Lots of people have been moving to Utah in recent years. Some come purposely for our world class skiing and other outdoor activities. Many, however have come for job opportunities or other reasons. The former group knows all about winter in Utah and their plans to make the most of it have long been dialed in. Many in the latter group are not seasoned skiers and snowboarders but are interested. Maybe they’ve skied a little in the past but never lived close enough to snowy mountains to really get into it. Maybe they’ve never done it but have heard about our prolific snowfall and tall peaks and are interested; maybe even a little intimidated. What gear do you need? Can do you have to be an expert to ski in Utah? How expensive is it? This article will cover the basics of getting into skiing and snowboarding here in Utah and clear up some of the questions newcomers to the state and sport may have.

First let’s cover the snow. If you’ve looked into skiing in Utah even a little bit, you’ve probably seen the eye popping statistic that we average 500” of snow a year! On top of that, we claim to have the “Greatest Snow on Earth”. This means Utah gets a lot of snow that is of a consistency that is great for powder skiing. This makes us a top destination for powder hounds. The grizzled vet salivates over this fact, but for the uninitiated, this is probably a little intimidating. If you’re new here, you might also be wondering how you are going to shovel all that snow. Well don’t worry, it’s not scary!

That 500” per year statistic actually only pertains to a relatively small area in the central Wasatch mountains. That area happens to be the heart of Utah’s ski industry which works out great for skiers, but if you live in the populated valleys, your house won’t get anywhere close to that much snow. In fact, the lower elevations sometimes get very little snow depending on the winter. The other thing to know, is that the ski resorts groom a selection of trails every day and skiers are out there skiing and packing the snow down every day. So you don’t have to be worried about constantly swimming in snow up to your eyeballs. If you’re just learning, you might want to avoid skiing during our most intense storms, but Utah also gets lots of sunny bluebird days where you’ll find miles of groomed trails to enjoy.

One thing you do need to be prepared for is getting to and from the ski resorts during the winter. Most of the ski resorts are accessed via canyon roads that have traction laws during winter storms. This means your vehicle needs to be equipped with 4 wheel drive, snow tires, and/or chains if you plan to drive during snowy weather. Alternatively, the UTA offers buses to most of the ski resorts if you aren’t equipped for winter driving.

Now that we have the weather covered, you’ll need some gear. If you plan to ski or snowboard more than just a couple times, season ski and snowboard rentals are a great way to go. You can rent the skis, boots and poles, or boots, board, and bindings for much less than it would cost to buy. You get to rent the gear and keep it all season also so you don’t have the hassle of picking it up and dropping it off at the rental shop every time you go. You get the benefit of trying out equipment that’s suited to your ability without being locked into a purchase for years. Each season you can choose different equipment as your skills progress. If you plan on skiing just once or twice to really just dip your toe in, you’re better off with daily ski or snowboard rentals.

For clothing, you will need ski pants and a jacket. Water proof is nice but not totally necessary around here. If its water resistant and you’d like to save some money while you’re figuring out if this sport is for you, that’s totally fine. You’ll also need a warm pair of gloves or mittens (mittens are warmer but offer less dexterity), a helmet, goggles, and a Buff/balaclava, is nice too. Layering is also key to keeping warm but also not overheating when the sun is out. Wool or synthetic long underwear is advisable for your next to skin layer because they help wick moisture and offer warmth even when wet, unlike cotton. You’ll also want an additional layer or two on top of the base layer and beneath your outwear. Wool or fleece sweaters or down/synthetic “puffy” coats are great for mid layers. Some gurus will tell you that you must have the clothing I just described, and it is really nice to have, but if you need to save some money, you can go with layers you already own. Just know that cotton doesn’t handle moisture well and loses its warmth when wet. A good pair of ski socks is highly recommended though. Spring for those before you worry about the rest of your clothing layers. They will help keep your feet happy and well worth it. One other bit of advice on the clothing is avoid jeans!

Now that you’re geared up where are you going to go? An overview of each of the ski resorts is beyond our scope here but pretty much all of the resorts have at least some beginner and intermediate terrain. For most of the population of Utah, your likely options are Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Park City, Deer Valley, Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, or Sundance. All the resorts offer season pass options or multi-day ticket packs if you think you’ll only go a few times over the season. A good option to sample resorts in this area is to buy an Ikon pass. There are different levels of the pass are available which dictates access, but generally you will be able to choose from Solitude, Brighton, Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley and Snowbasin.

Finally, if you’re just starting out, or even if you’ve skied before but the skills are a little rusty, it’s a good idea to take some lessons. This can really speed up the learning curve and help you enjoy your time on the slopes for years to come. You’ll want to sign up for lessons through whichever resort you plan to go to.

Hopefully that helps the folks who are looking to get into skiing here in Utah. While this certainly isn’t an exhaustive guide, hopefully you at least have a good starting point and idea of what to look more into. If you need some additional help, just reach out. We are always eager to help!