I have a dream...

[Uisce Beatha]

http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_7729145

LOL @ the comments.  What a bunch of inbred dip*feces*s. 

I skied for 25 years before I switched to boarding.  They're both wonderful and they both have their eejits.  One of the comments referenced the moguls at Alta v. those at Snowbird.  First thought was that boarders keep away from the bumps for the most part.  Unlike low intermediate skiers who traverse barely in control from side to side and chop the downhill side of the mogul to shreds.  Those who do know how to ski them are subjected to a clattering from top to bottom.

I board at Brighton mostly which is a bid of a boarders' mecca.  The only distasteful thing about most of the boarders there are that they're 20 years old and act accordingly.    Nothing to do with what's on their feet.  I recall being a teenage *bunghole* on skis before boards existed.

[Fuzzy]

This is very interesting. Around here if boards weren't allowed ski hills would cease to exist. It's easily 50-50 on any given day I've been out. I knew Alta didn't allow boards but I thought they were the only one out there.

From the "I have lots of black/gay/hispanic friends argument:

I'd just as soon not be around those people - on the ski slopes. It's not that I don't like them off of the slopes

 

And this is priceless:

We are three generations of skiers and are horrified the mountain will be ruined by snowboarders who have no respect for the mountain and are usually out-of-control.

Screw you lady.

I skied when I was a kid because quite frankly that was it. There was no such thing as snowboards. I started snowboarding about 3-4 years ago when my daughter got a plastic "snowboard" from Target. She's never had ski's on her feet.

I think 'boarding is a blast and I've never really understood the backlash. I like doing both and agree that there are jerks on both skis and boards but mostly people do respect each other. Of course I haven't spent a lot of time out West so I'm not sure if it's more of a problem there. I didn't personally see it the couple of times I've been in Colorado. Around here the teenage "*bunghole*s" mainly stick to the terrain parks trying to out-do each other. I'm old enough to know better.

Brighton, ya say....may have to check that out. 

[Uisce Beatha]

Boarders are prevalent and perhaps outnumber skiers on pretty much every mountain in No. Utah.  The two clear exceptions being Deer Valley and Alta.

Deer Valley: Pretentious and over-priced.  Caters to a certain crowd, treats them like gold, restricts the number of people on the mountain and grooms the chit out of the place.  Think of it as the Trump Towers of ski resorts.  I've skied there once (too rich for my blood usually) and had my $10 hamburger lunch one table away from JFK Jr.  That's Deer Valley in a nutshell.   

Alta:  Oh, Alta.  What a magnificent mountain.  We used to sluff school and head up to Alta for $7 on weekdays.  It's an expert mountain with the best powder in the state.  I'd kill to board there.  They have an elitist attitude there but it's more Granola than Hollywood.  I don't hate them just yet.   

I grew up with Big Cottonwood season passes which gave me Solitude and Brighton.  I still love Brighton although I admit we go there now because it's cheap and family friendly.  I pay $135 for my son and $50 for my daughter for unlimited season passes.  My wife and I buy discount books and get all-days for something like $35 each.  Definitely cost-effective but you don't give anything up at all.  Great mountain, runs for every skill level and about as close to the SLC airport as you can get.

If you ever make it this way I'll be happy to give you a tour of the mountain.   

[Fuzzy]

 I pay $135 for my son and $50 for my daughter for unlimited season passes.  My wife and I buy discount books and get all-days for something like $35 each. 

 

That is unbelievable. From where I sit there is nothing that compares, value-wise, to those prices when you factor in snow conditions and the fact you're on a true mountain and not a big hill. 

How late in the spring does the season last in Utah??

[Uisce Beatha]

The season goes into May probably although I've hung it all up and am golfing on Sundays by then.  While I'd try to get in 40-50 days as a kid I shoot for about 10 now.  We go maybe once before Christmas and then wait until the holiday crowd clears out after New Year and hit it hard (skipping MLK Jr. Day and Presidents Day of course) though about mid- to late-April.  I've skied in July on Little Cloud at the top of Snowbird though.  I've also skied in October, with lifts running, at both Solitude and Brighten.  It's a pretty long season if you want it to be.

In case you're interested - http://skibrighton.com/

[lennyquai]

How late in the spring does the season last in Utah??

When my wife and I lived out there, we were typically skiing into mid-April - usually Alta or Solitude.  It's great skiing with a t-shirt and shell and still getting warm. 

Ditto the great value in Cottonwood.  We used to ski Deer Valley a bit as well, because my wife took a year off from real life and worked up there 2 seasons. 

Definitely worth getting out there, Fuzzy.  The great thing about Utah skiing is that you have something like 7 or 8 resorts within 45 minutes of getting in the rental car.

[Fuzzy]

The reason I asked about the season length is that if I were to head out it would probably be over our spring break in March.

I've heard nothing but good things about the mountains in Utah and would love to do it some day. Getting to Colorado is easier due to the fact our company has a facility in the Springs and I get out there occasionally. But  now that my daughter has started to bug me about going out west I'd like to do something more like a vacation. 

[Uisce Beatha]

March is as good as it gets IMO.  Chances are you'll get 140" base and at least half your days in sunshine.  It still snows enough to keep things fresh but it's not super cold and stormy like you can get in Jan/Feb.