Deer Valley, USA - Utah

Lionel Athey from UNITED KINGDOM writes:

We have skied in the Alps for 25 years but Deer Valley is something else. At the end of our second week - one week to go. What can I say? Well, close your eyes and picture a skier's paradise - that's Deer Valley, Utah. From arriving at the gondola in the morning to returning late afternoon you are looked after like royalty and the skiing is out of this world. The gondola car park holds only 100 cars but they say it has never been full. By the time you get out of the car a valet has driven up to take you the 100 metres to the Jordinele gondola station! He then gets your skis out of the complementary ski storage and puts them on the gondola when you are ready to go. At the top there are valets to carry your skis, give you directions and make sure you 'Have a good day'. The runs stay well groomed all day due to the powder snow and dry atmosphere. The slopes are very quiet - you can often ski down a two kilometre run without seeing another skier. Most runs are very wide - up to 200 metres wide with clumps of trees here and there that you can ski through and around - beautiful! And the big bonus - no idiots on snowboards - snowboards are not allowed at Deer Valley! The downside? It's expensive - lift passes are over £40 a day. But you get what you pay for - sheer luxury and the best skiing in the world.

2006-02-12