Fostering a lifelong love of Skiing.
Discover Winter Returns for 2024.
Learning to ski comes with many challenges, especially if your circle of family and friends did not grow up skiing. While not impossible, learning to ski as an adult can present additional hurdles. Exposure and opportunity are everything and Alta's hope, one skier of color at a time, is that one day of skiing can lead to a second day—eventually opening up the possibility of skiing.
Alta and Ski Utah teamed up for a third season of the Discover Winter program—promoting access to skiing and fostering a lifelong love of the sport in adults of color.
The goal of this four-week program is progression—from first-time shuffling on skis to riding chairlifts. The first week of the program focused on the basics, from gear essentials to slowly navigating the flat, low-angle slopes along the transfer tow. The second and third weeks focused on comfort and confidence while making turns on low-angle slopes. The more intrepid participants rode the Snowpine chairlift over the next few weeks. Finally, the fourth week of the program culminated with a few groups riding Sunnyside lift into the heart of the Albion basin—Alta's premier beginner terrain. Skiing the Crooked Mile run provided over a mile of turns while ushering in Atla's newest wave of skiers. The Discover Winter program provides a great foundation and intro to skiing and we hope each participant can carry this newfound ski momentum into the spring and next winter. While we eagerly await next year's participants it's important to recognize that this is all made possible because of the enthusiasm and stoke of each participant coupled with the guidance and encouragement of the Alf Engen Ski School and Ski Utah.
Alta and Ski Utah teamed up for a third season of the Discover Winter Program—promoting access to skiing and fostering a lifelong love of the sport in adults of color.
Week 2: Learning the Basics on the Transfer Tow
Photos: Photo-John
Week 4: Progressing to the Sunnyside lift
Photos: Photo-John
Here's how the Discover Winter program works:
Ski Utah, in concert with its partner resorts, is committed to making skiing and snowboarding more inclusive. Through its Discover Winter program, Ski Utah aims to foster a life-long love of skiing and snowboarding amongst Utah's ethnically diverse and LGBTQ+ community.
With generous funding from Morgan Stanley, the Larry H. Miller Foundation and others, Ski Utah is partnering with several organizations throughout the state of Utah to bring more people of color to the slopes.
This season, upwards of 150 participants from Future Scholars of Africa, Weber State University's Diversity Clubs, Morgan Stanley, Outdoor Afro and other organizations will have the opportunity to visit a Utah ski resort four times for ski or snowboard lessons. Participating resorts include Alta Ski Area, Brighton Ski Resort, Deer Valley Resort, Snowbird, Snowbasin and Solitude Mountain Resort.
In addition to the four complimentary ski or snowboard lessons, Ski Utah will provide transportation to the resorts provided by Le Bus, ski and snowboard rental equipment and proper clothing for participants to stay warm.
At the conclusion of the four lessons, participants will receive a Ski Utah Yeti Pass. This pass provides one day of skiing/snowboarding at each of Utah's 15 resorts allowing participants the opportunity to hone their newfound skills. It is Ski Utah's hope that participants will have discovered a lifelong love of skiing and snowboarding and will return to the slopes for years to come.
Learn more about Discover Winter | Ski Utah >
Discover Winter 2023
Alta and Ski Utah teamed up for a second season as part of the Discover Winter Program which promotes access to skiing and is committed to fostering a lifelong love of the sport. Discover Winter 2023 Recap | Alta Stories >
Discover Winter 2022
We were thrilled and honored to host the first season of the Discover Winter program at Alta. Instructors from the Alf Engen Ski School donated four of their Saturday afternoons to help a group of 11 first-time skiers learn a lifelong love of our favorite pastime. Discover Winter 2022 Recap | Alta Stories >
Discover Winter Press
- How Utah's Discover Winter Program is Introducing More Black Youth to the Slopes | Ebony.com >
- This Is How Ski Utah is Getting More People of Color on the Slopes | Salt Lake Tribune >
Learn To Ski With the Alf Engen Ski School
It’s a great time to learn how to ski and have the most fun ever! We have world-famous snow conditions, a beautiful mountain setting and a professionally certified ski school staff with the desire to share their skiing expertise with you.
Over the progression of four lessons, you will learn to glide, turn and control speed on green slopes. These skills will allow you to explore and enjoy the beautiful Albion Basin at Alta. If you really want to experience the amazing sensations of alpine skiing, then a series of four lessons is the right way to get started.
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