From: rpimente@es.com (Richard Pimentel)
Subject: Re: Teaching telemarks skiing
Keywords: telemark, alpine, XC, skiing, utah
Reply-To: rpimente@es.com (Richard Pimentel)
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 17:49:01 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.080904.23453@etn.ericsson.se>, bjs@etn.ericsson.se (Bj|rn S{ter|y 1342) writes:
|> i am hoping to be able to take some time off (~2 months) from work this winter,
|> and i plan to spend most of the time in SLC skiing the areas in the vicinity.
|> 
|> does anyone have any experience in backcountry/off pist (sp?)/deep powder
|> skiing in the area?

	I have been skiing for 12 years in the backcountry of Utah with 6
	of them in the Salt Lake City area. There is plenty of great skiing
	to be had but don't expect to be alone. We probably have one of the
	most crowded backcountry areas to the States (world?). Usually one
	has to share a bowl with 1-3 other parties. Untracked powder
	lasts about 24 hrs. (tops) but one can usually find good lines up to
	two weeks after a snowstorm. In addition, we have the ever constant
	buzz of helicopter skiers. There is currently a turf battle going on
	between the helicopter skiing company and the pinheads.

	Avalanche (sp?) danger is moderate to high, depending on the terrain
	and recent weather. One needs to have a shovel and beacon and know
	how to use both before locals will let you ski with them. We take
	avalanche safety seriouly.

|> how about the resorts?

	Alta and Snowbird are both excellent resorts for powder and tele-
	marking. Snowbird probably has the more extreme terrain but is more
	expensive and is more crowded. It also more upscale in its clientele.
	Alta has good terrain, especially if you are willing to hike a little
	bit once you get off the chair, and is more of a "locals" resort.

	Both Alta and Snowbird have their powder tracked out by noon, even on
	weekdays. There just too many powder pigs in Salt Lake City.

	Solitude and Brighton are in the next canyon (Big Cottonwood Canyon)
	from Snowbird and Alta and often get only about half the powder in a
	single dump as Snowbird or Alta. So on powder days, if you are 
	willing to not ski quite so deep, you can have shorter lift lines
	at these two resorts. Solitude is the more challenging of the two.

	There are a couple of other resorts that are not well known outside
	of Utah that have great terrain and get a lot of snow. I intend
	to keep them unknown outside of Utah by not discussing them here.
	When you get here, either your friends will tell you about them
	or you can call me (local number is 583-1091). (For that matter,
	call me regardless and I will take you backcountry skiing.)

	The best months to visit Utah for skiing are December through February.
	Before December can be chancy for enough snow to ski, and after
	February conditions can turned to cement if we get a warm snap.
	

|> 
|> i have a bunch of years competitive XC and 5 years XC instructors background,
|> and i'll be getting my telemark/alpine skiing instructor license early
|> this winter. 
|>  
|> what are my chances of being able to add some income to my very tight budget
|> by doing some instructing on the side?

	Probably slim to none. You could try the Brighton Nordic Center
	to teach some XC or XC racing clinics. Most of the resorts teach
	telemarking but have all the instructors they need with several
	waiting to take their place. Still, the novelty of an instructor
	from the "old country" may put you first in line for one of these
	jobs someone gets injured or dies :-).

	--Richard

|> 
|> any feedback appreciated,
|> /bjorn
|> 
|> Bjorn.Sateroy@etn.ericsson.se
|> 
|> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> -  Ski, crash and burn. If you never fall, you're not trying hard enough   -
|> -  Telemark skiing. The way it was meant to be done.                       -
|> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> 
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