Powder hounds at the U are already getting excited for ski season, and the fall weather serves only to egg them on.
Though most Utahns are used to heavy snow totals during the winter, early valley snowfall last month surprised both residents and meteorologists.
“We generally see some snow in the higher elevations around 10, 11,000 feet in the later part of September. This year we saw snow down to about 5,500 feet, which is unheard of,” said Jim Kosek, chief meteorologist for KTVX Channel 4.
Kosek warns this early snow doesn’t necessarily indicate that Utah resorts will see a powder stash like the 800 inches they accumulated during the 2010-11 season. That said, the early snow does suggest that snowfall should be above average this year.
He predicts a total well over the 500 inches ski and snowboarding buffs hope for each year.
“It’s looking overall better, somewhere around 600 inches. I think that we’ll get more than half of our snow total in the second half of the season in February and March. I think this is going to be a late winter for us,” Kosek said.
Although many students love sailing down snowy mountains, the expensive hobby can be hard to fit into a tight student budget. Queue the Utah Freeskier Society, which offers discounted passes to students.
The society can offer between $60 and $150 off of ski passes, depending on the resort. Members can also get discounts on gear at several stores across the valley.
“We really try to make it more affordable and accessible for students,” said Tyson Amundsen, president of the Utah Freeskier Society and a senior in Latin American studies.
Snowbird, Park City and Brighton are the most popular resorts for students in the Freeskier Society.
Wasatch powder draws many students to the U, something that creates a distinctive culture and camaraderie.
“I came to the U because I spent a lot of time out here as a kid riding at the Canyons, so it was a natural decision to come out here for school, because of the snow,” said Neal Nelson, a sophomore in psychology and a Virginia native.
Amundsen said he enjoys the U’s pro-powder vibe.
“I can’t imagine a university with a better ski culture than the U,” Amundsen said. “There are so many locals here that have grown up with it and have been spoiled by the canyons being so close. That, combined with the influx of students that come from other states, specifically to participate in the ski culture. It makes a melting pot and creates an incredible experience for everyone.”