Park City Lodging, Inc. partners with U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation  

Park City Lodging, Inc. has partnered with the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USBSF) as a premier sponsor for the coming 2012/13 season.  The agreement, which was finalized by both parties in March, designates Park City Lodging as the “Official Park City Lodging Partner” to the USBSF.

Team USA 1 loads at the start, photo courtesy Charlie Booker

“What better way to show our support to the athletes than to provide accommodations to support the team who are training so hard and who are dedicated to bringing home the gold for the U.S.,” said Rhonda Sideris, Park City Lodging President.  “We are delighted to provide them with the comforts of our lodging as they train and compete in Park City.”

As the Official Park City Lodging Partner, Park City Lodging will provide housing and lodging accommodations for the USBSF members and teams during Park City, Utah events for the 2012/13 season, including the Park City World Cup taking place Nov. and Dec. of 2012.

“I was really excited when my National Team General Manager, Lenny Kasten, introduced me to the folks at Park City Lodging because I knew how valuable this kind of partnership could be,” said Darrin Steele, USBSF Chief Executive Officer.  “We are thrilled to partner with such a great Park City organization.”

Park City Lodging will receive logo placement on USBSF team jackets and premier logo placement on all National Team bobsleds for the entire 2012/2013 World Cup/World Championship Season.

“They are an established organization with great lodging partnerships in the community that will allow our athletes to stay in a comfortable residential environment while training and competing,” Steele said.  “It provides a feeling of a home away from home, which helps our athletes compete at their best.”

Park City Lodging offers accommodations in and around Park City, including Main Street, Deer Valley and Canyons.  With over 28 years of experience hosting guests for events such as the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the Sundance Film Festival, the Park City Arts and Fidelity Jazz Festivals, the Deer Valley Music Festival and ski fanatics visiting the various mountain resorts, Park City Lodging was a natural fit for the U.S. team.

“This is such an exciting opportunity and we are honored to house the athletes and bring the spirit of the Olympic Games back to Park City,” said Sideris.   “We feel lucky to be a part of that.”

Mountain Biking in Park City, Utah

Attention Mountain Biking Enthusiasts!  Park City Lodging, Inc. is now a Corporate Member and an official Destination Partner of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), which is a non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great mountain biking experiences.  As an IMBA member, Park City Lodging, Inc. is joining a community of over 80,000 mountain biking enthusiasts.

What does this mean?… We are honored that Park City was named the first-ever Gold Ride Center® in the world, and we wanted to  help promote Park City as a major mountain biking destination… because after all, it is!  Now we can further support the mountain bike tourism industry, while providing valuable trip-planning resources to IMBA’s 80,000 members and numerous visitors, just like you.

In November 2011, IMBA designated Park City, UT as the first and only Gold Ride Center®, making it the model for all IMBA Ride Center Programs.  According to IMBA’s website, The Ride Center® designation represents IMBA’s Model Trail recognition for large-scale mountain bike facilities that offer something for every rider.  The IMBA staff selects candidates for Ride Centers recognition on an invitation-only basis.

Facts about Mountain Biking in Park City:

• Park City boasts over 350 miles of trails, ranging in elevation from roughly 7,000 ft. to 10,000 ft.
• We have a variety terrain for any ability level or any style of riding – from beginner and intermediate to advanced, expert and extreme!
• Each Park City Resort – Deer Valley, Park City Mountain and Canyons – offers lift-served mountain biking options.
• Deer Valley was rated by Mountain Bike Action as one of the ten best mountain destinations with over 50 miles of panoramic single and double track trails.
• Last summer Canyons Resort introduced an all-new bike park located mid-mountain.  The park includes a Skills Park and three different skill-level trails with a variety of features serviced by the High Meadow lift.
• Trailside Bike Park: There are roughly 2.5 miles of singletrack and hard surface trails around the park. The skills park and the new Trailside Bike Park are located just above the upper parking lot off the Upper Trailside Loop Trail.
• Two Words: Convenience and Accessibility – Park City is located only 35 miles from the Salt Lake International Airport, so you can catch a morning a flight and be on the mountain with plenty of time to ride all in the same day!  Plus, many of our trails are easily accessible and are within pedaling distance of many of our lodging options.

Bottom Line: Park City is a haven for mountain biking enthusiasts and for families to enjoy.  Our variety of terrain, bike parks and scenic cruises are perfect for all ability levels. And not to mention the plethora of other summer activities in Park City from hiking, fly fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding, rafting, farmers markets, live music, and so much more!

As an IMBA Destination Partner, Park City Lodging, Inc. is able to provide you with the perfect mountain experience and getaway.  We manage more than 150 properties in and around Park City, including Main Street, Deer Valley and Canyons.  Guests have the option of staying at a bike-in/bike-out hotel, condominium or private home with easy access to the trails.  We also partner with local businesses to offer our guests special discounts on bike rentals and equipment.

International Mountain Bicycling Association

So make Park City your mountain biking destination this summer and let our destination specialists at Park City Lodging, Inc. help you plan the perfect mountain adventure!

In the News: IMBA and Park City Lodging, Inc. – click here to read the article

Most visitors come to Park City ready to shred Utah’s Greatest Snow on Earth®.  Where else can you find one big playground with three world-class resorts all located within 10 miles of each other?  Add that together and you’re looking at nearly 10,000 acres of accessible terrain and a variety of roughly 400 designated runs and trails for any level of skier/rider.

But maybe skiing/snowboarding isn’t for everyone in your group.  Or perhaps you’re looking for a unique experience during your visit.  No matter what your reason, did you know there is a plethora of other mountain activities awaiting you in Park City?

Bottom line:  whether winter or summer, the adventures in Park City are limitless…

Check out the list of options of other winter activities in Park City:

Alpine Coaster Ride - photo courtesy of Park City Mountain Resort

Park City Mountain Resort:

Experience the thrill of heading down the mountain in a different way…  Hop on the Alpine Coaster at PCMR and get ready for laughter and screams as you fly down the mountain in your toboggan-style car!  Or elevate your vacation experience by riding the Flying Eagle Zip Line. The 2-person ride starts and finishes at the same location, so you can ride again and again!  Enjoy an unforgettable evening under the stars in a snowcat-pulled sleigh ride up PCMR’s runs followed by live piano music and a five course gourmet meal in the Viking Yurt, new to PCMR this season.

Canyons Resort:

Looking for something a little extreme?  Experience the thrill of soaring over Canyons Resort on their mid-mountain Zip Tour. The Red Pine Zip Tour will take you on an 800 foot long tree top ride through the Red Pine Lodge area. The Lookout Zip Tour flies you across the canyon between Lookout Peak and Red Pine Lodge spanning over 2,111 feet.  Or grab the kids and take the Groomer Ride-Along tour for a 2-hour ride in a state-of-the-art snow cat with one of Canyons’ highly-trained operators.

Gorgoza Tubing Park (photo from Park City Mountain Resort)

Gorgoza Tubing Park:

The Gorgoza Tubing Park isn’t just for kids. Grab your entire family and group of friends and head over to the lift-served tubing park for an unforgettable adventure! The tubing hill consists of three lifts, including two conveyor lifts, and seven different tubing lanes which provide plenty of options to choose from. There is also a separate tubing hill for the little ones.

Comet Bobsled (photo from Utah Olympic Park)

Utah Olympic Park:

Oh yeah… did I mention Park City is home to the Utah Olympic Park? Not only do visitors have the opportunity to experience and relive the history of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, but the UOP offers one-of-a-kind activities for all ages! Where else can you experience the thrill of the Comet Bobsled Ride? That’s right! One of UOP’s professional pilots takes three passengers on a thrilling ride down the entire length of the Olympic track. In less than a mile, you’ll rip through 15 turns, reach speed of about 80 mph, and experience up to 5 G’s of force. Or hop on the Skeleton Sled and experience what it’s like to go head first on the Olympic track, reaching speeds up to 50 mph! Other activities include a Guided Tour of the Utah Olympic Park and don’t forget to check out the Museums to see a gallery of visual highlights and artifacts from the 2002 games.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Other Activities:

Take the family ice skating or learn how to skate! The Park City Ice Arena is an enclosed facility that services many different ice activities, including open skating sessions, learn to skate, curling, speed skate and play hockey lessons, private lessons and drop-in hockey. For an unforgettable adventure, take a Hot Air Balloon Ride and experience a view of Utah and her majestic mountains unlike any other!

As I was saying… the activities and adventures are boundless in Park City, and there’s something for your entire group to enjoy. So be sure to experience all that Park City has to offer during your visit!  Click on any of the highlighted links for more information.

Have fun!

We all know this has been a crazy winter with lack of snow and warmer temperatures, but this wasn’t the case for Utah over the past 72 hours.  I suppose Mother Nature wanted to bless the coming of Spring because the resorts in Park City, and all around Utah, received 24 inches of snow – or more!

It all started Sunday, March 18, when I woke up the morning after a festive St. Patrick’s Day (to say the least)… I looked outside the window and there it was… snow had covered the earth and Park City was once again the heavenly and beautiful white we love so much.  And it didn’t stop there… it continued to snow all day Sunday, Sunday night and all day Monday as well.  As the locals like to say, “it was puking out there!”  So this could only mean one thing — POWDER DAY!

I am originally from the Midwest and this is my first official winter season living in Park City, so you can only imagine the slight disappointment I’ve had because of our snow conditions.  Especially after the crazy record-breaking amounts of snow the nation received last year.  So when the powder opportunity arrived, you better believe I was geared up and ready to head to Canyons Resort! And let me tell you, it was crazy, awesome, breathtaking, exhausting and so much fun all rolled into one.  Mother Nature kept playing tricks on us, though… one minute the snow is dumping and I can’t see anything in the low light, and the next minute the sun was shining.  So you just had to go with the flow and go for it… For all  you other powder-lovers out there, I hope you were able to enjoy as well.

For a complete snow report on the Utah Resorts, click here.  I know you might be looking into those summer beach destinations, but I’m not convinced that winter is over quite yet.  Park City Lodging, Inc. is offering amazing end-of-the-seasons specials and discounts.  Be sure to check out our Specials page and call one of our destination specialists to find the perfect lodging deal that’s right for you and your budget.  Hey, this could be you out there… just sayin’…

Spring Powder Day 3.19.12

View from Canyons Resort

Come and get that POWDER!

This has been one heck of a winter.  The lack of snow worldwide has not only caused depression among local powderhounds, but it has also caused dangerous conditions on the mountain that can lead to serious injuries if you’re not safe out there or if you don’t know the proper protocol on the mountain.  Avalanches across the globe have already claimed numerous lives this season and destroyed an entire chairlift in France.  Across The Alps there have been many wet snow avalanches and the U.S. is no exception.  According to an article by PlanetSki, “In the USA the authorities say the avalanches follow high levels of snow followed by rapidly rising temperatures.”  And this can been seen in Utah with temperatures in the 50s, sunny skies and melting snow.

A recent and tragic incident to a near and dear friend in Park City has ignited me to post and share these safety tips with you.  Several of my roommates have fallen victim to snow injuries this season including torn MCL, broken back, sprained knees and most recently, a freak accident that claimed the right foot of my good friend.  I ask that you please read these mountain safety tips to ensure you’re being safe out there this spring and to prevent any injury or loss that can happen to anyone…even experts and professionals.

Spring Skiing in Park City

Spring time is a great time to be on the mountain… warmer temperatures mean fewer layers and no more frozen hands and feet.  The sun is always shining and the skies are so blue, it’s like seeing the ocean, only above.  While skiing in the sun can be more fun, it also means the conditions are more dangerous.  The snow freezes overnight, but then melts and gets slushy during the day, which causes more terrain to be exposed that was once hidden.  Plus, the lack of early snow this past winter means terrain that normally gets covered by the white fluff is exposed more than usual; not to mention, loosening snow can lead to an avalanche.  Whether you’re planning a last minute vacation or you live in a ski town, here are some tips to keep you safe this spring when shredding the mountain*:

1. Wear a Helmet!  I know it might not be cool in your opinion and I know how much you love your beanies, but protecting your noggin and your beautiful mind is way more important than potential concussions, brain injuries and even death.  All the professionals wear one when competing and in the Olympics, so what’s not cool about it?  Not to mention that companies are now offering numerous different styles, colors and features, so you can listen to your music and color coordinate your outfit while wearing a sweet helmet to protect your head.  And then you can whip out your beanie when it’s time for the apres scene.

Warning!

2. Follow the Rules.  You’re having a great time on the mountain, the sun is shining and you come upon the “Ski Area Boundary: Area Beyond NOT Patrolled,”  or “Permanently Closed,” but you decide, what the heck…  I know it’s fun to be spontaneous and I know you want to find untouched snow on the mountain.  But this season, it’s just not worth it.  Unpredictable terrain or a possible avalanche can lie ahead and that’s just not worth the risk of injury or your life.  And hey, there’s always next season for the chance of greater snow, mountain exploration and boundless backcountry.  Just be sure to wear your helmet.

3. Come Prepared.  Warmer temperatures can lead to increased chances of dehydration.  If you’re heading out to the mountain be sure to bring a small pack with all the essentials including enough water to keep you hydrated and your cell phone – make sure it’s charged too.  Thank heavens my friend had his cell phone with him to call 911.  He was thrown 20 ft. into the trees and no one could see him from the run and it was toward the end of the day, so there was less people on the mountain.  Who knows how long he could have been stuck there…  Other items to consider bringing are sunscreen – the sun is more powerful at higher altitudes and it reflects off the snow; An extra layer in case the temperature decreases rapidly and perhaps a light snack to keep your energy levels up.

4. Get your Weather Update.  I don’t care if you watch the news or use an app on your smartphone.  Just know the predicted weather forecast for the day so that you’re prepared for the best – or the worst – possible scenario.  Also view the latest avalanche report for your area before heading to the backcountry.

The bottom is line to come prepared, be knowledgeable of the day’s conditions and simply to be smart out there.  There are other safety tips to consider when heading to the mountain.  To read up those, you can click on the links below (I have provided several sites with safety information).  The point of this post, however, is to help you stay safe out there during the remainder of the 2012 Spring Season.

*The following tips are either my own personal opinion or have been borrowed from the following sources/websites.  For more information or to read further, please click on the links below:

Sports Medicine Spring Skiing

PlanetSki: Avalanche Warning for Skiers

Spring Tips from Park City Mountain Resort

Safety Tips from the National Ski Areas Association

Jeffery Denney

On Saturday, March 10th, 2012, a close friend to many of us in Park City had an unfortunate accident at Canyons Resort that has altered his life forever. Jeffery Denney had a freak accident when he caught an edge at high speed that flung him from the cat track into the trees. His entire right side of his body was crushed from impact, which resulted in a broken shoulder, broken pelvis, two compound leg fractures and sadly, the loss of his right foot. There was not enough healthy tissue to repair the damage done, though Canyons Mountain Patrol responded quickly to the 911 call he made from his cell phone.  Jeffery is an experienced skier and has been living in Park City for almost 10 years where he has spent his days cruising the mountain he loves so dearly. Jeffery was also a competitive ski jumper, following in his father’s footsteps, and has even competed to be on the U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Team. His love for the sport is known by all who know him personally or not. He is in great spirits about the accident and is thankful to be alive.  He is confident – and so are we – that he will be back on his skis and cruising the mountain in no time, where he will make is impact in the ski world one way or another.

positive spirit... positive attitude

If you are a Park City local, or if you would like more information on how you can help Jeffery and his family, please contact me directly at amber@parkcitylodging.com.  We are asking local business for items to be used at a silent auction and a checking account has been setup in Jeffery’s name for donations.  Any contribution is greatly appreciated!  And again, for more information, please contact me at amber@parkcitylodging.com.

Thank you