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Show Viewpoints The A-11 Park Record. Wed/Thurs/Fri, February 5-7, 2020 editorial School counselors play crucial role in success of our students I guest editorial ‘Protect Our Pocketbooks’ should be skiers’ rallying cry ROGER MAROLT The Aspen Times Forget about POW (Protect Our Winters) for a minute. It’s not global warming that is the biggest threat to skiing. It’s lift ticket prices. Once they become so expensive that skiers can’t afford them anymore, nobody is even going to care if we have snow in the mountains. There won’t be anyone here to know if there is any. We need an organization called POP (Protect Our Pocketbooks). I bet I am oversimplifying. I’m sure there are many reasons beside price that people aren’t flocking to the slopes, but before we get into speculation, let’s be clear on the facts: in the 2015-16 ski season, U.S. ski resorts logged roughly 53-million skier/snowboarder days. That was about the same number of lift tickets sold in the 1995-96 ski season. This was approximately the same as there were in 1985-86. OK, OK. I admit it. I cherry-picked the above data a little, glossing over the highs and lows. Skier visits for last season topped 59 million. Tracing the flat line connecting data points, this means skiing participation has actually grown an average of 0.41% a year since 1978. That’s a mill bastard file shaving better than nothing. This prolonged lack of interest in skiing is not because skiing isn’t fun. The truth is there isn’t much that’s more fun. I know some detractors will say I didn’t get my facts straight on this. Others will conclude that I need to do more research. However, I will point out that the lack of facts, research, and data is a torsionally rigid two-edged fat ski; a lack of information doesn’t prove anything the other way either. While they’re trying to argue with that statement, I’ll stick to my claim — skiing is super fun. Boredom is probably not keeping skiers away. A funny thing about skiing is that it was relatively more popular back in the days when the chances of breaking your leg or ruining some other perfectly The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Alexander Cramer Ryan Kostecka Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Copy Editor ............................ James Hoyt Engagement Editor............. Jeff Dempsey Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Distribution........................... Henry Knight Accounting Manager ......... Jennifer Snow ADVERTISING Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ................... Jodi Hecker Lindsay Lane Sharon Bush Emma Fedorowich Director of Digital Marketing .. Tina Wismer Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production ......................... Louise Mohorn healthy body part was much greater. A renowned snowsport injury researcher, Dr. Jasper Shealy, professor emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology, has determined that these painful skiing mishaps were about twice as likely to happen in 1970 than they do today. It is important to mention that reconstructive surgeries are far better, too. So, it would appear, the odds of having an accident is probably not keeping people off the slopes, either. Another thing to consider is that, even at the almost ripe old age of 57, I am making prettier turns than I did when I was 21. I am not stronger, more flexible or more athletic than when I was younger. My eyesight is worse. My reflexes are slower. My hearing is deplorable. My knees creak in harmony with my back moaning. I have to pee way more frequently. And, still, if I could have seen myself the way I am dancing through the moguls now when I was muscling through them then, I probably would have given up the sport for being humiliated by a geezer. Just to be clear, I am not getting better. My skis are and the trail grooming is. Skiing is easier than ever. Nobody is not skiing because it is difficult. Speaking of gear, ski boots are finally comfortable. I wasn’t thinking about this the other day when I was up on the mountain. That’s the point. I never think about my ski boots anymore. Forty years ago, the pain in my toes was about all I could concentrate on when I was out on the slopes. The drill was to unbuckle my boots in the lift line and hope that the extra breathing room on the ride up would be enough to revive the phalanges before snapping the buckles back down and smothering them again just long enough to gut out another run. I haven’t contemplated another foot surgery for years. Finally, ski boots are no longer an excuse to stay home and watch regular season NBA basketball on Saturday afternoons. Lastly, with faster lifts and cushy seats encapsulating us in gondola cabins like the secret ingredient in a Tylenol capsule, people can now get in more runs before their mid-morning latte breaks than you could by working the system and cutting lift lines in the old days. And still nobody new is showing up. Why don’t more people ski? The only things I can think of that are worse about skiing now compared to the early days are the exorbitant cost and fluorescently accented ski patrol uniforms. While clearly painful on the eyes, I don’t think the latter is enough to overcome the innate, primal, wholly human urge to slide down a steep, snow-covered mountain on slippery non-recyclable plastic planks. It has to be the invisible altitude-activated wallet siphons stealthily installed at strategic locations all over select ski resorts. I guess it was us diehard skiers who refused to put our feet down as the cost of skiing flew off the big kicker. Looking back, why did we go along with the price hikes to pay for all these improvements to the sport we already loved without them? I guess we did what we felt like we had to do. And, yes, this proves skiing is an addiction. Roger Marolt is a columnist for The Aspen Times, a Park Record sister paper based in Aspen, Colorado. t’s not an occasion most people have highlighted on their calendars. Nonetheless, Summit County residents — especially those with school-aged children — should find time in the next few days to mark National School Counseling Week by showing their appreciation for the counselors in our schools who play a critical role behind the scenes in helping our children get to graduation day. Those who have not spent time in a school in many years may be surprised by what, exactly, school counselors do. Long gone are the days when their sole purpose was simply to make changes to a student’s course schedule or provide a list of colleges a student has a realistic chance of getting admitted to. One could argue, in fact, that the school counselors have never had a more difficult job. In addition to assisting students with college and career readiness — an important mission in itself — school counselors are also tasked with ensuring students develop the social and emotional skills they need to be successful. And as troublesome trends like rising student depression and substance abuse continue to develop across the country and in Summit County, school counselors have become even more important. In conjunction with school psychologists and other mental health experts, they help our youth make it through one of the most challenging periods in life and emerge on the other side ready to take on the world. Counselors in Summit County’s schools certainly deserve recognition for their hard work. Even something as small as a letter or an email from a parent or student would go a long way in making sure they understand their contributions are valued. At the same time, nothing shows appreciation as much as giving them the resources to do their jobs well. To that end, the Park City School District and Summit County have delivered. The Park City School District has funnelled money and resources into student wellness in recent years following the overdose deaths of two students in 2016. Summit County, meanwhile, has alleviated some of the burden on school counselors by giving every school in the county access to an on-site mental health professional, a result of the county’s new agreement with Healthy U Behavioral to provide state-mandated behavioral health services. That’s a development particularly important to schools in the North Summit and South Summit school districts, where officials have not traditionally had the money to invest as heavily in student mental health as their counterparts in Park City. Given the critical role school counselors have in shaping our students, we encourage all three school districts to continue to find ways to support them. They’ve more than earned the support, as well as our gratitude. letters to the editor Get involved before it’s too late The Utah Legislature’s 2020 session is underway through March 12, and I am asking people concerned with the climate crisis and environment to get involved by learning about pending potential and current bills and emailing their representatives and letting them know. Even if they are not from your party, they are willing to listen and learn. If we do nothing, we will lose. Everyone must educate themselves to what is happening. Concerns are the Bear River Development Project proposing to divert 20% of the output of this river, the primary water source feeding the Great Salt Lake which would dry up tens of thousands of acres of this vital ecosystem, essential for millions of migratory birds. Learn more at Utah.sierraclub.org and Utahrivers.org. The Inland Port, meanwhile, will use 10,000 acres of undeveloped land, part of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Get involved at stopthepollutingport.org. Both these projects will cause air pollution with dust effect, loss of wild- life, and affect our snow. Extremely urgent and noted as high priority on Utah.sierraclub.org is H.B. 125. This bill will require the Division of Wildlife Resources to kill cougars, bears, bobcats and coyotes when deer and elk herds are “below objective.” Predators are not the cause of dwindling herds and with Chronic Wasting Disease now in Utah, if anything we need predators that preferentially help to cull sick animals. This bill could easily cause us to wipe out our predators and damage our ecosystem. Those who care must act quickly. Please, please get involved before its too late. Jean Tabin Snyderville Basin Amazing community ambassadors I would like to acknowledge the professionalism and poise of the Park City bus drivers during a time when 75% of the bus riders are barking questions in a panicked frenzy. Seemingly impossible good manners, calm demeanor and the continual dispatch of correct information was on display by the Park City bus drivers this week. Kudos to you all and your team! You are amazing ambassadors and an example of what I can strive for and accomplish. Thank you! Allison Florance Park City E-bikes are a ton of fun Thanks, Jeni. Your letter (Jan. 22-24 edition) about e-bikes was wonderful. We had our pedal-assist full-suspension mountain bikes in St. George last weekend and had a ton of fun on single track trails that would not been as attainable if I was riding a non-motorized bike. The ups were great and the downs were just as they would be on a non-motorized bike, no faster. Fun stuff. Beth St. Thomas Pinebrook The Park record Pulse Here’s a sampling of the conversation readers are having on our Facebook page. To visit the page, go to Facebook.com/parkrecord/. The festival is not slowing down, the foot traffic on Main Street is down. Locals from Park City and the greater Salt Lake area are scared away by all the publicity and news. “Get ready for terrible crowdsand traffic.” Instead of hearing about the awful $60 parking, how about hearing there is free parking and free bus service from Ecker Hill Park n Ride. Sundance is a 10 day festival, but only the first 4 or 5 days are busy, by Tuesday I was driving anywhere in town (except on Main St itself) with probably less traffic then on a regular ski day. And frankly all those locals who (complain) about how over crowded Park City and Deer Valley have gotten, go skiing during Sundance, it’s great. Sundance visitors are generally not skiers, so enjoy, it’s the best 10 ski days of the year. The city has to recognize that it’s the first 4 days that are busy and loosen up on no parking areas and on letting traffic flow normally through the neighborhood. Look for green linings not black clouds.” Bob Goldman, on “Sundance sales slip on Main Street as some businesses suffer 20% drop” A lot of resentment has built up by those in the service industry due to perceived rude treatment and the lack gratuities that are depended upon to survive. The festival should educate the guests that they are welcomed into the town by service industry locals and treating them with respect and generosity will bring a better experience for all.” Charlie Wason, on “‘Dismantle Sundance’ graffiti appears in Park City snow” It should not be in the peak of winter!!! Move it to spring when the resorts are still open but slowing down.... We can not move it to summer. The people of Sundance should not be allowed to see how beautiful it is here in the summer time. Just sayin.” Jon Duda, on “Sundance sales slip on Main Street as some businesses suffer 20% drop” The Park Record attained permission to publish these comments. Some comments may have been lightly edited for clarity. |