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Snowbird, Alta, Park City or Dear Valley?

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Slurpsicle.
Posts: 703 - Karma: 1,003
So I'm thinking of transferring to U of U here in the near future and definitely gonna be skiing all winter. The problem is I might only have enough money for one pass for next season so I'm asking you fellow ski homies, which of these mountains would be the best? I ski all kinds of terrain; park, powder, pretty much all mountain. Give me your opinions!
Mar 30 2013 11:55PM
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bnewbs6
Posts: 1919 - Karma: 1,463
Park City is clearly the best choice for park. It does have some pretty fun all mountain terrain. But nothing like the bird. I would say choose between PC or Snowbird.
Mar 31 2013 12:04AM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2885 - Karma: 34,217
Vail
Mar 31 2013 12:07AM
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Twerk
Posts: 252 - Karma: 1,059
Brighton?
Mar 31 2013 12:14AM
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hokkanee
Posts: 1800 - Karma: 435
Brighton could be a good option
Mar 31 2013 12:32AM
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Aiur
Posts: 267 - Karma: 1,944
Fult Tilts. Mountains don't even matter that much.
Mar 31 2013 12:34AM
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Slurpsicle.
Posts: 703 - Karma: 1,003
got em. now mountains do lol
Mar 31 2013 12:42AM
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ski_ENDUB
Posts: 2535 - Karma: 86
brighton or canyons. Little cotton wood is where all the crowds go and gets pretty boring inbetween storms
Mar 31 2013 12:52AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
Skied Brighton for the first time today and I may say Brighton
Mar 31 2013 12:58AM
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Slurpsicle.
Posts: 703 - Karma: 1,003
Brighton is added to my list now I guess
Mar 31 2013 1:02AM
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128368798788
Posts: 0 - Karma: 1,167
First off, this is all IMO but


Brighton is the college man's mountain. Cliffs and rails. You get a little taste of it all.

Park City is fun but get used to a park that doesn't get changed up too often, and you have to get used to getting snaked / closer skiing to people on features.

Alta is tight but a lot of rich, older white people and powder hounds tear it up. its backcountry is of course, well, its fucking Alta man it's an experience. Snowbird is backcountry as well but they allow snowboarders and have a much more chill vibe I think. Little more relaxed.

Plus I think Snowbird attempted a tiny little park this year? Maybe? Can someone validate or disclaim this?

Anyways

Can't really confirm canyons or deer valley. I've never skiied there and none of my homies do.

TL;DR

PC = Sick park, meh big mountain
Alta = It's fucking Alta, but snobby old people and BC slayers.
Snowbird = Bit more chilled out, only BC again but its legendary.
Brighton = Little taste of everything
Mar 31 2013 1:11AM
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Darth.Maul
Posts: 2472 - Karma: 652
They changed the part almost weekly at Park City this year.

But other than that I'd agree wholeheartedly with this post. PC is the best for park but has so-so backcountry. Alta/Bird have the best backcountry imo and canyons/brighton are solid combinations of the 2.
Mar 31 2013 3:14AM
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yasgur99
Posts: 402 - Karma: 955
brigton or pc
Mar 31 2013 10:01AM
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THEDICKBUTCHER
Posts: 3067 - Karma: 673
dear valley ftw
Mar 31 2013 10:13AM
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Slop-Tart
Posts: 298 - Karma: 376
Solitude

why? because no one is ever there and there is a lot to explore, best mountain on a pow day hands down. I've had passes at both alta and the bird but they get super crowded and the traffic up that canyon on a pow day is stupid,
Mar 31 2013 2:32PM
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ivegotnotime
Posts: 57 - Karma: 22
Snowbird had a tiny park, very small jumps and a few rails a foot off the ground...
Mar 31 2013 4:30PM
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ThundaKilla
Posts: 2859 - Karma: 3,781
What about powder mountain, I know it's kind of a smaller mounta
Mar 31 2013 4:52PM
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ThundaKilla
Posts: 2859 - Karma: 3,781
Damn you mobileeee. Isn't powder mountain smaller but it has good snow. I know the saga crew always builds some sick stuff there.
Mar 31 2013 4:53PM
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terraclot
Posts: 438 - Karma: 665
PC: Most variation, and the mecca of park obviously, groomers, long runs, some OK big mountain in Jupiter Bowl, mediocre hike-to.

Canyons: Long Runs, Cat-tracks all over, OK steeps but hard to find great stuff unless you're with someone that knows the mountain well (from what I've experienced), mellow pitches

Deer Valley: Uppity crowd, some good big mountain terrain (best out of all 3 PC resorts imo,  i.e. Daly Chutes), great powder (nobody veers off the groomers, really) so it holds up days after a storm, fun groomers if in between storms

Brighton: College mountain, most boarders and youngest crowd out of all of them, park features of all sizes and some good cliff areas, sort of mellow pitches, though.

Snowbird: Steep, lengthy runs, minimal grooming (can get iffy in between storms), can make a 3k ascent if you want it and have no legs by the end, less gapers than Park City resorts, serious but chill

Alta: Great traversing to some steep pitches, so be prepared to hike. Good variety of aspects and minimal grooming. Although right next to Snowbird, a much more uppity vibe.

I ski Snowbird, so of course I'm partial to that terrain. There's a park with maybe 5 rail/box features and 4 or so small jumps. Rather weak, but fun to hit every once in a while if you don't care about park progression. If you ski to also get a workout while you're at it, then get a 'bird pass because if you want it, you can make for a day where you can hardly move your legs by the end of it. Glad you're comin' to the Wasatch!
Mar 31 2013 5:01PM
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Royal-bamboo
Posts: 294 - Karma: 105
Alta for sure but get full tilts first, cause you can't ski without ft's
Mar 31 2013 5:02PM
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MACK.
Posts: 1230 - Karma: 1,892
powder mountain....
Mar 31 2013 6:18PM
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KingTaco
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 2,829
Dear Valley,
I'm moving to Utah next year and Id like to know the best place to ski.

No really though ive skied PC, brighton, and Alta so here ya go:

PC had a pretty dope pristine park, but didnt seem to offer too much in the all mountain department. The crowd was pretty Los Angeles and gaper too. The views kinda suck if that matters at all for you.

Brighton had much better terrain but honestly the mountain was pretty small vertical wise. On top of that, once you choose a cool little steep section at the top, its groomers all the way down. The park was pretty sick and fun but the jumps were super jenky so if that matters to you id beware.

Alta was a blast. The weather sucked when I went and I was still able to find some good shit to ski. The terrain was epic, the mountain had an easy layout, and it was just overall an experience. Alta had some sick views and they were pretty comparable to Brighton (Theyre fairly close to each other)

If you dont mind never hitting the park do ALta. If you want the best of both worlds do Brighton. If you just need to hit mint booters hit up PC
Mar 31 2013 6:32PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
alta
Mar 31 2013 6:49PM
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FigNewton
Posts: 2459 - Karma: 5,783
Brighton or Snowbasin
Mar 31 2013 6:52PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,472
Save up for two passes, simple as that. I did PC/ALTA for 4 years, it was awesome. PC is the best for park, but brighton is pretty fun too but just rails at brighton, their jumps are tiny. Definitely get a snowbird/alta pass if you wanna ski any sort of fun terrain.
Mar 31 2013 6:58PM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
If you're not riding Deer Valley yer fuckin up
Mar 31 2013 7:41PM
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
Pretty much this.


I mean PC is hands down the best innovated park.

Canyons from what I've experience is HUGE lots and lots of lifts, lifts to get to lifts, but all in all a good solid mountain but lots of tourists.

Deer Valley from what I hear is not what you want to do if you are not a high rolling big shot.

Brighton is sick from what I hear, dabble in everything pass.

Personally, another factor to consider is whether not you will be able to afford to drive up there. I mean find a group of friends and see what passes they are getting and you can score some rides up with them.
Mar 31 2013 9:46PM
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Kinkysally
Posts: 21 - Karma: 74
I would look into Canyons, I think I'll get a pass there next year. It's got some steep terrain and I love there park, good jumps and rails, Plus it doesn't seem to be near as crowded as PCMR but that's just my opinion. Oh and they don't allow baggy pants at deer valley. FYI
Apr 1 2013 2:40AM
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