Park City Becomes Freestyle Paradise
Olympic snowboard competitors praised the precisely built, perfectly coiffed Eagle superpipe at Utah's Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) as the finest superpipe in the world.
"The Park City Olympic pipe was the best for two reasons: One was the constant grooming and rider feedback; two was the placement of the superpipe under direct sunlight," said silver medallist Danny Kass.
The snowboard competition venue disappeared shortly after the medal-laden athletes departed, leaving holes in the hearts of ripping freeskiers everywhere. The Eagle superpipe had never been skied. Its carbon copy, the Payday superpipe, was accessible to the public, but lacked the Eagle's mythical aura. PCMR recognized the need for improved, abundant terrain park features and concocted a plan to satisfy all jibbers, from remedial to competitive levels.
First, PCMR named Jim Mangan its new freeride manager. Mangan owns an independent terrain park and event course consultancy and ranks among the top four terrain park designers in the world. Next, to equip Mangan with the resources to create a fantastic freestyle playground, PCMR acquired new grooming machines, including a Park Bully, to work the three (yes, three) terrain parks nightly. Extensive snowmaking will supplement the increased park area. The resort also purchased new rails and other park features for the general jibbing public. More importantly, PCMR purchased the Super Dragon that cut the Eagle superpipe, meaning the legendary Olympic venue will return to enchant skiers and riders alike.
"We will have some terrain features next season built for the general public, and some way more challenging ones designed for the 'core world of riders and freeskiers," Mangan said.
PCMR's plan also includes an intensified focus on the athletes frequenting the terrain parks. There are free terrain park clinics, four pipe jams for local jibbers, and several regional competitions slated for the 2002-2003 season. To further encourage the development of the sport, PCMR will make sponsorships available to professional athletes as well as younger riders and skiers.
"We believe in sponsoring developing, young, local athletes and will be emphasizing this commitment next season," said Bonnie Crail, PCMR's vice president of marketing.
In the past, Park City Mountain Resort has successfully balanced local needs with international exposure, and the terrain park initiative is no exception. The resort will host the first World Superpipe Championships on February 21-23, 2003. This event will showcase the most talented superpipe riders and skiers in the world. Several of these athletes will be accessing PCMR's new terrain regularly-the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association recently chose the mountain as its official training site. -Jackie Baker