The new lift will be replacing and somewhat realigning the existing Ski Team lift, transporting skiers and boarders from the PCMR base to the top of Crescent Ridge. From Crescent Ridge, there is direct access to five upper-mountain lifts including: Silverlode, King Con, Bonanza, Pioneer and McConkey’s.

The once-loved, recently-neglected Ski Team lift will retire with little fanfare but many powder-day memories for Park City locals and visitors. The new lift will bring more crowds and a different dynamic to the Ski Team runs including Willy’s Run, Silver King and Erika’s Gold.

The new chair lift is just part of the $10.5 million that PCMR will make in mountain improvements in preparation for the 2008/2009 winter season.

There are plans to cut a new run (an educated guess would be between Shaft and Silver King to serve the new lift) and expand snowmaking in addition to other terrain enhancements.

The Mid-Mountain Lodge will be renovated as PCMR is taking over operations of the restaurant which has been privately run for the last 20 years.

Additionally, Park City Mountain Resort will be move “Green” beginning this June. The resort will be purchasing 100% Renewable Energy to offset the mountains’ power use.

After a epic ski season in the winter of 2008, Park City Mountain is riding the momentum towards a equally good winter in 2009. Of coarse, that will ultimately be up to Mother Nature!

There was no need for rock skis this spring as it was still possible to ski each mountain on Sunday and not see a single brown spot on the ski runs.

With so much snow remaining on closing day, it is likely that the resorts could have easily stayed open for an additional week or two. However, skiers are not that lucky as the Park City area resorts set firm closing dates for employee and financial reasons.

Local skiers are not completely out of luck as four Utah ski resorts remain open. Alta will be closed this week but reopen for April 18-20. Brighton is scheduled to close on April 20. Snowbasin will remain open even longer, closing April 27. Snowbird will stay open until at least May 26, however, they are only open Friday through Sunday after May 11.

No doubt that the 2007/2008 ski season will be remembered in a very good way!

We have broken down you options in to 3 categories: ski resort-run shops, ski shops and ski rental delivery services (also know as ski valet).

Ski Resort Run Rental Shops

These are convenient if you are skiing at the same resort every day or just renting for one day. The downside to these resort-run: there can be extremely long, slow lines.

Park City Mountain Resort

This convenient location (lower level of the Legacy Lodge) is ideal when skiing at Park City Mountain Resort. They have a quality online reservation system and even offer complimentary on-snow overnight storage so you hardly have to carry your skis at all.

800-222-PARK

Deer Valley Ski Rentals

Locations on the lower level of Snow Park Lodge, Silver Lake Plaza and at The Lodges offer convenient solutions for those hitting the slopes at Deer Valley. Just don’t try to rent snowboards here!

888-754-8477

The Canyons (Canyon Mountain Sports)

If you are staying at The Grand Summit, Sundial Lodge, or Silverado Lodge, Canyon Mountain Sports will come to you room to fit your boots and set you up. They also offer the “Gold Medal Demo Program” which allows you to demo skis and then apply the money you spend demo-ing toward you new skis once you find the pair you want.

435-615-3441

Ski Rental Shops

For most people, I would recommend using one of these fine Park City ski rental shops. Most offer quality skis, competitive prices, shorter lines, convenient locations and knowledgeable staff.

Aloha Ski and Snowboard Rental (Precision Ski Rental)

Aloha locations on Main Street, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons. You can make your ski rental reservation online and they also offer ski delivery service with a 3 day minimum ski rental.

877-222-7600

Destination Sports

Destination has two shops near the base of the Town Lift and their selection includes: Volkl, K2, Atomic, Marker, Fischer and Blizzard. They offer ski delivery (with 2 day minimum rental) and kids under 6 are free with an adult rental.

435-645-5336 (lower Main Street) or 435-940-0140 (Shops at the Town Lift)

Breeze Ski Rentals

Breeze has two convenient locations at PCMR and one at The Canyons. You get 20% off if you reserve your ski rental online. Breeze offers competitive pricing that is mostly geared for beginners and intermediates.

888.427.3393

Bahnhof Sports

At Bahnhof, you can reserve online and have you skis delivered right to your door or you can swing by their shop near the base of the Town Lift on Main Street. The staff is knowledgeable and will match you up with the correct equipment.

866-645-9702

Jans Mountain Outfitters

Jans rents skis from Rossignol, K2, Atomic, Head, and Volkl. The have online reservations and many convenient locations (1600 Park Avenue, Park City Mountain Resort and Snow Park Lodge at Deer Valley). Also, if you are an advanced/expert skier, their is Jans Park City Mountain Resort Performance Rentals, Jans Rennstall Tech Center at Park City Mountain Resort and the Jans/Rossignol Test-Center at the Empire Lodge at Deer Valley (you can demo high-performance Rossignol skis for free)

800-745-1020

Cole Sport

Cole Sport is known for high-performance ski gear. They are recommended for those of you looking for top-of-the-line skis and gear. Cole Sport has locations at PCMR, Deer Valley (Silver Lake) and their main store on Park Ave. They offer online ski rental reservations and a knowledgeable staff.

435-649-4800 (PCMR) 435-649-4806 (Park Ave) 435-649-4601 (Sliver Lake)

Park City Sport

Park City Sport is a great choice for those skiing at Park City Mountain Resort. You can print off a 20% off coupon from their website. Although they have online reservations, I would not recommend it at this point because it does not appear to be secure. Park City Sport rents Salomon, Rossignol, K2, Volkl and Dynastar for all ability levels. The staff is very friendly and they are highly recommended. They also offer FREE overnight storage so that you don’t have to lug you skis back to your condo every day.

800-523-3922

Christy Sports - Deer Valley

Christy Sports is located at Silver Lake of Deer Valley so it is really only convenient for those staying in Upper Deer Valley. They give a 20% discount for making an online reservation 3 days in advance.

435-649-2909

Ski Delivery Services (Ski Valet)

If you don’t mind spending a few extra dollars, these services can save you a lot of time and give you personalized service. They come to you to fit and deliver your ski equipment and then also come pick it up from you when you are done. It doesn’t get much easier.

Ski Butlers

Skis from industry leaders such as Rossignol, Volkl, Elan, Fischer, Marker and Nordica can be delivered direct to your door. Reservations can be made by phone or online and they give 10% off for reservations 7 days in advance.

435-658-0458

Black Tie Ski Rentals

Yet another ski rental delivery service that serves PCMR, Deer Valley and The Canyons. Skis rented include premier brands like Atomic, Dynastar, K2, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Stockli and Volkl.

888-333-4754

Skis On The Run

This is the most well-known of the ski delivery services in Park City. They offer skis from K2, Volkl, Rossignol, Salomon, Dynastar, Nordica and Atomic.

888-488-0744

Door 2 Door by Christy Sports

This is the ski delivery extension of Christy Sports which is has a rental shop at Silver Lake in Deer Valley. Information is hard to navigate on their website.

866-323-7547 or 435-649-7872

A huge sun-soaking, beer-drinking crowd witnessed 100 competitors “attempt” to ski and snowboard across the icy abyss. Some competitors stayed dry and others failed miserably.

The Pond Skimming winners were:

Best Costume: Scott Hendrick & Rachael Paskiewicz, “Lactating Breasts”
Best Splash & Crash: Tom Casper, “Boozy the Clown”
Best Overall Male & Best Overall Female: Robb & Aniya Langjahr, “Til Death Do Us Part, Dead Groom and Bride”

To feel like you were there, watch the following videos:

Rob and John show that there is more to Pond Skimming day than just Pond Skimming–

The Canyons put together this one, see the competitors in action–

Overall, a good showing by the local Park City skiers and snowboarders. The Pond Skimming was followed by a free concert by Soul Asylum in the Resort Village.

Other “Spring Gruv” events at The Canyons this spring include concerts by Slightly Stoopid (April 3, 2008), Metal Gods (April 4, 2008) and Rusted Root (April 5, 2008). In addition, the Canis Lupus Challenge took place on Sunday, March 30.

Already looking forward to next years Pond Skimming!