For young athletes pursuing Olympic dreams, Park City – just 30 minutes from the University of Utah –  is a town where opportunity and preparation align. With access to top-tier facilities, experienced coaches and a supportive community, the old mining town nestled in the Wasatch Mountains has also become a destination for Olympic hopefuls.

Since hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics, the town has expanded and improved its sports facilities and training programs, and the 2034 Games are expected to have a similar effect on the area. Developments such as the Utah Olympic Park and the USANA Center of Excellence, which provides sports science resources and specialized training for winter athletes, have helped create an environment that nurtures athletes, from youth programs to international competitions.

“We’ve become a winter sports mecca,” said Tess Miner Farra, head of the Winter Sports School. “Park City has always been a destination for skiers, but the economic and sport development here draws in people from all over the country.”

Now, as the state prepares for the upcoming 2034 Winter Olympics, Park City is primed to host many events and further enhance the town’s reputation, said Courtney Harkins, U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s director of marketing and communication. 

“This is such a hub for Olympic sports, and it will continue to be so,” she said.

A Legacy 

The legacy of the 2002 Winter Games is still visible in venues like the Utah Olympic Park, which offers facilities like ski jumps, a luge track and a million-gallon pool for freestyle training.

“The Games in 2002, in my opinion, boosted sport in Park City,” said Matt Terwillegar, senior sports program manager at the park. “It’s really about what is left over for the community.”

Terwillegar emphasized the park’s legacy, highlighting its role in supporting international teams and focusing on youth development. He also noted the significant impact of the facilities on nurturing talent and introducing the community to resources not commonly available. 

“You don’t have a ski jump in your backyard,” he said.

The park has also prioritized sustainability since the 2002 Games, aiming to provide long-term benefits for youth athletics, with initiatives like the Olympic Legacy Foundation.

“The Olympics is a two-week celebration, but it is really about what is left over for the community,” Terwillegar said.

At more than 22 years old, the park has undergone continuous updates since 2002 and is now preparing for the 2034 Games, which are expected to bring further investment and improvements to the town’s venues and help sustain its legacy for years to come.

“The [Olympics are] really going to boost our facilities and be a huge asset for the kids after the Games,” Terwillegar said. “That’s what [it] should be all about.” 

A Hub for World-Class Training

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard team established its home base in Park City in May 2009, with 60% of its 240 athletes living in the Park City or Salt Lake area, Harkins said. The USANA Center of Excellence, a training facility in Park City that provides winter sports athletes with resources for skill development, sports science and coaching, serves as the team’s primary training hub, she said.

“Nothing else compares to it,” said Harkins.

The facility has attracted many athletes to Park City, drawn by the available resources and supportive community. Harkins noted that aspiring youth athletes also train at USANA, performing workouts similar to elite athletes.

“It’s really cool to see the potential of these younger athletes and future names for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team,” she said.

The team has connections to the U, which had six students representing Team USA at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing – more than any other school, according to the organization. U.S. Ski and Snowboard presented the university with its Collegiate Impact Award that year for its contribution in fostering student-athletes. 

“Being a collegiate athlete is an incredible feat,” U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt said in a press release. “Athletes learn how to balance academics and sport while competing for their team … We are thrilled to present the University of Utah with [this award], and thank them for being such an important part of our sports.”

Beyond the Slopes

Park City’s support for athletes goes beyond competition. The Winter Sports School, a public charter school in the heart of Park City, offers a combination of rigorous academics and flexible scheduling to accommodate intensive training. Unlike traditional schools in Utah, Winter Sports School students attend from late April to November, following a fast-paced curriculum, said Tess Miner-Farra, the school’s principal.

“We want students to have the opportunity and flexibility for athletic training, and our staff understands that students want to train and get their education as well,” she said.

The school’s program emphasizes efficiency by incorporating warm-ups and time for troubleshooting with teachers during classes, allowing students to complete homework during school hours and focus on athletic and dry-land training after school. It also prepares students for life beyond sports, Mine-Farra said.

“We ensure students have the support they need to transition and succeed, whether in college or other career paths,” she added.

As Park City’s population grows, so does the demand for attendance at the Winter Sports School. Miner-Farra said the administration hopes to build an amphitheater and science lab to accommodate the expanding student body.

The program, Harkins said, offers bourgeoning athletes an opportunity unique to Utah.

“The Winter Sports School is one of the coolest programs in the country from a ski academy perspective because they get to go to school full time and get a full academic education … and then be able to race full time,” she said.

Built Around Sport

Sami Worthington, a Park City native and U.S. Ski Team member, said the town’s resources have played a significant role in her success. 

“I’ve lived in Park City my entire life, and I started skiing when I was two,” said Worthington, whose father, Trace Worthington, is a two-time Olympian. 

Worthington, who is studying pre-health and kinesiology at the University of Utah Honors College, began competing in ski events at age 10 and joined the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team at 17. 

“It is a special thing I get to be a part of,” she said. “I owe it all to Park City … People don’t understand how important it is to have the resources we have here, like USANA and the Utah Olympic Park. They’re stronger than anywhere else in the country.”

Worthington also noted that the town’s Olympic spirit motivates a new generation of athletes. 

“I’ve noticed a lot of parents putting their children into winter sports because of the upcoming 2034 Olympics,” she said.

Park City Mayor Nann Worel, the first woman to hold the office since the town’s founding in 1884, said the town’s culture is closely tied to winter sports.

“Our culture is built around sport,” Worel said. 

She pointed out the city’s efforts to balance tourism with maintaining the quality of life for residents, along with its tradition of celebrating athletic achievements. 

“Our residents love when events like the World Cup or X Games come to town,” she said.

These events, however, also bring challenges as tourists visit the mountain town. According to a Utah Well-Being Survey conducted by Dr. Courtney Flint, a community and natural resource sociologist at Utah State University, traffic is the second-largest concern for Park City residents, following water supply, with 85% of residents citing it as a major issue.

“How do we balance quality of life for our residents with tourism?” Worel asked, framing it as one of the city council’s main challenges.

Worel also emphasized the city’s long-term perspective. 

“Our conversation now is not ‘what do we need to do for the Olympics,’” she said, “but who do we want to be in 2035 when all that leaves.”

This article was published from the University of Utah’s COMM 1610 class.