Solitude Mountain Resort opened its beginner double lift, Link, the weekend of Nov. 8-10, claiming first in Utah to open for the season. Brighton Ski Area opened two lifts last Thursday, its main quad, Majestic, and neighboring beginner triple, Explorer. Then on Friday, back to Solitude, opening its high-speed quad lift, Moonbeam Express.
For now, all the action is at the head of Big Cottonwood Canyon, achingly close to Park City by the closed-for-winter Guardsman Pass, but a long drive around. But that will change this Friday as Park City Mountain opens, soon followed by Woodward to skiers and riders the following Friday (Nov. 29), and soon after that, Deer Valley, the following Saturday (Dec. 7). Welcome to the 2024-25 season.
Barring big snow this weekend, speaking of achingly close with the next promising storm expected to pass mainly to the north of Utah, the progression for now looks like a lift here and a lift there as snowmaking prepares scattered skiable ribbons.
But for at least some hardy skiers who can’t wait for the season to begin, including some from Park City, Brighton and Solitude proved irresistible.
Early morning Thursday at Brighton was filled with long cheering lines and energy drinks. Skiers, boarders, ski skaters and ski bikers queued up for the first chair on Majestic, which opened at 9 a.m.
“Have fun with it. Be safe,” said Brighton’s opening team through a megaphone as the crew handed out neck gaiters to the first 50 people in line and the gates finally opened. Skiers and snowboarders lined up over an hour before the lifts opened at Brighton and at Solitude, fueled with excitement for their first days on snow this season.
The marketing team hypes up the line with a megaphone, announcing free neck gaiters for the first several people who were waiting in line. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record 
JB Sizzle, as he is known as on the slopes, waits in line for the first run of the season at Brighton on Thursday. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record
One skier, John, also known as JB Sizzle in his skiing community, celebrated his 19th season at Brighton.
“It’s such a great vibe,” Sizzle said. “It’s very youthful, but I love it, it rubs off. Very contagious, very cool.” He got in line at 8 a.m., excited to “work out the kinks” before the season ramps up and get a few turns in before work.
Roxanne has been coming to Brighton since she was in the seventh grade. She said she had lined up for the first chair, though she was not one of the four to kick off the quad lift’s inaugural journey this season.
“We were here early, trying to get in as many runs today as we can. I’ve had a season pass here for three years, and I love the vibe. To me, it feels like the locals’ resort. Everyone here is just so happy to be here and together,” she said.
The morning at Solitude the next day opened a bit slower. The eager early birds lined up at 8 a.m. for first chair, though many people waited until closer to 9 a.m. to queue up. Folks trickled into the annual DJ + Donuts party, where a DJ played behind a table of free doughnuts all morning. Solitude has put on this opening event for the past five years. The doughnuts were a big hit.
“We’re having a ball,” said Mary, a first-time skier at Solitude. “We’re looking forward to getting our first day on skis. We’ve never been to Solitude before, but it’s a blast! The music and the doughnuts are huge for morale. Looking forward to having a long run.”
One gentleman who didn’t give his name said he has been skiing Solitude since it opened in 1957. He secured his spot as one of the first four on the first chair of Moonbeam.
“It’s a running tradition. Lifts open at 8, I got my doughnut, it’s great,” he said. “It’s been a long time. Things have changed a lot. Looking forward to when the snow gets deep.”
A snowboarder recovering from an ACL tear shared his journey back to the slopes at Brighton.
“I actually tore it here trying to land a backflip,” he said. “Now I’m six months recovered, and it feels so good to be back. I’m the designated filmer this season — no tricks for me — but I don’t mind. Brighton has been my spot for seven years.”
Despite the early wake-up, he was filled with energy and enthusiasm. “It’s just so great to be back. So stoked to be here right now.”
New and old, Brighton’s opening day felt welcoming to all, said a University of Utah student new to Brighton and celebrating his first runs.
“Run one in the books — you can’t beat it,” he said. “I just moved here from Colorado, and I’m stoked to experience Brighton in a real way. The best ‘welcome to Utah’ I could ask for.”
Inclusion is on the main frame for Solitude and Brighton this year. Solitude officially removed all blackout dates for Ikon Base Pass holders, allowing anyone to join in the fun without restrictions.
“For us, this is a really big deal. We just created more access for tons of pass holders, and that’s super exciting,” said Jeff Carroll, vice president of marketing at Solitude. “It’s about giving value to all of our guests that have Ikon passes. Blackout dates tend to happen on days when a lot of people are off of work, they’ve got time to ski. Now we can give them that back and that’s a huge win,” he said.
Brighton is also gearing up for more night skiing opportunities with the addition of night lights to the runs accessed by the Milly Express lift. With night skiing more accessible at Brighton, folks who hope to learn how to ski have the opportunity to do so after work or the school day, and lift tickets are typically less expensive due to the quantity and quality of terrain available after dark.
The projected opening date for Milly Express is Dec 13, weather permitting.
As the first resorts open in Park City’s surrounding area, Brighton and Solitude present an exciting early season opportunity for growth and learning, as the ski community gets their legs ready for the snow. For park-goers, Brighton opens an area called ‘The Bone Zone’ in the early season, where people can work with the park team to build features and practice their skills on a few inches of snow in the parking lot before the slopes open.
Brighton attracted every form of wintersports enthusiasts, opening their chairs to everything from skis and snowboards to ski bikes and snow skates.
“Our whole goal is to keep Brighton what it is, and that’s affordable, family fun, not too caring about how expensive your goggles are, what kind of outerwear you’re wearing,” said Director of Marketing Jared Winkler. “It’s the everything-mountain. Everyone is here to do their own thing, and we welcome that.”
Having opened with their beginner lift, Link, Solitude made history as the first to open in Utah for the 2024-25 season, but they did this for more than just name recognition.
“Two of the last three seasons we’ve had the longest season in Utah. So we’re kind of attached to that,” said Carroll. “Though we don’t just do it to pat our own backs. We have a lot of Ikon pass holders here, and if we can give them as much bang for their buck as possible, that’s a really big deal.”
With just the beginner lift open, skiers and riders only had access to Solitude’s Easy Street run.
A great option for beginners, the run also presented an opportunity for seasoned skiers to get out there in the early season and have fun.
“There’s a lot of community. People were making some fun runs. We’ve set up a little mini park on Link, and people were there to just have a great time,” said Carroll. “The energy is super, super sweet. Very enthusiastic. We love it.”
Solitude aims to open its six-person, high-speed lift, Apex Express, by next weekend. Brighton plans the same for its popular six-pack, Crest 6.
