Check us out.

A lot has been going on in the summer months for the Deep Powder House. We have been busy working on our 4th store right at the foot of the Wasatch. It is a bit of a change from being Alta exclusive for so long, but we are loving the new surroundings. We have a shiny new 5,200 square foot store full of everything you can expect to see at the Deep Powder House ski shops. Top of the line equipment and friendly faces. We also bought ourselves a little gift. Well…It is for you too. A state of the art Ski Tuning machine the Montana Challenge. In between getting our store open and ready. We have been playing around with patterns and edge bevels to get your skis the best tune ever! Come check out the new spot and think snow. Check out the link to see the new machine from Montana.

New Store is located at 3138 E 6200 S in Salt lake City, UT.

http://www.ski-service.com/Produkte/Machines/Automaten/CHALLENGE/tabid/4252/Default.aspx

3-7″

Conditions have been tough and it has forced us to get creative with how we spend our days. You know it is an unusual winter when Alta skiers ski in the a.m. then run, mountain bike, or rock climb with shirts off…in January!

Powder House Top 5:  Things to Do With a 26″ Base

1. Ski in the a.m. then head to Ogden and check out the indoor skydiving at iFlyUtah.  Check Out their promotional video: http://iflyutah.com/images/videos/ifly.mov

2. Suck it up and ski all day anyways…then treat yourself at the Rustler or GMD spa, or for drinks at the Sitzmark Club, Eagles Nest Lounge, or GMD Saloon.

3. Leave your skis at home and bring your clubs, demo skis from the Powder House Ski Shops and ski the a.m., then head down canyon and challenge a Powder House Ski Shop employee to a round.

4. Ski the a.m., then try snowshoeing up the White Pine trail in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

5. Get the best of both worlds…enjoy skiing at Alta in the a.m., then check out the shopping and food options that Park City has to offer.

At this point is doesn’t take a lot to get us excited!

Let us know how you are passing the time…

The Art of Skis – Ullr’s Chariot

The Powder House Ski Shops are proud to introduce our exclusive Alta Logo custom graphic ski by Ski Logik. Ullr’s Chariot $750.

3 WAYS!

3 ways the Powder House Ski Shops can get you the most out of early season high pressure skiing.

I have heard a lot of people complain that they only come to Alta to ski powder, and when the powder doesn’t fly neither do they. In my years of working at the Powder House Ski Shop I have seen early seasons where we have been skiing waist deep snow, and I have seen seasons where we have had to take off our skis off and walk to the lifts. The one thing I see every year is ill-equipped, over-confident, and under prepared people of all skiing abilities STRUGGLE on the first real deep, real long ski day. Please take my advice: If the skiing isn’t hitting here, it’s not hitting anywhere: Use this time to dial in you gear and break in your ski legs so that when the getting is good you will be ready to get the goods.

1. The number one thing that you can do to prepare yourself for a long day of slaying powder is to ski. Don’t be tempted to cancel your trip because good isn’t great. A bad day in Alta is better than most anywhere. Use this time to physically and mentally prepare yourself to get the most from the almost spiritual experiences sure to come when mother nature unleashes on Little Cottonwood Canyon. Nothing will get you in shape for skiing like skiing.

2. Make sure your boots are dialed. Nothing has the ability to make you suffer (both mentally and physically) like an ill fitting pair of boots. Before the big day (key word: before)  bring your boots in to the Masterfit Certified Boot Fitters at the Power House Ski Shops to work out all the kinks. Be sure to ask for a custom foot bed, it will allow you to ski harder and longer in comfort (even if it mean one more run on that magical day, it will be worth it).

3. Tune your gear! Don’t get caught fighting your way across the High Traverse, and ensure ultimate downhill pleasure by bringing your skis to the Powder House Ski Shops and asking for the “Butter Tune.” We know what it means…

Remember: “If you aren’t having fun, you’re not doing it right…”

Utah Transit Authority Ski Service Starts Today

Utah Transit Authority Ski Services are a great way to ski Alta on a budget!

UTA will begin their Ski Service today, December 11, 2011. For a $4 one-way cash fare riders can access resorts in both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon. Season & Super Pass holders may ride for free.

Are You at Risk?

Photo: Lee Cohen Skier: Mike Trioli Alta,ut

“Powder Skiing Addiction” is a term that describes a person’s behavior who has an unusually strong motivation to ski powder or an obsession with powder skiing. Skiing and the thought of powder dominate the addict’s thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships outside of the sport.

Skiing addicts engage in bias thinking, often rationalizing and justifying their intense drive to ski, and seek to spend most of their time with other addicts. They generally deny they have a problem and make excuses for their actions in order to increase ski time.

Ski Shop Zen

Time to Die (A Zen Story)

Matt, a Zen boot fitting master, was very clever even as a boy. His teacher, Wally, had a precious pair of ski boots, they were rare antiques. Wally was very attached to his ski boots because they were so comfortable. Matt, as Wally’s student, happened to ruin these precious ski boots and was greatly perplexed. Hearing the footsteps of his teacher approaching, he hid the ruined boots. When his master appeared, Matt asked: “Why do people have to die?”

“This is natural” explained the older, wiser man. “Everything has to die and has just so long to live.” Matt, producing the ruined ski boots, added: “It was time for your boots to die.”

Words of Wisdom

Matt says: “Is it time for your gear to die? Do not nurse along old gear for fear of change and discomfort, the Zen masters at the Powder House Ski Shops will be happy to take you down the path of enlightenment.”

…And remember as Confucius says “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”… especially on the High Traverse.

Good things come…

So the saying goes. Good things come to those who wait. It makes me think of another saying…Easier said than done. When you know what to expect it can be just a matter of patience and knowing that it will eventually snow at Alta. A lot. It can be a bit harder, however, to have the patience and trust in the snow gods if you are new to the canyon. You’ve seen the iconic photos. Heard all the stories, and have plans to make it all a reality. You are looking around right now having a hard time picturing it all. Trust me when I say that it will happen. It will magically change right before your eyes. The smiles will get wider and the nights will get shorter and shorter as you fall into your sleep, ski, work program. Not in that particular order. So if you want some advice. Keep your rock skis out for another week or two and THINK SNOW.

15 Minutes More…It Is This Easy!

Skip the baggage fees and hassle of traveling with your skis. One mile further down the road and in 15 minutes more the Powder House Ski Shops can set you up on the perfect demo ski for the conditions.

With the Alta/Snowbird dual pass you can have access to:

• 4,700 acres of terrain
• Over 200 runs
• 540″ of annual snowfall
• The Snowbird Ariel Tram

Check Out Tarmac to Tram in One Hour!…It Is This Easy!

Powder Hours

Some of the best ski days of my life have been storm riding at Alta during the magical “Powder Hour”, the hour before last chair (3:30-4:30). The hour when mother nature will often show her true power by making it dump so hard that I can barely find my way across the High Traverse. The hour when I seemingly have the entire mountain, with untracked and bottomless snow, to myself; while all but the most dedicated skiers have had their fill, and are resting with beer in hand, staring out the window of the Sitzmark or the Eagles Nest marveling at so much snow falling so fast.