2002 Ad

Sunset, Feb, 1998 by Jeff Phillips, Linda Hayes

While the U.S. team races for Winter Olympic gold in Nagano, Japan, later this month, you can test your own downhill abilities at a future Olympic site much closer to home. Unlike most host cities in recent decades, Salt Lake City - home to the 2002 Winter Olympics - has much of its act together far ahead of time. Consequently, a number of its Olympic venues, located just east of Salt Lake City in the resort town of Park City, are open to the public.

This winter, ambitious skiers can carve slalom and mogul runs and take ski jump lessons, snowboarders can catch air on a new half-pipe, and anyone who has a yen for speed can experience the thrills of bobsledding.

Park City's dining establishments are bucking for medals as well. While the town doesn't rate high on the glitz and glamour scale, celebrities are making their presence known on the restaurant scene, and local chefs seem on the verge of becoming famous in their own right.

And remember: you don't have to worry about calories - you'll burn them off on the slopes.

FLYING HIGH, FLYING LOW

The Utah Winter Sports Park - site for bobsled, luge, and Nordic ski jumping - is the only place in North America where amateurs can try all of these events.

Ski jumping. Only Mount Everest seems higher when you're standing at the top of the park's 18- or 38-meter training ski jump. It's the grand finale for intermediate skiers who take two-hour ski jump lessons. Olympic skiers will launch from a rebuilt 90-meter and a yet-to-be-constructed 120-meter jump on the other side of the hill.

Bobsled. Opened barely a year ago, the $25-million combined bobsled and luge facility is touted as the fastest sustained-speed track in the world. Nothing can prepare you for the four-person bobsled ride: the noise of the runners over ice and the nearly 5 Gs of force as you hit 15 turns at more than 70 mph - all in less than a minute. Those looking for a solo experience can board an ice rocket (a one-person sled) to run the course.

Utah Winter Sports Park is open for recreational use Tue-Sun. Call first; schedules can change due to training or competitions. Reservations required for bobsled ($125) and ice rocket ($27) rides as well as ski jump lessons ($28 for two-hour session; rentals extra). Admission: $5 per car or $5 per person on special-event days. (435) 658-4200.

SEE 'N' SKI

Viewers of the 2002 Olympics will see a lot of Deer Valley Resort on the tube - the competitions scheduled here are some of the spectacle's most popular events. They're set on a dramatic mountain stage that can be clearly viewed from the sunny decks of the posh Snow Park Lodge.

Freestyle mogul. Completed last summer, the Champion ski run is a steep drop (60 percent slope) through big bumps guaranteed to give most advanced skiers wobbly knees. The freestyle mogul course will be 320 meters long with two sets of 6- to 8-foot-high jumps that will launch racers 25 feet into the air to execute such maneuvers as a triple helicopter. Here's a reality check for those who think they're good: an Olympic competitor will drop through this course (including jumps) in about 40 seconds.

Slalom. Gates for both men's and women's slalom will be set on Know You Don't, a black diamond (advanced) run. The men's course will have at least 55 gates down a twisting course dropping 700 vertical feet. While gates won't be up for recreational skiers this winter, the pitch will be the same.

Combined slalom. This event includes both downhill and slalom races. The slalom portion will be held on Big Stick, the top half of which intermediate skiers can easily negotiate.

Freestyle aerials. Events will be on White Owl, but the curving jumps won't be ready until the Olympics.

Lift tickets: $54, $29 ages 12 and under. Deer Valley Resort; (800) 424-3337.

THRASHING IT OUT

Two years ago, snowboarders were considered persona non grata at Park City Mountain Resort, but today the town's original ski mountain is the venue for two Olympic snowboard events, and shredders are welcome to use the front door.

Half-pipe. This winter you can use a half-pipe built to Olympic specs: a shallow concave at least 100 meters long from the drop-in, with walls at least 3 meters high - more than enough to let you boost some big backside air or to spin you into a face plant. Look for the pipe just off the PayDay run on the edge of the new snowboard park.

Giant slalom. Olympic snowboard giant slalom (as well as alpine) events will be held on runs in a racer training area closed to the public, but anyone can watch the action from the base of the mountain.

Lift tickets: $52, $23 ages 12 and under. Park City Mountain Resort; (435) 649-8111. Lodging; (800) 222-7275.

GOLD-MEDAL DINING

Behind the quaint Victorian facades of Park City's Main Street, a new breed of chefs is preparing creative cuisine that is taking this up-and-coming "restaurant row" to new heights. The area code is 435.

Chimayo. Restaurateur and culinary pioneer Bill White's newest eatery is a Taos-inspired showcase (look for the constellation of tin stars above the door) that tosses Southwestern spice into the mix, with green chili corn chowder, wild mushroom tamales, and chipotle-tamarind spareribs. $20-$27. 368 Main St.; 649-6222.