|
 There
aren't too many places where you can celebrate July Fourth weekend
by hitting the slopes, but this year Snowbird is offering just that.
Bonus round
Most resorts in the USA are winding down by late April, and Snowbird
has often stretched it to May. This hear however, they are opening
weekends until Independence Day on July 4. This has only happened
once before, in 1995. The resort is located about half an hour south
of Salt Lake CIty, and a July opening will mean the ninth consecutive
month of skiing.
"It's just one of those seasons where all the pieces fell into place.
You'd have to go to Mt. Hood or Saas Fee in Switzerland to be skiing
this late in the year" according to Nathan Rafferty, a spokesman
for Ski Utah.
Golf and boarding
Snowbird had its earliest opening ever on 5 November and the most
recent dump, 30cm, fell 12 June. From start to finish, the mountain
received a whopping 17m of snow.
"I was here on Memorial Day and I plan to celebrate July Fourth
here, too," said Julie Williams, 25, from LA. "This is where
all the guys are, which is why I took up snowboarding. You can't
ask for much better odds than this. I am playing golf in the morning
and getting my powder fix in the afternoon."
Good for business
By mid-May, Utah's 13 resorts sold almost 4 million lift tickets.
But the Beehive state still has a way to go before it catches up
with Colorado, where 11.2 million day passes are sold. Skiing magazine
gave the nod for the best snow to Utah, but it lacks the plush resorts
and star wattage of places like Aspen and Vail.
But Greg Sperry, who snowboards about 150 days a year, is there
for one reason only - to eke out as many runs as possible. "Who
knows when this will happen again?" he asked. "You've got to take
advantage of good weather while it's here."
(Maybe Greg and Julie should get together! - Ed)
[Source: Chicago Tribune]
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