Rocky Mountain Voices » Ski Guides

Deer Valley Resort Uses Social Media to Promote Freestyle World Cup

Brad Baldwin — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 19:40:37 +0000

When Deer Valley Resort wanted to reach the Gen Xer’s and Y’s to market the Freestyle FIS World Cup, they turned to social networking and new media distribution like YouTube. Erin Grady, Deer Valley’s Communications Manager, worked with the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau to create a short, 5 minute Video Podcast that could be uploaded to YouTube and linked to blogs, MySpace pages, and web sites where local skiers hang out. “We knew that the younger crowd gets a lot of their information through interactive mediums, so that’s why we selected social media and podcasting,” said Grady. Since the event includes free concerts from The Samples and The Wailers (the reggae band made famous by Family Man and Bob Marley) in addition to the freestyle competition, the web is a perfect medium to reach out.

Video was selected because watching some of the world’s most incredible winter sports athletes perform aerials, flips, and amazing moves is something that has to be seen. The video also highlights scenes of downtown Park City Utah which helps promote tourism for the Park City Chamber to those who want to use the web to see the destination and what is offered to those who visit.

Freestyle FIS World Cup is being held January 11 – 13, 2007 at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah.

Attention Skiers: Alta is for you!

Brad Baldwin — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:30:18 +0000

If you’re a skier, then you’ve got to visit Alta Ski Area at least once in your life. As one of the first ski resorts in the United States, Alta keeps its heritage and focus on the skier top of mind. Voted the top ski resort in the US for secret powder stashes by readers of Ski Magazine says a lot about the mountain.

As Connie Marshall of Alta describes it, Alta’s powder is something that has to be experienced, not just talked about. From big, open, tree-less bowls, to tight tree-lined glades, to amazingly long cruiser runs, Alta makes a believer out of every visitor. And if you’re up for adventure, visitors at Alta can define their own runs in powder that’s never been seen by others. Alta offers something for everyone, from the beginner, to intermediate, and finally, the advanced skier. And to show their dedication to the environment, Alta looks to nature and wind to provide 35 percent of their power for the 2006-2007 ski year.

Deer Valley — Luxury, Gourmet, Service-Focused Ski Resort

Brad Baldwin — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 01:23:47 +0000

If you’re looking for the country-club feel, then Deer Valley is for you. Voted number one (#1) in the US for grooming, service, and food by readers of Ski Magazine, Deer Valley has everything to indulge in luxurious vacation on the slopes. From attendants that take your skis from your car to the mountain, from one-on-one mountain tours, to the limited number or skiers per day, to a mid-mountain gourmet lunch out on a sunny patio, you’re guaranteed to experience a level of service you can only dream about.

Erin Grady gives a personalized overview of Deer Valley resort, including recommended selections from the gourmet restaurants, lifts for beginners, and even the family-friendly ski school. Deer Valley is just three (3) miles from Main Street in Park City. So you can enjoy the day skiing and hit all the popular night spots. If you’re flying in, you can also ski free the day of arrival on your boarding pass.

Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort

Park City Mountain Resort — Watch for Shawn White on the Half Pipe

Brad Baldwin — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:43:57 +0000

Park City Mountain Resort, voted number 1 (#1) three years running for it’s terrain park, attracts the world’s best winter athletes, like Shawn White. Why? Because it’s 3,500 acres offers so much for every type and level of skier. If you’re a snowboarder, you’ll find friends and spectators to watch you — perhaps you’ll even be caught on film by a passing helicopter. If you’re a skier, there’s long groomed cruiser runs or powder-filled runs that take you from top of the mountain all the way to downtown. Beginners, intermediate, and advanced skiers will all feel that Park City is home for them.

Park City offers a ski planner to make sure you can make the most of your visit. And with all the improvements from the 2002 Winter Olympics, visitors to Park City can experience what made converts around the world of Utah’s fluffy powder skiing. With everything from spas, to shopping, to family-friendly eating establishments, to amazing nightlife, Park City offers something for everyone.

And one more thing: Park City Mountain Resort also offers the Ski Free on your Boarding Pass. So get up to the slopes early and ski free.

Solitude Mountain Resort: If You Only Knew

Brad Baldwin — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 23:56:26 +0000

When you drive into the parking lot at Solitude Mountain Resort, you can kiss your car goodbye. And that’s a good thing, because the quaint mountain village offers all the amenities you’ll need for a day or a week. Solitude’s small and friendly feel is something the destination skier will long remember.

And there’s the mountain. With $6 million in new investment this year, high-speed lifts, amazing corduroy grooming, and lots of terrain, including the double-black diamond Honeycomb Canyon, what’s not to like about Solitude. If you get tired of skiing, snowshoe under a moonlit night out to a gourmet dinner at The Yurt on the mountain that is limited to 22 lucky participants each night. No wonder the Solitude marketing slogan, “If you only knew” hits the mark with visitors.

Photo Credit: Solitude Mountain Resort

Brighton Ski and Snowboarding Guide: Top-to-Bottom Terrain Parks

Brad Baldwin — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:30:55 +0000

Brighton offers the highest base elevation of any resort in Utah and is a ski and snowboarding paradise. Why? Because as Chris Searle — Director of the Ski School — describes it, the mountain layout at Brighton offers top-to-bottom terrain parks. And if you think terrain park is only for the boarder, the skier can also try something besides groomed trails or glade skiing through trees at Brighton. And this is just one reason Brighton has become a local’s favorite and a memory maker for the destination visitor.

Just 35 minutes from Salt Lake City airport at the top of Big Cottonwood canyon, Brighton is a family-friendly resort and caters to all levels. The mountain offers plenty for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced visitor. Snowboarders love the terrain that encourages daring jumps, rail rides, and spinning tricks. Skiers find a variety of runs, both groomed and ungroomed, that bring a smile to the face and a burn to the thighs.

Cool, don’t miss event: Winter Solstice Fireworks and Night Skiing, December 22, 2006

The Canyons, Big Improvements to a Big Mountain

Brad Baldwin — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 17:15:21 +0000

The Canyons resort is just 30 minutes from the Salt Lake City International Airport. Fly in from JFK in the morning and call your buddies from the mountain by noon local time. And if you present your boarding pass, you can ski or board for free the day of your arrival.

And speaking of skiing or boarding, there’s lots of it on The Canyons expansive 3,700 acre mountain, including 200 new acres accessed by the new Dream Catcher lift.

If you haven’t been to The Canyons before, put it on your agenda. If you haven’t been back in a while, the $10 million in improvements for the 2006-2007 ski year will certainly make the resort feel different and new.

Snowbird Guide for Skiers and Snowboarders

Brad Baldwin — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:15:47 +0000

With over 500 inches of annual snowfall and a host of awards, Snowbird offers a mountain and the amenities for every skier or snowboarder. If your after power, an expansive mountain, restaurants and night-life-a-plenty, nearly 900 rooms in a full-service lodge, and much more, it’s hard to beat the experience offered by Snowbird.

Laura Schaffer, Director of Public Relations, took time to update us on all the additions at Snowbird for the 2006-2007 season, including the much anticipated “tunnel.” Picture a 600-foot moving “ski-way” through the mountain that opens entirely new terrain in Mineral Basin for the intermediate and advanced skier.

Most importantly, Laura shares her on-site, local knowledge of the best runs for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced skier or rider. Plan your day based on your skill with Laura’s help. Check out the Snowbird Snowcam for a visual update.

Ski Utah’s Perspective on Resorts, Snow, Amenities

Brad Baldwin — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 21:42:11 +0000

Ski Utah provides a unique service to the state of Utah. Ski Utah promotes skiing and snowboarding in Utah as the best destintation. And it’s big business. I learned that skiing is a $700M impact to the Utah economy.

Hilary Reiter from Ski Utah brought me up to speed on all the happenings in the ski industry here in Utah. Whether your visit the Ski Utah.com web site, request a brochure, access resort facts (awesome wrap-up of all resorts), or even get an email snow report, Ski Utah provides the latest about the Greatest Snow on Earth.

And to give us all that daily “experience” of skiing, Kent Hyden is the keeper of the Ski Utah Blog. He’s got the tough job of visiting Utah resorts, skiing or boarding all day, and then coming home and writing, posting pictures, and uploading video. Kent, if you every need a “fill-in,” I’m sure I can offer my services!