When Deer Valley Resort announced an expansion that will nearly triple its terrain, a fair number of snowboarders hoped the ski mountain would also open up to them. But that’s not going to happen, resort leaders were quick to vow.
As Deer Valley grows into one of the largest ski resorts in North America, it will hold firm to its 44-year tradition of welcoming skiers only, one of three resorts in the country that outlaws the boarders, including Alta. Still, the policy continues to cause some controversy — and some poaching.
Snowboarders yearning to carve into Deer Valley’s terrain hike up behind the Montage and charge the Daly Chutes. Another relatively popular access point involves hiking up Guardsman Pass, branching right and continuing up, near the top of the mountain.
Greg Tunney, a skier who accesses Deer Valley terrain through his gated community at Talisker Club, said he sees snowboarders on split boards making their way up the mountain during the regular season in early dawn, beginning at about 6:30 a.m., using a headlamp. They carve their turns around 8 or 8:30 a.m., before the lifts open at 9 a.m.
“They’re up and down before the resort opens,” he said, adding that he doesn’t think snowboarders poach during operating hours. “I think you’d get into too much trouble.”
He chalks much of their motivation up to rebellion.
“It’s an F-you move to say I did it: I (rode) Deer Valley today,” he said.
While some consider Deer Valley’s skier-only boundaries as highbrow or even discriminatory, Deer Valley officials see it as an essential part of the business plan.
“Maintaining this policy has become integral to our brand identity and guest experience. It consistently emerges as a key factor in our guest surveys, with many guests choosing Deer Valley specifically for the ski-only experience we provide. This has become a defining aspect of our resort,” said Susie English, vice president of marketing at Deer Valley. “While many resorts began allowing snowboarding, we made the decision not to follow suit. Our guests value the ski-only experience that we provide, and it sets us apart from other resorts.”
Bob Wheaton, president of Deer Valley from 1997-2019, said before his retirement that choice is good for the resort.
“People would say, ‘You’re elitist,’ but that’s not what it’s about,” Wheaton said. “It’s another choice that our guests can make on what their total experience is during the day. We are paying attention to the guest. That’s one thing early on, and even now — one of the business foundations has always been to look at Deer Valley through the eyes of our guests. That’s fairly unique in the business industry. The ski-only deal is a response to our guests. When you look at the business side and the growth, our growth has been incredible. Skier-only days never declined.”
In addition to guest support, he credited Park City Mountain next door, which caters to both snowboarders and skiers, for allowing Deer Valley to more easily continue its policy.
“I need to give accolades to Park City. Deer Valley can do that because Park City (Mountain) does an incredible job with terrain parks and snowmaking,” he said.
“Deer Valley now has gotten so much support from the ski industry — it fills up enough with skiers that I don’t think Deer Valley actually needs the snowboarders,” Tunney said.
One local snowboarder who hikes to access Deer Valley in early and late season (and who, for clear reasons, wishes to remain anonymous) said they haven’t heard of snowboarders poaching the resort during the regular season because it’s just easier to stay at Park City or head into the backcountry.
“It’s fun to ride something different, but, generally, at Park City, you can get a mix of anything you could possibly want,” they said. “I’ve skied (Deer Valley) once, and from what I can tell, there’s nothing overly challenging compared to Park City.”
But as Tunney said, “I always see people hiking. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to skin up.”
The anonymous snowboarder said that during the period before Deer Valley opens for the season, they see a handful of both snowboarders and skiers on any given day, and a few times, they have spotted three other larger groups.
“Early season, it is the best. It’s the quickest place to get snow. The entire front side of Park City (Mountain) is privately owned, so you have to go pretty high,” they said. “I’ve heard they (Deer Valley) don’t care in early season. They might like it because it does pack down the snow. I’ve never heard of people being caught.”
Postseason is also a common time to poach, Tunney said.
“It’s much better late season. Deer Valley always closes early. It’s almost like perfect timing: The next week (after they close), we get a big dump,” Tunney said. “It’s really nice when there’s fresh powder that no one else has skied because the lifts are not running. There’s no one there. The snow absorbs the sound, so it’s very, very quiet, which is a very surreal feeling. If the snow keeps coming, you can ski into May.”
Last season, his best run occurred on April 4, after a 2-foot dump.
Granted, he points out that Deer Valley employees don’t want skiers or riders accessing terrain pre- or postseason or outside of operating hours during the season because there’s no one to assist in case of an accident.
“Deer Valley is on private property, and we do not allow uphill travel for any guests, including skiers, hikers, or snowboarders due to safety concerns,” English said. “Our mountain is closed to uphill traffic due to heavy equipment operation and unpredictable conditions , making it extremely unsafe for anyone to be on the mountain outside of operational hours.”
Many skiers prefer Deer Valley due to how snowboarders shape a mountain, specifically mogul runs, differently. Snowboards cause more elongated bumps that have a tendency to create steeper drop offs near the end, or bottom, of each mound.
“It’s obviously a different deal. The bumps are rounder (from skiers),” Wheaton said.
The perception — or misperception — of snowboarders’ overall rowdy reputation also can cause skiers to choose Deer Valley. Tunney said he doesn’t buy the characterization.
“There’s that old schism about snowboarders being radical, and that they’re crazy, I think, but I don’t buy it. Skiers can put as many problems into the hill, as well,” Tunney said. “If snowboarders are side boarding, that sucks — it scrapes up the mountain — but skiers can do the same thing.”
While both rivalry and comradery between skiers and riders — depending on circumstances and friend circles — have been constants since the snowboard’s invention, the two sports do require adjustments from each side. For instance, skiers navigating resorts with riders try to avoid long, flat run-outs for greater ease for their pole-less friends.
Skiers who curse snowboarders prefer the perceived greater predictability of skiers vs. snowboarders, in terms of heading right or left, and they often don’t like how snowboarders’ backs face them while they’re moving in that particular direction. Meanwhile, snowboarders point out that skiers can’t see behind them.
It all comes down to personal preference. Skiers who prefer avoiding snowboarders can choose Deer Valley, and snowboarders can enjoy plenty of variety at Park City — though they sometimes poach the former, be it in the spirit of rebellion or in search of shoulder-season snow.