a spare one. We also require all riders to wear a helmet and stay on the bike trails, even on these non-conventional devices.

JF: Are hikers also required to stay on the trails?

Mark Nepermann: We prefer all users to stay on the trails in order to prevent trampling vegetation and avoid erosion.

JF: What happens when the weather suddenly changes?

Mark Nepermann: Although heavy rain never seems to be a problem at Deer Valley Resort, the sole reason we would close down our lifts is if it rains hard for very long, riding could cause damage to the trails. Thunder isn’t a deal-breaker, but lightning is. If we see lightning we call “last chair” until the storm is passed and that is for the safety of both our riders and staff.

JF: So, when you compare winter and summer, do you find differences in your ridership?

Mark Nepermann: Our summer guests are definitely more low-key than in winter; perhaps during the warm season people aren’t as eager to clock as many runs as possible, but we also have a wider variety of riders. Some are hard-core mountain bikers, some are nature lovers, others are here to discover mountain vistas for the first time in summer. Our guests’ expectations and interests are far less homogeneous than they are in winter .

JF: How should people dress when they ride your lifts?

Mark Nepermann: Temperature differences between the base and the top of the chairlift always plays a significant role. Temperatures may also change very fast if the cloud cover suddenly moves in or the breeze sets in. Just because it’s sunny and warm at Snow Park doesn’t mean that it might not be 10 to 20 degrees less at the top of Bald Mountain. We encourage visitors to dress in layers and carry a light jacket with them in the event of a sudden drop in temperature.

JF: Any other useful tips?

Mark Nepermann: Always carry lots of water to stay well-hydrated, don’t forget the sunscreen, another good tip is to make sure to wear a hat. Of course, all bike riders must wear a helmet. Also, having a cell phone is always a good idea in case of emergency.

JF: So, why do you like summer at Deer Valley Resort so much?

Mark Nepermann: I like to tell the guests I meet during winter that summers in Deer Valley are even better in terms of the multitude of options offered to visitors. There is a myriad of concerts, mountain biking, hiking, fly-fishing, golfing, great food on Royal Street’s deck and green vistas as far as the eye can see, plus it’s always 10 to 15 degrees cooler up here than down in the Salt Lake Valley. We’re a refreshing alternative to the summer heat, so come up and play with us!

Interview with Steve Graff, Bike/Ski Patrol Manager

Posted on June 10, 2013 by JF Lanvers

Last week I caught up with Deer Valley Resorts’ Bike and Ski Patrol Manager, Steve Graff, as he was returning from inspecting the impressive network of hiking and mountain bike trails the resort will soon re-open to the public. Here are some of the many interesting things I learned about his busy department and their myriad of responsibilities…

JF: Steve, it’s good to be visiting with you and the patrollers again. Tell me, where’s all the snow? What has happened to you and your staff since the end of the skiing season and what are you up to now?

Steve Graff (SG): After we closed the mountain down in April, we spent another week taking down signs, ropes, pads and getting everything ready for snow melt. After taking a little bit of time off to transition between seasons, our staff is back to work. As you can imagine, our personnel shrinks a bit at this time of the year; most get back to their seasonal jobs. Many go to work as National Parks Rangers all over the country, while those who can never get enough winter continue ski patrolling in New Zealand and Australia. Some are wild land fire fighters or smoke-jumpers, and the rest of us are back at Deer Valley Resort getting the place ready for warm weather activities.

JF: How many employees return for Mountain Bike Patrol?

SG: Out of our 70 or so ski patrollers, about 15 stay on during the summer.

JF: How long is the season?

SG: It goes from mid-June through Labor Day (September 2, 2013).

JF: Are you the crew in charge of maintaining trails and cutting new ones?

SG: Our main priority is helping injured but the bulk of our work is actually trail construction and trail maintenance.

JF: Any new trail this year?

SG: The two newest trails were actually started last season. Both are in the Empire Canyon area, off the Ruby Express chairlift.

Drift: An intermediate trail
Payroll: More of a free riding, “flowy” trail, with some nice jumps and drops that should add some extra levels of excitement in that general area

JF: This sounds promising! By the way who comes up with these unique trail names?

SG: Payroll is actually a mine name and Drift comes from a drift road that is off Tour de Sud. Some others come directly from the public, “Devo” is a good example; we were just finishing constructing it when we ran into a lady that said “Yeah, that trail is ‘Devo.”

JF: Does your remaining staff receive summer-specific training?

SG: There’s a lot of cross-over between summer and winter duties like medical training and lift evacuation skills and those are regularly being refreshed. We add motorcycle, ATV and six-wheeler riding that are unique to our summer season.

JF: You mean, training on vehicles that get you around the mountain?

SG: Right; instead of snowmobiles, toboggans or skis, we use bikes, motorcycles and ATVs!

JF: What types of interventions are typical to the warmer months?

SG: Overall, the few injuries we deal with are less severe than in winter because speed is less of a factor. We see a quite a few scrapes and bruises though, maybe a few dislocations, perhaps more blood than usual, but in general, far less severe injuries.

JF: It seems to me that you and your staff aren’t always on the mountain; over the years, I’ve noticed your presence at all the Deer Valley’s summer concerts. What’s your role there?

SG: To attend the concert!

JF: I should have expected this! So, all Patrollers are music aficionados?

SG: Well, this is another one of our Mountain Bike Patrol duties. We offer first aid response at the Deer Valley concerts, so we attend them all. Depending on the event, between two and four of us are present. We’re there for medical emergencies or other situations.

JF: Are they specific recommendations you’d like to share with mountain bikers and hikers intent to use the Deer Valley Resort trail system?

SG: There are a few good rules; first, we don’t charge for uphill travel outside of chairlift rides. If trail users bike, they must wear a helmet and dogs must be left at home whether their owners hike or bike. Always make sure to look at the map and come up with a route before heading out; remember that there are some trails that are specifically for downhill mountain biking, others specifically for hiking and then they’re others that are designated for both. So, it’s good to know what kind of trail you’re planning to take. If you want to hike and don’t want to see bikers, go on a hiking-only trail. If you want to pedal up, make sure you chose the multi-use trail, not the downhill-only one. That way, everyone can enjoy their experience to the fullest.

JF: Are there lessons or orientations tours visitors can take?

SG: Yes; both are available and are highly recommended. We offer guided tours of the mountain that will also provide some mountain biking tips; those are for intermediate level and above, but they’re also “mountain bike 101” lessons that will take a rank beginner straight to the single-track trails. Many riders often say: “I know how to handle a bike, therefore I don’t need lessons” but as you know JF, mountain biking is a very different deal, it’s not like riding in the neighborhood; there’s weight transfer, forward-and-back and side-to-side involved, it’s a lot more dynamic experience than pedaling on asphalt around the block.

JF: What other recommendations would you give hikers or mountain bikers visiting Deer Valley Resort?

SG: I know some people who chose to ride their mountain bike by themselves, purely for exercise. If you’re one of them, just let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back. Always wear a helmet and sunglasses. Even if you’re going on a short trip, throw an extra power bar in your pack, a replacement tube, enough water, some basic tools if you ever break down. Even if you aren’t quite sure how to fix it, some passer-by might be able to assist you and get you back on your way. Always wear gloves; if you ever fall, the first thing that’s going to hit the ground is your hand. Some extra protection goes a long way!

JF: Any tips about the weather?

SG: Always be prepared for anything! In the mountains, the weather can change rapidly. Look for thunderstorms. If you can hear thunder, lightning isn’t far, so get off the high ground, don’t huddle under the tallest tree, just wait for the storm to pass; it generally never lasts very long.

JF: What about encounters with wildlife?

SG: We do see quite a bit of wildlife. This is one of the great things about hiking and mountain biking around Deer Valley. I’ve had the pleasure to see all kinds of animals around this mountain. You just got to give them space. We’ve taken a lot of space away from them and we should always treat the mountain as their own domain. If I see a moose on the trail, I make my presence known, and hopefully he’ll amble on.

JF: So, how ready are you for Deer Valley Resort summer opening?

SG: Well, we’re opening on June 14, and based on my most recent trail inspections, we’re going to have a fantastic opening, with ninety percent of the trails perfectly passable, so please, come and join us!

National Ability Center Barn Party Fundraiser- Just Plain Fun

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Nancy Anderson

We came for the event but stayed for the party. The cause is a good one. The staff and volunteers at the National Ability Center do amazing things for the participants. I have seen members of the Ability Ski Team on the runs at Deer Valley and heard the experiences of a volunteer first hand. My husband helps with the equestrian center handling the horses on a lead so participants can enjoy a trail ride.

When I saw the promotion for the National Ability Center Barn Party Fundraiser event, I said, “Lets go!” A few of our friends said, “We’re in!” So we put on our western gear and headed to the barn. I know this sounds silly but the barn party was actually in the barn: It was held in the middle of the indoor horse arena. Think dirt. It was very rustic and super cool AND I am so glad I wore my cowboy boots instead of sandals.

After watching a beautiful equestrian demonstration from several of the young riders in the program and petting a couple of little donkeys at the petting zoo, we got a tour of the barn. Some brave people, young and old, took a ride on the mechanical bull. I chickened out and didn’t try it but did my part by enthusiastically cheering the folks that did.

My girlfriends and I also avoided the saloon, not because we don’t drink whiskey. We do but we figured whiskey would interfere with our next activity – line dancing. Line dancing takes a great deal of concentration to avoid injury to myself and the poor unsuspecting people dancing next to me.

As usual, Anderson and Company were the last to leave the party but not until we learned the Boot Scoot’n Boogie, Allan Jackson’s Good Times Line Dance and Cotton Eye Joe (thrown in for good measure.) The DJ/dance instructor kept asking us if we wanted to learn another dance. We kept saying yes until we couldn’t think straight and finally had to sit down.

The auction – both silent and live – raised a lot of money for a great cause to help our wounded warriors and people who otherwise may never have a chance to ski, snow shoe, shoot an arrow or ride a horse. The party – well – it was just plain fun. Next year I think I will try the mechanical bull riding!

Tips for Shoulder Season in Park City

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Emily Summers

The weeks when the chairlifts are closed between our two seasons are often called “shoulder season” at the resort. Sometimes, on very snowy and wet years, they are more likely to be referred to as “mud season” by the locals.

This year we have been blessed with an early and fairly warm spring offering us plenty of opportunities to get outside while we wait for the lifts to start spinning again. (Deer Valley opens for our summer season on Friday, June 14, which includes lift-served biking, hiking and scenic rides, deck dining and Royal Street Café and concerts in the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater.)

While we wait for the resort to open, there are plenty of ways Park City locals keep busy. Here are a few of my favorite ways to spend my weekend.

Trails, Trails, Trails: The town of Park City has over 400 miles of trails for hiking and biking! Many of these trail systems are maintained by Mountain Trails Foundation and are already accessible.

My first hike the season was the The Lost Prospector Loop, a very popular, mild trail that has expansive views of the resorts, Historic Main Street and Old Town.

Old Town, Park City

Last weekend, I did the Iron Mountain trail behind the iconic White Barn on Hwy 224. This is a shorter hike with a steady, steep incline. This trail is a great option for anyone looking for a good workout.

Printed copies of the Park City summer trail map are available at:

Visitor’s Center
Museum on Main Street
ZB Sports
White Pine Touring
JANS Mountain Outfitters
Cole Sport
Pearl Izumi
Silver Star & Ski
Sports Authority
Dolly’s Bookstore
Starbucks

*A suggested donation of $5 is requested

Yoga at The Shop: This is the perfect place to practice yoga for visitors. This Anusara inspired studio encourages drop-in students and every class is donation based (suggested $7 minimum). The space is a huge and beautiful place to practice with high ceilings, barn doors and wall-to-wall windows. Don’t worry about brining your own mat, they provide everything including blankets, blocks and straps. A complete class schedule can be found at http://parkcityyoga.com/classes.html (Hint: If you can’t decide which class to try, my favorite instructors are Tiffany Wood and Sherri Russell)

Stand Up Paddleboarding on the Deer Valley Ponds: This is a new activity offered in the Snow Park area at Deer Valley, so new in fact, that I have yet to try it! Stand Up Paddle Boarding has been coming increasingly popular and I can’t wait to get out and try it. (Future blog post?) Rentals and demos are currently offered on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting in June, SUP yoga and paddle Pilates will also be offered seven days a week at 9 a.m. More info on SUP offerings and pricing can be found at http://pcsupcup.com/Home/About

City Park: On any sunny day, you will find half the town hanging out in Park City’s City Park. With free access to grills, pavilions, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, a softball field and expansive lawns, you will find an array of activities to participate in. Many area hotels may have lawn games or volleyballs for you to check out during your stay. (Hint: There are local softball leagues that utilize the field every night from 6 to 10 p.m.)

Fly Fishing on the Provo River: I grew up fishing in Michigan and I can say I had one of my best catches on this river last August (the stretch in Provo Canyon). I spent a half day with a guide and two girlfriends and caught 6 whitefish and this gorgeous Brown Trout. We are so lucky to have such easy access to the Provo and Weber Rivers which offer Blue Ribbon Fly Fishing! I highly suggest hiring a guide from Jans Outfitters as they can provide all the gear and knowledge to get you catching fish like this in no time. http://www.jans.com/park-city-fly-fishing-tours

Park City Municipal Golf Course: An 18-hole course and driving range in the heart of Park City. This is where I learned to golf thanks to their amazing Twilight Deal. Tee off after 6 p.m. (no reservation needed) and it is just $9 per person! The course is nestled alongside Park City Mountain Resort, providing for gorgeous views of the ski resorts. http://www.parkcity.org/index.aspx?page=171

Main Street: A well-known “secret” is that many restaurants on Park City’s Historic Main Street offer Local’s Discounts during shoulder season. Luckily, these local’s only deals are available to everyone. Check the ads in the Park Record newspaper for tips on where to find these deals or just ask your fly fishing or SUP guide, a local in City Park or your favorite bartender for their favorites. We all have our recommendations on where to find the best deals. I’m a huge sushi fan, so I will always direct you to Yuki Arashi or Oishi for 50% off rolls. Wrap up your night on main by visiting the rooftop deck at the The No Name Saloon.

Enjoy your fun-filled visit to Park City this spring!

Should We Save This Year’s Snow for Next Season?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by JF Lanvers

Because I love skiing and winter so much, I always have mixed feelings when it’s time to put my ski gear away. In spite of what you might have heard, this past season ended up being another excellent outdoor experience filled with some unforgettable and unique moments for me. This is partly why I reluctantly transition from winter into spring.

Only a few days ago, I drove to Snow Park to observe the retreating Deer Valley “glacier” that still seemed to be thumbing its nose at the upcoming concert season. The World Cup mogul run (Champion) was still holding so well that I almost could have enjoyed a full, top-to-bottom, run. This, of course, is an incredibly strong testimony to Deer Valley Resort’s formidable and generous snow making enterprise. This is when I literally had to pinch myself that we were already smack into the middle of spring and that all that reminiscing wasn’t doing me any good.

It’s true that I see things differently from most people. This, I assume, is because I was born and bred in the mountains and had learned, early on, to be a keen observer of nature, including snow behavior. From the moment it falls off the sky to the time it finally melts. As a kid I often surprised myself living in an imaginary world of “endless winter.” This is in part why, more than forty years ago, I sacrificed two of my summers to go ski during the length of a full snow season, down under, in Australia. More recently, almost three decades ago, I finally settled in Utah and returned to a genuine mountain environment, following a 10 year hiatus. I began making precise observations and taking notes about our fast vanishing spring and early summer snow.

Over time, I observed that our snow melted much faster in the late spring, and early summer. Today, I think I can explain it. It’s not so much because of rising global temperatures as most folks would think, but because we, humans, are soiling our snowfields from the Alps to the Himalayas and all the way to the Rocky Mountains. All the particulates and other pollutants that are emitted from Paris’ tiny Diesel cars to Beijing’s coal-fired power plants or our western forest fires, end up gathering high into the atmosphere and eventually drop upon our mountains in such quantities that just a few days after a fresh late-season snowfall, the tiny, dirty deposits take over, soiling the remaining snow that hangs on top of our peaks and glaciers.

On snow, these dirty particulates amount to a huge loss in reflectivity from a normally bright surface. In turn, it increases the penetration of solar heat and hastens the melting process. This new reality of snow melting faster in late season is perhaps what prompted the Winter Olympics organizers in Sochi, Russia, to conserve this year’s snow until these coming February’s events. I can understand why they don’t want to take any chances as the 2014 Winter Games are now closing-in.

As you may have heard, their mountain staff plans to stockpile 500,000 cubic feet of snow into some shady gullies and deep creek beds located above the venues. A Finnish company has been asked to oversee this herculean task. This season’s snow will be covered under insulated blankets. During summer it will melt some and the density or the remaining snow – just like on permanent snowfields before they turn into glaciers – will increase from 25 to 34 lbs/cubic feet. When it’s ready to be used for the 2013-2014 Winter, the snow will be spread over the hills by snow cats or piped down to the slopes that need it.

When I heard about this extreme idea, I wondered if we too, shouldn’t try to “save” our snow season after season? I thought about it long and deep and came to the conclusion that instead, we should be more confident and wait for Mother Nature’s ‘clean’ refills scheduled for November.

So, while I am reminiscing the face shots and other stimulating sensations collected over this past winter, I must also admit that it’s almost early summer and time to move on. Today, I’m getting ready to mentally bid a friendly farewell to the last snow patches, put my skis away for good and get my mountain bike ready so I can ride very soon into another fantastic summer!

*Today, Deer Valley Resort joins with 107 other ski areas as a part of the National Ski Areas Association to sign the Climate Declaration, which calls upon federal policymakers to seize the American economic opportunity of addressing climate change. Ski industry leaders are concerned not just with the threat climate change has to their own operations but also its impacts on rising sea levels, wildlife habitat, the health of our forests, and truly our way of life. We recognize both the risks of inaction as well as the opportunity for U.S. leadership in combating climate change.

The economic influence of our trade is enormous. Ski areas in the U.S. employ about 160,000 people and generate about $12.2 billion in annual revenue. The National Ski Areas Association calculates that visitors to U.S. ski areas spent $5.8 billion at those resorts over the course of the 2011/2012 season. Preliminary figures from the 2012/2013 season show an 11 percent increase in visits year-over-year, to an estimated 56.6 million visits this season.

To read more about Deer Valley Resort’s environmental initiatives please visit: http://www.deervalley.com/About/Information/Environment

To sign the Climate Declaration as an individual or company, visit: http://www.ceres.org/bicep/climate-declaration

Summertime in Park City

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Heidi Voelker

Only 8 days until school is out, which means summertime for the kids and back to being a full-time Mom. Do we ever have time off? Nope.

Our summer “line up” is looking good for the boys. Lucas starts off with the Park City Town Shootout (lacrosse), then off to ski camp, then back for Eliteam in Park City, then back east for another lacrosse camp in Stowe, VT. Stefan’s schedule includes lacrosse with 212 camp in Park City, Lego Minecraft camp, Eliteam in Vermont and Nike lacrosse camp. Then we’ll go south to Cape Cod after Vermont a trip to the St. Lawrence River in Canada. We land back in Utah in August and stay home saying, “phew” and enjoy the few weeks before school begins all over again.

Before the school doors close (and my kids have a dream summertime schedule), I took part in Park City’s fourth annual “Running With Ed” on Saturday, May 18, 2013. This is a 38-mile relay race that raises money for our local school system. It’s great fun for a great cause. My team this year included: Simone Nixon, Kathy Pederson, Amanda Greene, Michelle Szwajkun and moi. Let’s just say I was the weakest link! Our team raised over $2,000 and this year’s event has raised over $150,000. Not too bad for some fun and exercise!

Personally, I think we had the best costumes with inspiration coming from the Dr. Seuss book, “GO Dog Go”. Thanks in part to Simone Nixon who came up with the idea. Last year we were “The Running Crayons,” another great theme. I certainly don’t contribute in creativity or to the seven minute mile that everyone else runs! I’m running for the cause, to be the comedic relief and keeping it non-competitive, (ha-ha). When I woke up Saturday morning, it was pouring rain. Always trying to stay positive, I thought, “at least it’s not snowing!” The weather managed to hold out considering what it had been early that morning. I ended up running in the rain and I must admit it was actually very pleasant! To top it off, we placed third overall for costume and third in the women’s division!

During the summer I try to fit in some hikes with the dog and, my favorite, road biking between shuttling and traveling with the kids. I also try and hit the little white ball and pretend I’m a golfer. Luckily my friends know about my love of the game but I don’t think they realized how much I love it until the other night at dinner. I always tell them about the going-ons from the “Golf Channel” which is on at my house 24/7. Seriously. They think I’m crazy, but I may be the epitome of a “fan/admirer.” My friends are nice enough to listen to me ramble on because they know the game of golf is challenging and I’m hooked on it. While we were having dinner at a local restaurant I looked over and I said, “that‘s Mark O’Meara” they all rolled their eyes and asked who? Are you kidding me? I rattle off some stats confirmed with a friend talking to him. It ended up being the best day ever. Yes, I had spotted my first celeb sighting!

Since the summer is just beginning. I’ll continue to keep you posted with the activities and happenings that fill my days until winter rolls back around. No, I’m not ready to be on skis just yet. I need to exercise and get ready for the fall, but I promise to enjoy the warm temperatures of summer. Stay tuned for my next post on my new ski clothing sponsor!

Cheers,

Heidi

The Change Up

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Bari Nan Cohen

I know it’s hard to believe, but there are days when my family opts out of skiing. Some weeks, we are just being courteous–like during Presidents’ Week, or a busy Spring Break weekend. We want to make sure we leave plenty of good skiing for those of you who don’t have easy access to the hill every day of the week. (Oops! I didn’t mean to rub that in. Sorry.) Other weeks, the task of loading up and gearing up just seems too daunting for the adults in the house. And now that the resort is closed for skiing until December 7 we have rely on these “day off activities” to keep us busy during shoulder season.

Luckily, Park City is full of “backup plans” when skiing isn’t an option. A “day off” in Park City may differ a little from a day off in another town…we locals are not terribly good at sitting still. (Yes, by “we,” my family will argue, I mean “I” am not good at that whole sitting still thing. But in Park City, I’m in good company.)

The nice thing about these sports is that you can go after it hard, and get in a workout, or use it as a relaxing family bonding activity.

Just like skiing: if you aren’t falling, you aren’t learning.

Ice skating: The Park City Ice Arena, located on SR 248, in the Round Valley sports complex, is one of my family’s favorite places to hang. Sometimes, we make a plan to meet friends, other times we luck into finding them there, by happenstance. Public skate hours vary, but there are at least two hours a day when you can rent skates, borrow a helmet (and even gloves), and get gliding. http://www.parkcity.org/index.aspx?page=190

I’ve skated my whole life (though, that statement shouldn’t conjure images of me landing triple-axels). My friend Shannon, a pro, is threatening to teach me, but I’m thinking that might be a form of penance for some bad deed she did in a former life. I happen to love the atmosphere of the rink. Usually, there are members of the Park City Figure Skating Club who are practicing their jumps, twists and axels. What’s incredible is to see the pint-sized grade school girls flying through the air. Budding hockey players practice their stops, slides and stick work. Often, I’ll spy some teenagers on a date, hands intertwined, or a snake-chain of tweens, racing around the rink. And always, families. My kids and I like to play hide and seek (we duck into the penalty boxes), practice our backward skating, and “race” around the rink. In fact, we’ve been at the rink so much this winter, I treated myself to a pair of used skates. They really are a treat, since they used to belong to a coach in the figure skating club, and just like high-end ski gear purchased at the local’s ski swap, they are tricked out (custom boot, high-end blade). Translation: complete overkill, but at a deep discount, so why not?

Cross country skiing: The first pair of skis I wore (sometime around age 2) were Nordic kick-and-glides that actually strapped on to my regular snow boots. Nordic skiing was a fixture of my childhood in Vermont, so I’ve always loved the opportunity to share it with my kids. There are miles of groomed public trails around town, but since we don’t own gear, we generally go to White Pine Touring, which is located on the Park City Municipal Golf Course (it’s the PCMGC pro shop during golf season) at Hotel Park City. You can gear up and get on 3K or 5K tracks, and then head all the way out past the white barn, if you’re ready for more. http://whitepinetouring.com/cross-country-ski-area.php

There’s something immensely gratifying about the low-key, yet high-energy, endorphin producing nature of the sport. When I’m with my kids on the track, I don’t get the same kind of workout that, say, Nancy Anderson churns out, but I’m happy just to be outside, sharing a great lifelong sport with my guys. Honestly, you can make the day as challenging or relaxing as you want, and an hour or so is as much fun as a whole afternoon. If you have ever spent a week or a ski season explaining to your young Phil Mahre or Heidi Voelker why they can’t use poles yet, Nordic offers an added bonus: they’re standard issue in Nordic skiing (NB: that still means a lot of work for mom or dad.).

Swimming: One of the best parts of staying in a lot of the lodging properties at Deer Valley Resort is that they have super-heated outdoor pools. One of my favorites is at The Silver Baron Lodge, where the outdoor pool has a sweet little water slide. But if you don’t happen to be a guest there, you can pay for a day pass to the Silver Mountain Sports Club in Prospector and visit their domed leisure pool, complete with lazy river and giant water slide (just check the lifeguard hours before you go, since the water features operate only during those hours, which are limited during the school week.) We lucked into an afternoon there where we had the place to ourselves (the lifeguard told me it had been packed before lunch; my kids had spent the morning at ice skating camp in the arena, so we used the pool for a post-lunch “warm down” activity). When my kids were born, my mother, and mother-in-law told me, “If they’re cranky, put them in water.” No piece of advice has been better used in my home. Baths, pools, sprinklers, whatever. And vacations (stay-cations or traveling vacations, alike) often produce extra-tired crankiness. This pool figures heavily into my parenting strategy. And, yes, it’s about the closest you will get to finding me sitting still.

Deer Valley Weight Loss Program- How to Slim Down Without Even Trying

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Nancy Anderson

A friend of mine spent an entire month participating in a live-in healthy weight loss program last summer. The group met with a nutritionist every day and had healthy balanced meals prepared for them on-site. A trainer worked them out six days a week, five to six hours a day both indoors and out.

I was very proud of him that he made a lifetime commitment to his health (and lost a few pounds,) however, the clinic just didn’t seem like much fun especially for an entire month. I thought to myself, instead of booking a month at a boring weight loss clinic, why not put together your own weight loss skiing plan for a month at Deer Valley ski resort? Let’s face it, skiing is a blast and burns a boatload of calories.

Personally, I didn’t lose any weight this ski season. When I stepped on the scale, the needle never budged. But everyone kept asking me if I lost weight. I didn’t but what I lost this ski season was inches — two pant sizes to be exact. Even my feet have shrunk, (which is kind of creepy by the way) and I am buying shoes a half size smaller. Seriously, who cares what the scale says!

The weird thing is I haven’t done anything differently … except for skiing. I still am addicted to pretzels and wheat thins. I drink wine, eat pizza, cookies and chocolate — all in moderation. No deprivation diets in my house! Even so, my pants hang on me and my suits need altering. My body composition has changed with fat being replaced by muscle which is not reflected in the scale. The only explanation I have for this phenomenon is skiing.

Since I had so much fun this ski season, I skied whenever I possibly could even when it was five degrees or snowing. Once I was there, I stayed out until I absolutely had to come in — my inner child wanted to continue playing in the snow! This practice helped me lose inches without even noticing and could work easily for everyone. Anyone wanting to lose their “muffin top” could put together a do-it-yourself weight loss plan and call it the “playing in the snow” program.

According to Livestrong, downhill skiing with moderate effort for a 150 pound person burns about 400 calories per hour. Taking into account the downtime riding the lift, you could easily ski three full hours in a day even with frequent breaks and burn about 1,200 calories a day. You only need a deficit of 3,500 calories to lose a pound of fat. So with a ski program, you could lose inches without severely limiting calories.

Here are some ideas on how to put it together:

Ski three days on and take a rest day the fourth day – repeat for an entire month.

Try cross country classic or skate skiing to mix it up and burn even more calories.

Improve your skills and book some Max-4 lessons.

Incorporate a specialty clinic like the women’s ski weekend where you ski three days in a row with the same group and same instructor.

Eat healthy lunches like the “natural salad bar” or “turkey chili” at Silver Lake Lodge or Snow Park.

Pile your plate high with good healthy delicious food at the Seafood Buffet or Fireside Dining.

If you want to eat the cherry pie, ski an extra half hour that day and indulge with a small portion.

On your rest day, go to the spa at Montage, Stein Eriksen Lodge or St. Regis and get a massage, sit in the sauna, and/or steam room to relax, revitalize tired muscles and pamper yourself.

Now that’s my kind of a weight loss program! You learn a new sport or improve your skills. When you are having fun, of course, you are going to get out there earlier and stay longer. Getting slim by playing in the snow worked for me. Do you think it might work for you?

Leaving My Son in the Dust

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Nancy Anderson

Sons have a special bond with their mothers. Well, at least when they are little since when most kids enter high school they are embarrassed to be seen with their parents. I remember begging my mother to park down the street when she picked me up from school so I didn’t have to be seen getting in the car with….gasp…my mother. She refused, of course. I dreaded the time when my kids didn’t want to be seen with me.

It didn’t happen in high school with my youngest son, Rick (now 23). He seemed to actually like having me around. In fact, he would even dangle his arm over my shoulder at…gasp….the mall! I thought we had bypassed the “my mom is embarrassing” stage until he came home from college saying things like “You aren’t going to wear THAT, are you?” I guess certain things are unavoidable in life.

We came full circle recently when he came to visit. He is now a college graduate and a contributing member of society. He is also a snowboarder but wanted to switch it up and ski with me at Deer Valley. His last memory of me skiing was not a good one – it was well over a year ago when we first moved here and before all my lessons! He even took embarrassing photos of me traversing back and forth across the run and falling since my technique was so poor. He and his brothers ditched me after one run. Who could blame them?

This time was different. He was on skis instead of his board and I had been practicing, taking lessons and attending clinics. He started off on the Wide West run using the “magic carpet” people mover to get his “ski legs” since it had been 12 years since he had been on skis. Once he had the basics down, we headed up the Carpenter Express chairlift to Success.

I planned on taking the Rosebud cut off since it would be a bit easier for him for his first run. He didn’t see me and stayed on Success where the bottom is a tad steeper. I caught up with him and as anticipated, he had some initial challenges and stopped halfway down.

This was my opportunity – one that rarely comes and I wasn’t going to lose it. You see, Rick is a good athlete, and I knew he would quickly pass me up. I wanted to show off my hard work and newly found mad ski skills. So I did what any self respecting mom would do — I executed a controlled sideways slide then an abrupt hockey stop spraying him in the process.

With a straight face, I said, “Let’s face it, I am better than you.”

Then I took off.

We had a great laugh as he told the story to family and friends at Snow Park Lodge. Rick and I skied the rest of the afternoon with my friend Michelle and in no time, he was skiing beautiful turns, enjoying himself and waving at me as he passed me by. His wave, however, was one of respect.

It takes hard work and determination to learn to ski especially when you start after age 50. To be able to spend the day skiing with my son and have him dangle his arm over my shoulder again is a wonderful feeling and definitely worth the effort.

Thank you, Deer Valley.

Looking Back at Another Ski Season

Posted on April 19, 2013 by JF Lanvers

In my December blog, I was trying to see into the future and guess what the new ski season might bring. If you read that piece, you might recall that I had no specific goal in mind. I was just going to “play it by ear” as I had done it for almost six decades. Now, peeking into the crystal ball is over. It’s time to look into the rear view mirror…

One truth I learned this season is that each ski day – just like our fingerprints or our irises – is totally unique. People often say, half-jokingly that there’s “no bad day skiing” and while I subscribe to this truth, I can also assert that each daily ski experience teaches us something remarkable, provides us with one-of-a-kind sensation and makes us constantly view the sport under a fresh angle.

When you live near a ski paradise like Deer Valley Resort, it’s very easy to become spoiled and only go out when all the ski planets and stars are in perfect alignment. It’s so easy to become very picky and, often times, far too demanding. If we don’t keep our attitude in check, we might surprise ourselves muttering “I only do perfect blue-bird days, and today there are just too many jet trails in the sky…” then dismiss another beautiful opportunity to make some great turns. Thank heavens, I have not yet reached that level of decadence!

This said, going out skiing when you live in a ski town truly requires a certain fortitude and discipline. Plus some extra tenacity that can make a whole world of difference between a fun-filled ski season, in which one can get up to speed and enjoy the sport to its fullest, and a succession of sporadic outings where the “ski legs” never seem to appear, even on closing day. Like many, I love powder and was rewarded earlier in April when we received some 18 inches of outstanding new snow. I was able to re-live the soft, forgiving and all-absorbing feelings that come with a generous cushion of genuine Utah dry powder.

Unlike the way I was used to (until last year) when I could get my fix of “pow” on a near daily basis, I made do this season with looking forward to the next snowfall and was quite appreciative when there were only six inches of fresh under my skis instead of the 24 I had come to expect. At this point, I would open a technical parenthesis and say that with the new, extra wide skis, “bottomless” powder has lost its seminal meaning. Moderns skis won’t sink, but for a few inches, no matter how far the hard bottom actually is from the surface!

Of course, I’m not a “dyed-in-the-wool” corduroy guy either, and I remain more attracted by the rough and tumble terrain, the one that is peppered with hidden obstacles like trees, “Volkswagen bumps” and small cliffs, the one that also requires tight turns and accepts the occasional “friction” between rocks, stumps and ski bases. I am talking about the kind of terrain that abounds on the west side of Lady Morgan, Daly Bowl and Chutes, and Son of Rattler, just to name a few famous Deer Valley spots!

All this to say that in a winter with less than average snow, skis used in that type of terrain generally take a beating and, to avoid it, I have overstayed the allotted time I normally use “rock skis,” and extended their short, transitional lives to almost a full season. Of course, in March as the snow turns to spring quality, I had plenty of opportunities to try my brand new skis on Deer Valley’s legendary corduroy, but for the most part, I spent a season taming some very unruly and hard to control “rock skis”.

I do believe that adversity makes us tougher as well as better and this is precisely what this season did to me. After skiing on my sub-par skis for months on end, I had an epiphany when I tried the new boards I had set aside, on some groomed runs or tested them on the April 9, miracle dump! This means I wasted no time: While agonizing on my old skis, I was just getting better and doing my utmost to push-back my own technical decrepitude!

Oh, yes, I almost forgot! There was another great lesson I learned this winter. Early January as I was filming Heidi Voelker, the new snow was beautiful but had blown into the open areas, which combined with a low visibility made skiing tricky, if not treacherous. Filming a fast skier like Heidi on bumpy terrain with a helmet cam isn’t easy either as the main objective is to keep the head – hence the camera – steady, constantly aimed at the skier and of course, try my best to stay in control. Suffice to say that I took at least two spills that cost me tons of energy. I discovered that, at my age, getting back on my feet is much harder than it used to be!

In conclusion, while I didn’t quite make it to the century mark in terms of days I skied this season, I still came quite close to that number with quality and fun-filled skiing, and this is perfectly fine with me. I had some wonderful moments, great memories, not one single bad fall and no collision either; my body is still whole. I am now ready to rest for a few months with the firm intent to do much, much better next season!

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