Positioned at 8,000 feet above sea level in the Wasatch Range in Park City, Utah, this season Deer Valley Resort will host one of the stops on the FIS Freestyle World Cup from January 10-12, 2018. Each year, the International Ski Federation travels around the world with skiers and snowboarders competing in numerous World Cup competitions in various cities. In January 2018, Park City will be hosting the men’s and women’s aerial freestyle jumps and mogul competitions. Deer Valley hosted both of these events at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Aerial skiers launch from a nearly vertical ramp that sends them tumbling and twisting through the air just before they land onto a steep bank dotted with pine boughs—indicators for the skiers to spot their landing. The skiing acrobatics are judged on takeoff, jump, and landing and a degree of difficulty is factored in for a total score. This impressive scene, with skiers launched almost 20 feet into the air, has, since 1992, been one of the Winter Olympics’ premier events, and one that Deer Valley is proud to host in early 2018.
In that same year, 1992, mogul skiing was also introduced as a medaled sport at the Winter Olympics. Two skiers pitted head-to-head race down a steep grade of hard-packed, mounded snow with two jumps in the course where it’s not uncommon to see Iron Cross 360s and backflips from these world-class athletes. All considered the athletes are judged on turns, jumps (called “air” in moguls skiing), and speed. These two immensely popular events draw crowds for the World Cup from all over the world. And although these sports will be televised, there’s nothing like seeing the action live on the mountain.
If you’re visiting Park City and looking for accommodations, you can stay right on the mountain where the events will be held. Either right on the resort, in the Montage at Deer Valley, or rent a cabin for the family at Silver Lake Accommodations. Deer Valley offers ski-up cabins so you can catch first tracks each morning and ski right into your lodge for a warming cup of hot cocoa and a snack. The resort also features various dining opportunities from world-class chefs. Grab dinner at Apex, have some afternoon sushi at Yama Sushi, or play pub games and grab a burger from Daly’s Pub & Rec.
After the competitions the crowds will start to gather on Old Main Street in Park City. Some will head over to the No Name Saloon for a drink upstairs on the heated patio. Or catch some live music at O.P. Rockwell’s or PC Live where bands such as Donovan Frankenreiter, Galactic, Gareth Emery, and the Will Baxter Band are all on the docket. Check out The Spur for live local music every night. Or head up to the Egyptian Theater and catch a touring Broadway musical, The Drifters, Chubby Checker, and other world-renowned acts. Everything on Main Street is within walking distance and the surrounding resorts all provide free shuttles to and from your nightly entertainment.
If you choose to stay outside of Old Main Street, or not at one of the resorts, you’ll want to be mindful of you car and parking situation for the duration of your trip. The public transportation in Park City is free and buses run every fifteen minutes until well after midnight. Although this may be the case, there are still thousands of people visiting every day to catch some of the greatest snow on earth. It does get busy enough that parking opens up at Park City High School and buses run all night to get people to and from the festivities. Keep this in mind when making plans with friends, reservations at restaurants, or show times on Old Main Street.
It’s bound to be another great season of snow with the best skiing and snowboarding on earth. Come see the best in the world do it at Deer Valley resort on January 10-12 at the FIS World Cup Ski Event. It’s bound to be a shredfest for sure.
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