With early snowfall rushing winter to a start, ski resorts across Utah are planning to open earlier than projected. With Solitude and Brighton open this week and Park City Mountain opening Nov. 22, skiers and riders are gearing up for the season with high expectations. “We’re snow farmers at heart,” said Ski Utah CEO and President Nathan Rafferty, “but Utah’s early-season conditions have us feeling optimistic about what’s in store.” Early snowfall and cold temperatures have allowed resorts to get a jump-start on snowmaking, setting the stage for a successful winter, according to Ski Utah. As the snow-sports industry forges ahead with improvements to infrastructure, terrain, and accessibility, we have a lot to expect with eyes all over the world looking to Park City in the lead up to the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. Deer Valley’s terrain expansion plans to open over 3,000 skiable acres to their mountain and 10 new chairlifts by next season, with more to follow in phases. Rafferty said, “Get ready for an onslaught of capital improvements over the next decade. I think we’re seeing a good chunk this year, but we’re going to see even more and more as we roll up towards 2034 with the Olympic Winter Games.” Nathan Rafferty, president and CEO of Ski Utah, speaks to the press on Wednesday morning. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordSki Utah’s emphasis on improvements to the ski industry extends to accessibility of diverse demographics, as well, as they enter their fourth season of their Discover Winter program. Discover Winter has worked to bring more people of color into the ski world — 200 applicants receive four cost-free lessons in skiing or snowboarding at participating resorts, to allow more adults of color who have not experienced the sport to learn without the financial barrier. Only eight of Utah’s 15 resorts are available to Discover Winter participants for lessons, including Deer Valley and Woodward Park City. Upon completion of the lessons, skiers and riders are then given a Ski Utah Yeti Pass, providing participants with one day at each of Utah’s 15 mountain resorts. Ski Utah also provides rental equipment, proper clothing, and transportation to each of the resorts for learners to get involved.This program is unique given that most are geared toward the introduction of children or younger people to skiing and snowboarding, including Ski Utah’s Passport Program, which offers discounted tickets to kids in fourth, fifth and sixth grade. On participating in Discover Winter, Rafferty said, “It’s fun to feel the energy of people learning to ski, especially older people, learning to ski. It’s just awesome.”Local inclusion is a big theme in snow sports this season with affordable resources for Utahns to get out and experience skiing and riding through Ski Utah and local resorts. “One of the great things about the ski events and the snowboard events in the Olympics is that every day, skiers and riders can just go out to our resorts,” said Tom Kelly, Utah Olympic bid spokesperson. “Anyone can go up to Park City mountain, and you can drop into the terrain park and into the half pipe. You can go over to Deer Valley, and you can challenge yourself to a run down the Olympic moguls run on Champion.” Park City-based resorts provide locals with a unique potential where non-athlete, regular people can travel the same history-making, record-breaking paths that our Olympic heroes will in the coming years. The post Ski Utah sets high expectations for access and diversity at ski resorts appeared first on Park Record.