Between City Creek and the City, lies a ridge that is home to the Wasatch Steeple Chase. The week started in the 90s so when Friday’s clouds and the temps in the 50s rolled in, the time seemed right to head back to the open ridge. As the morning moved along the clouds lowered onto the higher peaks to the south and by evening the rain brought out the green. 

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Skied an early sunrise accompanied by a few clouds, crunchy snow, and a grand old lightning scorched Limber Pine. Wasatch Mountains.

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Grand views and sun-cupped snow skiing along the moraine and among glacial polished bedrock and eratics.

Click for 2nd Crust Ski video

Okay, so the skiers slept in a little. One stayed asleep in the car, never touching the snow. The sun-cupped snow would swallow your skinny race baskets when used for forward propulsion, and still, not a day to miss out in the mountains. The record breaking heat in the valley and no freeze over night didn’t change the always stunning scenery and the ski was followed with ebelskivers at the cabin.

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Spoiled by last year’s snowstorms well into June, there are still a few pockets of snow yet. Video is from late May in the Wasatch Mountains, always beautiful. Click here for May Crust Skiing, Utah  then use your browser’s return to return to Fasterskier

Click here for June Crust Skiing, Utah

Beautiful blue sky and sunshine tempted the skier higher among the peaks on the third followed by a change to beastly weather and icier snow on the Fourth of July.  Who could resist skiing the Fourth with nearly 2000 feet of continuous vertical? – more for a better skier or heavier skis. Surprisingly good skiing (and falling) well beyond the usual season – with a few more weeks of skiing to go.  The Western R.E.G., USST, and Univ. of Utah skiers were seen roller-skiing the canyon road below. The third video is of a Salt Lake  N.S.T. skier headed for the Swiss Alps (there now) for the Davos and Zermatt marathons and two weeks of climbing, reminding himself how to walk in crampons.

Fourth of July: 

While TUNA reorganizes and hires a new head coach, City Creek Canyon has, as always, been a favorite training ground with rolling trails for running and a smooth road surface for roller-skis. 

Summer skiing continues as well among the higher peaks of the Wasatch Mountains:

Utah skiers are out watching the snow drop daily, the ice is cracking on the lakes, and sadly there are not many nightly freezes left to crust over the snow. While  the snow remains, skiers will continue to rise before the sun to skate, telemark, and go fast if for no deeper reason than it is fun to ski fast with grace. 3 videos:

Eighteen inches of new snow last week keeps the crusts soft and collapsible. The fat boarders are loving it though. The trouble with wet snow and Salomon bindings is… obvious.

Dryland training has its wet days fortunately as the summer heat is on the way.  Special event this week – Park City Nordic Ski Club’s 5k hill run with Billy Demong gave Nels, Michaela, and coach Emma a chance to run with Bill up the road to the top of the Utah Olympic Park bobsled and jumping hill.  Billy set a course record and the SLNST skiers were 1^st or 2^nd in their classes.  Video below…

The V2 training opportunities continue for the 5^th weekend in a row on crust not seen but every few years – let alone five weeks in a row.  The SLNST skiers keep perfecting their skate techniques with transitions and 2-step or double-hop telemark turns on their skate skis.  Video:

Dryland w/Bill Demong:

The Freedom of Skis: one pair of skis to seam the uphills with the downs without slowing, without pause.