Park City Opening Day 2010

November 22

Rider: Ben Bilodeau. Photo: Sean Kerrick Sullivan

Words: Sean Kerrick Sullivan
Photos: Sean Kerrick Sullivan & Rob Mathis

Park City…….With a name like that, the whole damn place better be trained to go. Luckily for everyone in Utah, PC is poised to host the best park in Utah for the 10/11 season, and possibly the best park west of Colorado. “Our access is amazing. You can easily access the parks from 1 or 2 chairlift rides, depending on your abilities and desires. This year we have added night riding in the park till 9pm. We will be constantly building rails throughout the season, and added features every day.” Says Park City’s terrain park manager, Jeremy Cooper. With their opening day park consisting of 16 jibs and a 25-foot jump, Park City’s Terrain Park Crew came out of the gates running.

Rider: Ryan Hurkawitz Photo: Sean Kerrick Sullivan

A cold storm was firing over the Wasatch Mountains, but in PC, the snow level was probably only 80 feet below the elevation of base area. Meaning~~~> Grey Ice. Not to be confused with East Coast ice, this grey ice was very difficult to hold an edge on, while at the same time sticky/grippy, encouraging the catching of edges and general, utter lack of board control.

Riders: Stevie Bell, Aaron Biittner. Photo: Rob Mathis

Notice this rider IS in fact wearing a helmet. Photo: Sean Kerrick Sullivan

Speaking of a lack of board control, there were about 5 million “freeskiers”, most of them attending the University of Utah and hailing from the East coast somewhere near the Jersey shore I'm sure. Skiing:Gripping poles Shakeweight:Gripping pole Prison:Gripping pole Photo: Sean Kerrick Sullivan