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Show SporfstacularPag 8 Thursday, Novambar Tb 1 - Sporfstacular 5, 1979 Thursday, Novambar 1 5. 1 979 Pege 9 I (Editors Note: This is the second of a long series of features ski resorts. Snow Basin, located describing Utahs just east of Ogden is the featured ski resort this week.) ever-popui- ar By Keith Duncan What has Snow Basin done to accommodate the ever increasing ski industry in Utah? You could start with the fact that the resorts developers and planners have spent $1.1 million this past summer to upgrade their facility. That alone would tell the story. Regular skiers who havent visited the east side of Mount Ogden this past summer, may be in for a big surprise when they climb the mountain for their first ski experience of the 1979-8- 0 ski season. You could start with the fact that Snow Basin has added a new lift. The new Middle Bowl Triple Chair Lift is the pride of many workers this past summer and fall. With some work still to be completed, ski resort officials expect the new lift to be in operation by Dec. 15. Right away old Snow Basin faithfuls may recognize the addition to the Snow Basin Ski Lodge. The capacity of the lodge has been doubled. Everything has been repainted at Snow Basin from towers to the chairs. Rick Thomas, an avid skier for the past 14 years and now the advertisement and promotional manager for Snow Basin, reported that tons of explosives were used to smooth out rocky terrain. He also stated that several runs have been widened and are continuing to be widened, even this week. All we need now is some snow and we ordered that by November 15th, said Rick. Through late summer and most of the fall, crews have worked day after day installing the new Middle Bowl facility. Cement trucks were able to reach 14 of the new towers. A helicopter was used to pour the cement on the remaining 10 towers. Thomas explains that with the helicopter working with ski lift installers, much less destruction occurred to the environment of Snow Basin. The new Middle Bowl Chair Lift will provide a total of six chair lifts for the area. The new lift is just under a mile long, with a 1,150 vertical drop. ' Middle Bowl will serve an additional 255 acres of lift served skiing at Snow Basin. This will bring the total lift service to 6,400 skiers per hour at Snowbasin. The total vertical at the resort is 2,400 feet. , Snow Basin Changes Hands On October 6, 1978, Snowbasin changed hands of leadership. Pete Seibert, one of the orginal founders and past President, Chairman of the Board of Vail, purchased the area from Snow Biasin Lift and Development Company. Rod Slifer, mayor of Vail, Colorado, is a General Partner with Seibert at Snow Basin. The new developers have dedicated themselves to the immediate improvement of the Snow Basin, as is evident with the large expansion program this past summer. The lower parking lot has been expanded to accommodate 600 vehicles instead of just 200. There will be a ticket booth in the lower parking lot with restroom facilities this winter. Snow Basin is ideal for the beginning skier. Thomas reported figures that give evidence Snow Basin provides 30 percent of their area for beginners, 40 percent for intermediate skiers and another 30 percent for the advanced and expert skiers. Also for the beginners is the featured Earl Miller Ski School which is open 7 days a week. Miller teaches American techniques and specializes in a racing school of top caliber. Fifty certified instructors who are members of the P.S.I.A. and the Intermountain Ski Instructors Association are available for lessons from beginner to expert. Powder and Cross Country lessons are available. Instruction with video is available with any lesson. Its reported that group lessons are offered week days and weekends at special rates. Four lesson series with lift pass included will again be offered this year. Snow Basin Times and Bits Lift hours at Snow Basin go from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. The resort is open seven . , days a week. For three days, skiers can pay $24.00 and for five days, the charge is $40.00 with all day group lessons adding an $8.00 charge. These ski packages do not include weekends, holidays or Christmas week. Utahs best kept secret." Since They call Snow Basin, November 27, 1940 the resort has served Ogden area residents as well as noted and talented skiers throughout the world. Many things have changed since that initial opening. James Lightioot no longer runs a dog sled as a taxi service but some things like the breathtaking scenery have not changed. A view across the Huntsville valley and Pine View Reservoir is sometimes like a dream world. The Middle Bowl dedication is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 12 and 13. The first major event for the resort appears to be the a Rossignol-NordicMogul Challenge on Jan. 27th. ' 0 "TOT v HELICOPTERS LIFTED TONS of cement for Middle Bowl lift tower foundations during the mer and through the fall months. OGDEN'S RICK TANNER triad his first skiing i axparianca at Snow Basin. sum- II RON SLIFER, Mayor of Vail, Colorado (right), and Patar Saibart, who davalopad Vail's ski rasort are ganaral partners in Ogden s Snow Basin. It has bean reported that $1 . million has bean poured into an expansion program at Snow Basin this past summer. 1 (UPPER PHOTO) Cement crews worked long hours to pour footings for Middle Bowl Chair Lift at Snowbasin. (BOTTOM PHOTO) This young lad shows that skiing at Snow Basin is for almost everyone. |