How's business?

Could be better, right? Everything is changing massively; consumers are “deleveraging” and this may go on for a while. If you're still hoping that business will significantly improve this winter, think again!

"Connecting the seven Wasatch Front resorts would result in a huge leap forward with incredible benefits..."

It's not just happening in Park City, but at every mountain resort near us; in Vail, everywhere in Colorado, at Lake Tahoe and in the Canadian Rockies. Sure, each ski town is trying to enhance its “best practices,” shave costs, be more creative, but in the end, the gains will remain small and market shares won't change much.

Park City resorts and their Wasatch neighbors would significantly "move the needle" if they “connected the dots” and finally harnessed their potential for snow interconnect. This would mean a huge leap forward as it would steal market share from out-of-state resorts and double our number of visitors in the time it would take to physically connect our seven closest resorts. More importantly, this could be accomplished while setting the stage for environmentally-friendly transportation and mass-transit solutions.

So, if you are tired of leaving money on the table, are not happy with the status quo, are not yet indifferent or apathetic and if you still feel some sense of hope and urgency, read on and check our updated "progress report..."

JF Lanvers, Park City, Utah

Whether you stumble upon this site, or are invited to take a peek at it, don’t hesitate to jot down a comment. This is an interactive and totally open site that welcomes all ideas and opinions. Article contributions are also welcome; let me know, I'll send you an invitation.

Welcome!

Welcome to a site aimed at moving Utah into a leadership position on the snow industry scene!

With consumers "deleveraging", future winter visitations are likely to be adversely affected, as mountain resorts may compete for a shrinking number of destination visitors. Offering a significant competitive advantage will become crucial to grow, yet alone maintain, our current volume of activities.

"Linking our seven Wasatch Front resorts will vault them to the zenith of the North American snow industry"

In this context, linking our seven Wasatch Front resorts c0uld vault them at the zenith of the North American snow industry with a unique product and no competition on the entire continent. A 40 years ski industry veteran, I offer my experience, observations and thoughts to make the dream of interconnected resorts a reality; I just want to be the grain of sand inside the oyster...

Born and raised in the Alps, I witnessed and participated in the early development of interconnected mountain resorts in the 70’s. After moving to America in 1977, I've made Utah my home for the last 24 years. Besides my time, energy and thought-process, I bring a sound knowledge and clear understanding of a large number of Alpine resorts.

I've also been fortunate to be exposed to every facets of the snow industry; from "lifty" to ski instructor, racing director, hardgoods supplier, lodging as well as tour and travel provider. Just before retiring I've had some extensive experience at some of the main Colorado mountain resorts and have gained a good understanding of the way various ski towns can interact together.

Finally, my entire career spent in sales and marketing has always forced me to see issues from within the “consumer shoes” and prompted me to ask the necessary questions instead of just bringing up assumptions. I am now retired and continue to be consumed with a deep passion for skiing...

Jean-François "JF" Lanvers, Park City

Interconnect, trains and automobiles

Networking our mountain resorts should be an opportunity to reduce automobile traffic in and out of our canyons.

Without getting too deep into details, an open mind, logical thinking and a natural evolution would suggest that a good portion of our visitors' parking lots could be moved farther away from our resorts, leaving a larger role for mass-transit.

Ideally, and depending upon the choice of mass-transit, parking facilities could be located at the mouth of each canyon (Big and Little Cottonwood as well as Parley's.)

From there, it would be easy to imagine a chairlift, a high capacity gondola, a funicular or even - why not think big? - a train whisking visitors up to the slopes.

Down the road, a train from the Salt Lake City airport to Park City might offer destination visitors a seamless, car-free and rapid transfer. Such a train could offer stops in Salt Lake City, the Park and Ride at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon and from there go underground and stop in Snowbird, then Solitude before reaching Park City. An expensive proposition? Probably, but with some creativity, something we should be able to find the funds for and worth the effort.

Click on map to enlarge

The result: Less traffic in the canyons, all-weather visitation guaranteed regardless of snow, wind or avalanche-control operations. I-80 and the roadways to Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons are suddenly substantially relieved, the air is cleaner, our mountains are again the way they were intended to be.

As the crow flies, some distances to ponder:

• From the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon to Solitude: 9 miles, 3,000 feet vertical gain.
  

• From the mouth of Parley Canyon to The Canyons: 13 miles, 2,000 feet vertical gain.

• Between Snowbird and Park City: 10 miles.

• From the Salt Lake City Airport to Park City: 25 miles...

Other ideas? Share them with us!