It was smiles all around for the gang that showed up at Canyons on Saturday; and it wasn’t just the gorgeous spring weather and the Gruv setting up in the Village below. The impromptu idea to have a celebrity ski race and raise a couple hundred grand for a charity called Operation Smile wasn’t long in the making.

Five months ago, a young boy approached the founders of Operation Smile, a non-profit that pays for the operations to repair cleft lips and palates in underprivileged children. The 10-year-old – who just happened to be the son of the president of NBC Entertainment, Jennifer Salke (who, BTW is married to the brother of a girl I went to high school with. Yes, Ryan, everyone from my past is “successful” but me), wanted to give back. Since Henry was born with a cleft lip but had the means to overcome the condition, he decided to help those who didn’t.

Soon Billy Bush from Access Hollywood was on board promoting the event and encouraging his friends from popular television shows to join in. Yesterday, marked the first annual Smile Challenge and you can bet they’ll be back next year. It’s hard to beat a weekend of good fun for a good cause.

The celebs were able to hop a couple of private jets to get to Park City on short notice and many like Lisa Kudrow and Scott Wolf already call Utah, ‘Home #2.’ “I love Utah,” said Kudrow. “We have a place here. Everyone is really nice.”

The former Friends star didn’t ski in the race but said she does know how to ski. She’s just not good enough to have anyone watch her race. Wolf has come a long way since his first days on the slopes during breaks on Everwood. He was schooling Holly Flanders in the course.

Both celebrated the opportunity to support Operation Smile. “It’s so pervasive, the help [kids] are getting,” Kudrow said. “It’s not just a smile, it’s confidence and belonging and feeling like, ‘Yes I’m part of a group and I go to a school and can do well.’ They all just soar afterwards.”

Glee’s Cory Monteith may be the next celebrity to buy into Park City. He gushed with admiration for the Wasatch. “I love this, look at this,” he said. “It’s God’s country. It’s amazing.” The locals welcomed him too. Young girls trembled with excitement to stand next to him for photos. And, no, I wasn’t the one trembling.

A couple of Modern Family stars also turned up for the event. “Our face is our livehood. It’s what everyone judges you on unfortunately; and a great smile is a beautiful thing and to give kids back that confidence is a beautiful thing,” said Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell). Neither Ty Burell nor Jesse took their chances in the spring slop. They chilled at the Alpine House for the after party. Jesse didn’t know how to ski in the morning but said he had a private lesson later.

Next time, he needs to call me. I’ll be the first to tell him to take a lesson in the morning, not the afternoon, on the last day of March during an excruciatingly hot, dry ski season.

The celebs didn’t have much time to prep before the race. They arrived Friday evening and met their Olympic team leaders Saturday morning before the 11 a.m. start just below and to the right of the Sunrise Lift. Billy Demong, Fuzz Feddersen, Kaylin Richardson, Derek Parra, Holly Flanders, Tracy Evans coordinated the teams of six. Spectators could walk up to the finish area and were treated to a variety of Pro Bar flavors. Good thing too as the gluten-free, vegan nutrition bars would be the best vegetarian alternative to the Schnitzel and corned beef the Alpine House was serving. Unless you have a thing for beet salad.

Food aside, the First Annual Smile Challenge seemed to go off without a hitch and the casualness of the event made it feel like old pals out for a Saturday on the hill rather than some glitzy inauthentic Sundance-ish affair. The smiles were genuine.

Canyons’ Kaylin Richardson smoked the entire field. Billy Demong

Kate Walsh was loving the sun and time with friends and Family.

Tony Hawk, who has his own charity building skateparks for underprivileged kids, gladly came out to ride in Utah for a complementary charity.

I’m making jokes about summer being here. We had all of six days of winter, a sh*tload of spring and now everything’s toast. Sure, we may get a few random storms but for the most part, with less than a month left, the 2011/2012 “ski” season is wrapping up. The good news is that the trails should be clear to bike and hike sooner rather than later. (Last year we couldn’t bike in the Wasatch until August) and the extra good news is that the sunny weather is lifting spirits disappointed with the winter turnout.

Canyons (Closing April 15)

March 31- April 1 – Don’t know how they did it but Canyons’ celebrity list trumps Deer Valley’s. DV always opens their season with their CBS Celebrity Classic but the starpower is frequently lackluster. Now, Canyons Resort closes their season with the inaugural 2012 Smile Downhill and stars from blockbuster shows like Glee, Modern Family and Grey’s Anatomy have agreed to show. Katherine Heigl, Lucy Hale, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Josh Kelley, Kate Walsh, Chris Case, Billy Bush, Naya Rivera, Lisa Kudrow, Scott Wolf, and Jennifer Salke will race to raise funds for Operation Smile, an international children’s charity that rebuilds smiles for thousands of children born with cleft lips and cleft palates. Anyone can watch the races along the Sunrise trail with the finish line near Canyons Resort Village.

March 31 – Spring Gruv continues with the Red Bull Schlittentag. Three-person teams build the craziest, fastest sled in the Wasatch then it’s all downhill.
The party continues in the Village at 3 p.m. with a free concert from Martin Sexton.

April 1 – Orgone free
concert starts at 3 p.m. 

Utah Residents receive up to 50% off
on lodging rates at select Canyons Resort properties. Anyone booking will also receive special 2 FOR 1 single and multi-day lift tickets. 888-CANYONS.

Park City Mountain Resort (Closing April 15)

April 8- The Easter Bunny arrives at 9 a.m. sharp in the Resort’s Kid’s Korral. Pastries, hot chocolate and coffee will be served. But be ready to roll for the best egg hunt in Utah. The annual “Hunt for the Golden Egg” takes place all over the mountain with two golden eggs containing 2012/2013 season passes.  Non-golden eggs have prizes like 2012 Summer Activities, 2012/2013 lift tickets, clothing and more.

Little kids get an Easter egg hunt for candy on First Time face.

Deer Valley (Closing April 15)

DV doesn’t host any spring events or deals but it doesn’t cost a dime to chill at “the Beach” at the Silver Lake Lodge.

The Easter Bunny makes a stop on April 8 but if you want the little ones to go egg hunting, try PCMR, Solitude, Snowbird or Alta instead.

Alta (Closing April 15, reopening Fri.-Sun. through April 29)

March 29 – April 2 – Ladies, don’t put away those boards just yet. The Alta Lodge Women’s Ski Camp brings together the best of the Alf Engen Ski School’s instructors for three days of instruction and four nights of lodging, breakfasts and dinners. You’ll be in a fun environment where you can challenge yourself, improve your technique and meet some new ski buddies. You’ll also get the scoop on the newest women-specific skis so we can help you pick the right skis for you.

April 6-15 – Alta in April. Alta Chamber & Visitors Bureau present a week of après ski events, live music, an on-mountain ski scavenger hunt, a costume contest and more.

April 7:  Spring Ski Demo Day presented by Powder House Ski Shops and Alta Ski Shop, free ski demos, live music on the GMD Deck; Beer and Brats at Alf’s Restaurant (mid-mountain in Albion Basin, 11:00-2:00pm, $10)

April 8:  ACE Easter Egg Hunt (for the kids, 11:00am start) and Skier’s Photo Scavenger Hunt, an on-mountain hunt for gear and prizes (12:30-3:30pm)

April 9:  Apres Ski Pool Party at the Alta Peruvian Lodge – Pool Deck (4:00-6:00pm) 

April 10:  Apres Ski Wine and Appetizers at the Alta’s Rustler Lodge – Eagle Nest Lounge (4:00-6:00pm) and Open Mic at the GMD Saloon (8:00-10:00pm)

April 11:  Apres Ski at the Shallow Shaft Restaurant featuring Epic Brewing (4:00-6:00pm)

April 12:  Apres Ski at The Snowpine Lodge with the Alta Historical Society Fireside Chat- Alta’s Wild Old Bunch (4:00-6:00pm)

April 13:  Freaky Friday Stretchpants and Sunglasses Costumed Ski Day – show off your most wild spring style, and you may win the “Best Dressed” prize! Prizes and drawing on Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge deck (3:30pm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowbird (TBA but closing sooner rather than later. No way they’re making it to Memorial Day this year.)

April 8 – Easter Sunday starts with a free sunrise service on Hidden Peak. The
last Tram up departs at 6:43 a.m. so be in line by 6 a.m. to make sure you get on.

The free Easter Egg Hunt for kids under 11 takes place at 9 a.m. on Chickadee.

April 9 – Daredevil Dummy Downhill. Build it and send it down Gad Valley at 5 p.m. Prizes are awarded in a variety of categories including Best Crash.

April 17 – Plaza Deck Bash. Music, giveaways and $40 lift tickets.

Solitude (Closing April 15)

April 8 – Peter Cottontail visits the Moonbeam Center and eggs on the little ones as they hunt.

Brighton (Closing April 22)

It’s not too late to learn. Brighton’s 3-day Learn to Slide package includes a free Smith helmet. Sign up for three group lessons, three full-day rentals and three learner lift tickets all for $199.

March 31- Red Bull Minors Cup is a big mountain “invite only” event for juniors under 18. The judging panel, comprised of top industry pros, will score the difficulty of line, fluidity, innovation of tricks, and speed.

April 14 – Neff Beach Bash Snowboard Jam. First 125 to register get to compete. The rest can party, enjoy the DJ, food, swag and sun.

Sundance (Closing April 8)

It’s one of the first mountains to close but Sundance has a robust summer with some of the best mountain biking in the north. Makes sense to get the skiers off the mountain so the snow can melt.

Snowbasin (Closing April 15)

Spring weekends are filled with music on the Needles deck Friday and Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m

April 8 – Annual Snowbasin Easter Buffet. $37 for adults, $17 for youth and free for kids under 6. Call 801 620-1021 for reservations.

Powder Mountain (Closing April 8)

HAPPY EASTER?PASSOVER!!!