contributors: utah firsts
Jill Robinson Jeremy Pugh
Scene: I’m 17 years old. Dating a girl way above my weight class. It's Sunday night, we are doing homework. She: “Mom, can we skip school and go skiing tomorrow?” Me: Like that’s going to happen. Mom: “Sure, if Jeremy’s mom says he can go.” Me: Wait. What? This was to be my first day skiing—a blur of yard sales around Brighton. But she was a patient instructor and by the end of the day, I was keeping up(ish). Her brunette pony tail flashing as she cruised effortlessly in front of me still floats up on long cruisey runs, a pleasant wisp of youth. @verydynamite
Pamela M. Olson
Living my entire life in Utah (except for three months in Colorado working an intern- ship for High Country News), I could have become immune to my home state’s phenomenal beauty, jaded by its postcard panoramas and unimpressed by the powder. Not the case. I discovered the state's blue-ribbon fly-fishing at 38, alpine skiing at 39 and fine whiskey at 40. As Utah's dis- tillery scene—not to mention the food scene—blooms, I'm along for the ride, letting my palate lead to discovery. @pamelamo
Melissa Fields
It was dumping as we arrived at the Jupiter lift. My roommate, Michelle, chatted easily while I began to sweat. I’d just moved to Park City and had never skied powder. “Just point your skis, keep your hands in front and wiggle your butt,” she instructed. We bumped over a traverse and when the trees cleared, she turned and disappeared into a white cloud. I managed three turns before popping out of my skis. When I emerged from the bottomless snow, Michelle called up from below me, “Let's meet at 1 for lunch!” and skied off. That's when I learned: "There are no friends on a powder day." @utahvagabond
After my first ski day in Park City, I meandered among the Sundance Film Festival attendees on Main Street before picking a spot in the front window of the No Name Saloon where I created a drinking game. Sequins, stilettos and fur each got one point = one sip and all three in one outfit was a home run = drink it down. Luckily, I quit while I was behind and had an awesome second day of skiing. @dangerjr
Erika Wiggins
It was late October. Autumn colors contrasted with the early snowfall. I was blown away! I returned over the next few months to explore the mountains and learn to ski… proving that middle-aged gals can learn new tricks. Utah’s beauty, outdoor adventure options and killer foodie scene, sealed the deal. I packed up my life and moved West. Today, my favorite destination is home.
@active_explorer
Lee Cohen Mike Schirf Jay Burke
My first Utah memory is skiing off the tram at Snowbird. It was 1979, and the resort was still relatively new. Powder magazine consistently piqued my interest featuring this snow filled Euro-style ski hill. I was raised in Idaho skiing a small mountain, so the thought, and then reality, of skiing out of a tram was monumental! Today, the moguls are smaller, the steeps and pow dumps never get old and the ride up on tram takes me back to 1979. @jride13
I’ll never forget coming home to Park City for Christmas break my sophomore year of college. I was racing for the University of New Hampshire and figured, while I was home, I would race in the Eric Hays Memorial race. The first day of racing didn’t go very well and then that night it snowed over a foot at Alta. A few friends and I skipped the next day’s race just to free ski. It was on that day at Alta that I decided it was time to move back to Utah. I haven’t missed a single winter since. @schirfphoto
10
skiutah.com | 2016–17
Jay Dash I woke up to blue skies and headed to Snowbird, where it had snowed 15” overnight. I knew it was going to be a great day. I saw an untouched area of snow and told my buddy I was dropping in and would meet him at the lift. There was a reason this area was un- tracked. I had to hike out 30 minutes back to the groomer. In retrospect, the hike out was worth it, but to this day I avoid dropping in areas that look too good to be true! @jaydashphotography
I was 19 the first time I rolled into Utah. At the state line I saw translucent flakes falling in my headlights; they were a sign of what was to come. I remember some locals taking me to Gunsight at Alta the next day. I had never hiked for untracked powder before and it seemed like an incredible adventure. Of course nowa- days with all the sidecountry and backcountry skiing, it no longer seems like much, but back then the earn-your- turns credo at Alta was pretty special. Skiing today is quite different than 1978, but there are still those mega days when the vibe is just the same. @leecohen_pics
Austen Diamond
Looking down a chute from 9,990 feet on my first pow- der day, I thought to myself, “What the hell have I gotten myself into?” This was a far cry from Ober Gatlinburg—the resort nearby my hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.—where there's more powder on the funnel cakes than snow on the peaks. At least I had traded in my blue jeans and a Starter jacket for Gore-Tex gear, which would protect me from what was about to be cart- wheels down the mountain. It's nine years later and I don’t miss that flatlander's Starter jacket one bit. @austendiamond
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100