Best resorts for steeps?

?

[~_~]

Active member
I'm potentially transferring to U of U and I was wondering which resort had the best steeps? I went to Brighton last year and got a pillowy, shelfy vibe...pretty sweet. I haven't been to Snowbird since I was 10 years old so I don't remember what it was like at all...I remember what Alta is like but the passes are pretty effing expensive if I remember correctly?

I'm looking for steep + cliffy. The gnarlier the better.
 
fyi I'm coming from Mt. Baker/Alaska so whatever is most similar would be nice (steep, pillowy, scary as fuh).

Also, does anyone here go to U of U? How do you like it? I'm thinking of doing a business management or marketing degree.
 
the U is awesome, love it here. But snowbird/alta is probably what you are looking for. Brighton is better for cliffs imo but for both cliffs and steeps you cant beet bird/alta
 
Elaborate please? Doesn't gnarly terrain = good vibe? (gnarly in a good way, not rocky death-gnarly).
 
Whats wrong with the vibe at the Bird? Chillin on the tram deck listenin to live reggae in the spring with a few beers after a good session is awesome..
 
I've worked at both Alta and Snowbird and the places could not be more opposite. Alta is alot more laid back than the bird in the way the resort presents itself. as a result This draws a certain demographic of like minded local skiers looking to ski without dealing with the resort bullshit. This in my opinion creates a really fun atmosphere. The bird on the other hand takes pride in being a tight ass "professional resort" with a bunch of uptight employees catering to tourists. this isn't unusual as far as ski resorts go but the bird takes it to the next level. Although I am in no way bashing the terrain at the bird, they probably have the best inbounds terrain in utah you just wont catch me buying a pass there.
 
Do they have uptight ski patrol or something? I have a bad habit of getting banned...

I love Alta but last time I was there I don't remember anything super steep; I probably just don't know the area very well! At least passes are so cheap in Utah. $600 is less than half the price of a pass in AK, which is stupid in the first place since BC is free and endless...
 
this, one of my friends almost got fired for putting on a cape for gaper day and upper management was supposedly even getting mad at riders for doing the same
 
That sounds a lot like my home resort. They charge $1400 for a pass, then ban the locals for hitting jumps of any kind. Oh and inverts are immediate ban.

Maybe it would be wise to get a Brighton Pass for cliffs, PC to learn how to ski park, then just skin BC for lines?
 
Alta has the culture, the Bird has the terrain.

I know a handful of the patrollers up at Alta, and they're all chill. My only experience ever with a patroller at the Bird was actually really great- this dude was super helpful, funny, and ended up helping out my boyfriend pretty good. Just don't go out of bounds, and especially not with somebody else's pass- but any resort is going to slam you for that.

Snowbird is definitely more of a "professional resort" aimed at the tourism industry. But the entire resort and vibe there isn't all that. There is a huge local chill scene there, which is pretty swell.

I love both resorts, but overall, if you're looking for terrain, go for the Bird.
 
Well if youre looking at Brighton, they have park too as well as night skiing so you could kill 2 birds with 1 stone. If youre just looking to ski park at PCMR you can buy a night pass there for $275 or something and lap 3 Kings..
 
Is there a cheaper, park pass only for PC? All their non-park runs blow hard.

Last time I was at Brighton it was all jibs, which is a major bummer. I liked how most of it was ollie-on though...
 
Alta/Bird is easy to get to and is definitely steep. But the Snowbasin sidecountry has some very steep terrain up there for sure and a lot less competition.
 
snowbird by far has way more mellow terrain than alta. Alta its either a flat stupid little gaper groomer or a steep technical zone. Alta is definitely the best for steeps, snowbird has a lot of cliff bands and some good steeps too though. I'm trying out brighton this year mainly because the majority of my friends are going there, stoked to check it out.
 
If its sidecountry, then wouldn't I be better off hiking to it?

I remember going to Snowbasin while they had the Olympic GS course set up. The dudes were nice enough to let my brother and I run it (this was weeks in advance). That place had the sickest corduroy I've ever skied.

 
Alta and brighton have epic terrain, but mostly really short runs as far as steep pitches. Snowbird has a lot more vert it feels like.

And I just graduated this spring with a marketing degree from the U, it was awesome. If you take 5 years it's challenging enough that it isn't boring, but you can easily ski at least 4 days a week pretty much the whole time, might have a couple busy semesters.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top