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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXV Issue XVIII November 1, 2019 University of Utah to Host 2020 Vice Presidential Debate The University of Utah and Utah Debate Commission jointly submitted the state’s winning bid. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced today the University of Utah has been selected to host the vice presidential debate on October 7, 2020, at Kingsbury Hall. This is the first time a national debate will be hosted in Utah. The Commission on Presidential Debates in a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and has sponsored all general election presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988. “It is a tremendous honor to host a vice presidential debate and we are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase our university and our state,” said Ruth Watkins, President of the University of Utah. “I am excited for our students to be able to participate in this important component of the political process. It will be an incredible educational experience for them. Civic engagement is a core value of our democracy and students will be able to see firsthand how being involved in the political process matters.” Utah is the only Western state selected for one of three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. “Utah has a proven record of successfully hosting events on a large scale,” said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert. “The 2002 Winter Olympics are widely considered to be the most economically successful in Olympic history. Our citizens have an excellent reputation for hospitality and Salt Lake City has a strong infrastructure for travel and tourism. We look forward to welcoming the 2020 candidates and media from across the world.” “Utah has the opportunity to once again stand on the world stage to showcase our citizens, our values and our tremendous Utah lifestyle,” said Thomas Wright, co-chair of the Utah Debate Commission. “On behalf of the Utah Debate Commission and our University of Utah partners, I want to thank our state leaders for their vision, perseverance and hard work as well as all those who have supported the effort to host a debate in Utah.” Additional details about the debates, including format and moderators, will be announced in 2020 by the Commission on Presidential Debates. “It has always been the mission of the Hinckley Institute and the University of Utah to provide our students with unparalleled and transformative opportunities to learn about politics and become civically engaged,” said Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics and vice president for Government Relations. “Hosting a 2020 vice presidential debate will allow us to accomplish both of these goals on a world stage.” “The selection of Salt Lake City as a venue for a vice presidential debate offers residents throughout the state an especially unique opportunity for civic engagement,” said Karen Hale, co-chair of the Utah Debate Commission. “The national—and international—focus on a vice presidential debate here in Utah has the capacity to elevate residents’ curiosity and awareness about the issues and the candidates.” Utah Ski Resorts Gear up for the 2019-2020 Woodward Season Park City - Woodward Park City, Deer Valley Resort Deer Valley plans to invest making several upgrades this year, including The beginning of ski season in Utah is on the horizon, and the state’s ski resorts are gearing up for another winter of skiing, riding, and playing in The Greatest Snow on Earth®. With a variety of new offerings, including new lifts, hotels, restaurants, and even a newly added resort, Woodward Park City, visitors are sure to find unique experiences all across the state with a variety of options for families, friends, and powder-chasing fanatics. Alta Ski Area - Alta is excited to expand Alta Ski Shop operations to the family-friendly Albion Base Area with the original location remaining at the Wildcat Base Area. Building off the momentum from this past season, Alta will again dedicate up to 25% of the Wildcat parking lot for carpoolers with 3+ per vehicle. Alta has also hired a new Director for the Alta Environmental Center. Alf Engen Ski School is also thrilled to partner with the Snowpine Lodge and the Alta Peruvian Lodge, offering new performance ski camps for the 2019-20 season. Brian Head Resort - Nearly $6 million in capital improvements are continuing on schedule at Brian Head Resort this summer and fall. The improvements will benefit skiers and riders resort-wide, with a new highspeed lift, new grooming equipment, snowmaking improvements, replacements and upgrades in the rental shop ski and snowboard inventory, and additional enhancements to other on-hill facilities. The new high-speed detachable quad chair lift (Navajo Express) will replace the Resort’s existing fixed-grip triple chair lift that has served Navajo Mountain for over 30 years. With both base areas (Navajo and Giant Steps) now served by high-speed chairlifts, guests will be able to access the top of both mountains faster, smoother, and more comfortably than ever before. Brighton - Brighton is excited to add additional snowmaking on the Canyon run near the Milly Base area, enabling access to the Milly lift sooner than before. Taking advantage of already existing RFID technology, the resort is also launching a redesigned purchasing portal for online sales, which will drastically improve the customer checkout experience and make it easier than ever to shop $7.6 million in improvements for the 2019–20 season. This investment will fund several improvements, including new RFID technology, digital signage, snowmaking and grooming enhancements, and upgrades the transportation fleet. RFID technology with new gantry gates and scanning for electronic ticketing will be added around the resort. New ticketing media, with built-in chip technology, will enable the resort to use the best available technology to increase and upgrade the guest experience throughout the resort and new digital signage at the resort’s base lodges will enhance the guest experience by having real-time information available on ticketing availability and pricing, lift operations, grooming conditions, and other mountain and lodge related information. Park City - Mountain Tombstone BBQ has long been a favorite dining tradition on Park City Mountain, serving mouthwatering house-smoked meats, homemade sauces and ice cold beer. That tradition will start a whole new chapter for the 2019–20 season, with the addition of a permanent restaurant on the site of the old food truck and BBQ shed. The signature space includes heated indoor seating for up to 50 guests, ample indoor restrooms, a wood-fired BBQ pit and a full kitchen serving up all the Tombstone classics. Outdoor picnic tables will continue to offer guests a relaxed, al fresco dining experience with views of the surrounding mountains, while the new indoor structure will provide a cozy escape from the elements on chilly days. In pursuit of Vail Resort’s commitment to zero, disposable plates and cups will also be replaced with environmentally-friendly reusable service ware. Park City Mountain also plans to install a new lift in time for the 2019–20 season, pending permits. The fixed-grip quad chairlift, named “Over and Out,” will transport guests from a location near the bottom of the Tombstone Express Lift and unload near the top of Sunrise Lift on the front side of the mountain. As the name suggests, this lift will provide a quicker, more direct route for skiers and riders to access Canyons Village from the center of the resort. Snowbasin Resort - Snowbasin Resort is major upgrades to Earl’s Lodge, significant improvements on the intermediate experience off the John Paul lift, and improved accessibility at the base of the Wildcat lift. The major upgrades to servery in Earl’s Lodge will increase the ease of guest flow and speed of service with additional grab-andgo options, elevated food quality, and new food and beverage stations. Snowbasin favorite menu items, such as the cheese fries, will remain on the menu. On the snow, the resort has added snowmaking to the area that was improved and widened last summer around Mt. Ogden Bowl road in order to accelerate early season opening of the John Paul lift and is also removing the medical clinic building from the Powder Puff area by the base of Wildcat lift. This will provide easier access to the Wildcat chair for all guests and expand the beginner terrain footprint in the base area. Snowbasin is grateful for the long-standing partnership with Intermountain Health Care, and for the new clinic facility that will be built in the base area. Snowbird - Snowbird’s newest dining experience, SeventyOne at the Cliff Lodge, is a throwback to the mountain’s early roots. The new restaurant features American grill favorites, an open kitchen, and a retro vibe. Take in the expansive mountain views while you enjoy a relaxing meal or quick drink at the bar. Prepare yourself for a new flavor at Snowbird with a sophisticated, 70s twist on comfort food and contemporary American fare. Solitude Mountain Resort - Solitude Mountain Resort is excited to announce the opening of a walk-up waffle window at the Moonbeam Center. This new dining option will offer fresh, piping hot Liège-style waffles with a variety of toppings, plus other take-away snacks and beverages. Solitude’s mountain operations team has acquired a new Prinoth Leitwolf snowcat, the latest addition to Solitude’s grooming fleet, and has also undertaken a major brush clearing initiative during summer 2019. Both of these investments support Solitude’s commitment to remaining a market leader in slope maintenance, ensuring a high-quality guest experience. the nation’s first all-in-one action sports and ski resort, will feature a fully integrated and state of the art campus, complete with indoor and outdoor action sports venues for year-round adventure. Woodward Park City will be open 365 days and nights a year starting this 2019-20 winter season. Woodward Park City is imagined from the ground up to encourage intuitive growth and progression in 10 different sports and activities. From lift-accessed snowboarding, skiing, and tubing in the winter to biking and skating in the summer, Woodward Park City should be on every Utah visitor’s must-do bucket list. Access will be available through all-access tickets, day sessions, lift tickets, drop-in sessions, day camps, lessons, monthly memberships, and special events. Woodward Park City Monthly Memberships (starting at $100/month) include unlimited access to our indoor and outdoor facilities. The memberships are now available. Maintaining your membership locks in your original price for at least two years from start date. Additional ways to play will be available for pre-purchase throughout the fall. Passes - With a variety of pass options available, skiers and riders have exceptional access to multiple Utah resorts as well as resorts around the world. Ski Utah Gold Pass ($5,300) The Gold Pass is Utah’s only fully transferable multi-resort lift pass. It provides unlimited days of skiing/ riding at all 15 Utah resorts. The pass is also valid for summer lift access, including mountain bike hauling, to resorts open during the summer months. A limited quantity remains — visit https://www.skiutah.com/goldpass to learn more. Ski Utah Silver Pass ($3,500) –SOLD OUT– Ski Utah Passport ($45) This pass offers fifth-graders three days of skiing and sixthgraders one day of skiing at each of Utah’s resorts. Passport sign up and on-mountain redemption are now digital! Visit skiutah.com/ passes/passport to learn more. Ski Utah Yeti Pass ($649) The Yeti Pass is good for one lift ticket at every Utah resort and is a great option for parents with children who SKI UTAH cont. on page 11 |