Tag Archives: skiing

Celebrity Ski Fest at Canyons

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This was basically my first time on the spot, live interviewing. It was wild and fun. I could do this more…I’m sure with experience you get more comfortable. The great part with someone like me, who does totally get a little star-struck, was just how nice everyone was. Super patient, kind, expecting the interview, and happy to say hi for the camera. I guess that is the job…

Fortunately for me, PCTV thinks I’m ok and I get to do some more filming this weekend! Looking forward to new adventures as the ski season comes to an end.

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Canyons Pond Skimming

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Another fun event that I was super grateful to be a part of:

The Canyons resort is really stepping it up to be a major player in the ski resort world. I get to attend an incredible event this coming Saturday also, a celebrity ski fundraiser for Operation Smile.

Every year I’ve been here in Utah, the events get bigger, better, and more successful.

I’ve had friends in town from Colorado that repeatedly note, “We didn’t know this fun party atmosphere was an option here.”

I have to respond, “Go back and tell everyone you know!”

14 Resorts – One Day – Ski Utah

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In case you missed it, watch the video about one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced.

I tried to recap it for Ski Utah here, but it was hard to put the day into words. It was crazy fun. I can’t believe, no matter how much I ski, that I could go from a beginner to accomplishing feats like this in such a short span of time. And, of course, that I ever ended up in Utah and with the best gig in town in the first place! It’s still like a dream.

Yoga For Skiing

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I spent most of the summer (and every day during month of September) doing yoga. Nothing but yoga.

I have read over and over this works, yoga can be all you need. And I have seen people that do nothing but yoga. They have perfect, strong bodies.

I went to the gym and ran. I hated it.

I did huge weight lifting sessions. I hated it.

I walked through countless sets of lunges. I almost opened wine it sucked so bad.

So I went back to yoga.

The ski resorts are opening. I have skied three days. I already know I am at a whole new level of strength, comfort, and light-footed-ness. The yoga worked. It has transformed my body, to respond and react to the snow. It has changed my mind, the totally let go and trust that I can do whatever I try.

I’m not going to end up breaking any world records, but yoga helped. No question. It wasn’t the miserable workouts. No question.

The poses I have learned have so much to do with balance, like skiing. I feel like I’m skiing a new way, that yoga found for me. My core is stronger and my mind and body are centered.

I gained a little bit of grace, and it’s going a long way.

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Skiing today also reminded me of my happy place. I love being on my mat, but I ADORE being on the mountain. Nothing makes me happier. I’m calm. My mind is quiet. Everything is right with the world.

I came home and did some stretchy restorative yoga, and I’m hooked. I want to make everyone I know that is a skier a yoga junkie. And my yoga buddies skiers.

I feel better, stronger, and ready to take on the challenges of a new season, and hope it will be my best yet!

So I Skied In A Bikini…

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Many times our funny jokes turn in to bets, that then turn in to reality.

Recently this resulted in me, who a few short years ago could barely stand up on skis, gearing up bright and early this 4th of July.

It was maybe the funniest day on skis – which is a bold statement.

I got mistaken for Vanessa Aadland (my apologies to HER), got a “pro call out”, got a souvenir T shirt, got in some great turns, got interviewed by the SLTribune.

And I did it in a bikini.

Because, really, why not?

While the idea wasn’t that crazy to me, I learned the lesson that to some people things you do will be dumb. To some people things will be funny. To some people things you do will be something that never even crossed your mind.

More Credit

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Another topic from The Daily Post:

Name someone who deserves more credit than they get.

And for bonus points, how to change things so they get more.

Every time we are anywhere, we get in to this discussion that boils down to the same thing: the face of the place. The Customer Service person, at any restaurant, bank, ski hill, etc. etc. is what you see of the company. It is who you think Delta or Deer Valley or that burger place IS. If that’s bad, your experience will be. So why don’t those people get paid anything? There’s no incentive for them to go above and beyond otherwise, trust me. I’ve done all of those types of jobs.

You can’t get ahead without making a transition to behind the scenes. Then you forget what it was like. Then you lose touch. On the other hand, if my day somewhere isn’t that great, but one greeter or PR person is nice, that can completely make up for it. I’m surprised none of the resorts HAVE a person they pay well who is JUST a greeter that says ‘hi’ and knows where stuff is. It seems like a no brainer!

I don’t have the answer to change the system, but I can only hope it does. There are some places that get it, and are at least nice to their lowly Customer Service employees, and encourage them to work hard. The Canyons got much better at this this year – everyone says ‘hi’, lift operators ask you how your day is. But I doubt they are getting paid more…

RFID Ski Passes

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Vail recently announced that their ski passes are going viral. They have connected you through RFID to a world of social media while you ski. There are pros and cons with RFID, and the debate is on.

I tweeted I thought it was a cool idea – this article details how you are able to track your vertical feet (something we already do on our cell phones) connect to Facebook, share pictures and other parts of your day on the slopes.

Then I read about the Ski Pass defender, and the cons to an RFID pass tracking your whereabouts. This ski blog poses the question what if you ski a million runs, have a beer, and have an accident? Someone will have the data.

I love the idea of ski resorts evolving – it’s my hope that through Ski Utah I can encourage those people that don’t already know to see opportunities and the value that Utah ski resorts are creating with their efforts and pushes toward technology changing the way we ski. Real time lift line info on your cell would blow skiers away, right?

Someone mentioned that most skiers don’t bring their cell phones when they ski, and I wondered if he’s been behind a desk too long…everyone skis with their phones. So we already have that luxury. To me, there’s nothing I have to hide about my day on the mountain or that a mountain would gain by storing my skiing information other than that I have a few favorite runs I might do 10 times in a row. I hardly see how that hurts me, but it might help them. The ski resorts may learn surprising things from collected data that help them improve the mountain.

However, I’m not one to sneak over boundary lines either. If you are, I can see why you’d be screaming “big brother”.

What do you think? Is the technology being put in place to help or hurt skiers?