Omg, I missed the Warren Miller ski film premiere?! Stop the presses! It’s a rite of every fall passage. Why didn’t I go? As the days get shorter and flakes speckle the lingering autumn hours, you gotta step into a ski porn premiere. You just gotta if you want to start your winter off right. Well, I didn’t.

The annual tradition that unofficially kicks off winter – because let’s face it the ‘official’ kickoff is whenever your ski resort opens-  is back to titillate your ski senses. WME’s 68th ski film, Line of Descent celebrates the snow tribe, rites of passage and the legendary lineage of snowsports athletes from icons like Tommy Moe, Jonny Moseley and JT Holmes to the fresh faces of Kalen Thorien, Marcus Caston, and Griffin Post. “We explore how skiers are shaped by picking up a pair of skis for the first time,” notes Warren Miller’s veteran producer Josh Haskins. “More often than not, it’s family who introduces us to the sport or steers us on the path towards an ongoing passion—be it a ski bum lifestyle, a professional career or simply the desire to pass on the same feeling to the next generation. There is a kinship unlike any other in the ski community, and Warren Miller is the elder, bringing generations of skiers and riders together for 68 years, and this year is no different.”

Why has WME done it every year for 68 years? Probably because there’s an audience for it every year just drooling to get amped for winter. Oh, and title sponsors like Volkswagen, travel sponsors like Montana and athletes’ sponsors make it possible. Since 1949, most ski families have cheered the official kickoff of winter with a Warren Miller ski film; I started it with my daughter in 2006- her very first winter. They have screening throughout the season and across the states but there’s nothing like catching the premiere vibe. It’s not because a Warren Miller ski film is an epic tale of adventure with an Academy Award-winning cast.

Story is irrelevant in ski porn. You’re along for the white ride as talented rippers slash jaw-dropping spines and chest deep, tree-filled lines in segment after segment until you are arcing those same turns in your head. Athletes visit Jackson Hole, Montana, Silverton, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, the French Alps, New Zealand, British Columbia, and Norway and Steamboat in Line of Descent, teasing, “Wish you were here.” You leave; successfully fluffed for ski season.

Utah’s Kaylin Richardson tears up Norway

Maybe I missed opening night of this Warren Miller ski film because I’m not ready to accept winter. I’m a skier but also a rock climber. The fall in Utah has been a mix of cooler snowy days and gorgeous fall colors under blue skies. If I don’t watch Line of Descent, perhaps I can forestall winter? Just a few more weeks and I’ll be ready for that release. Luckily, there are more screenings coming up if I happen to change my mind.

Salt Lake City – Abravanel Hall – Friday, October 13 & Saturday, October 14 – 7:30
Orem – SCERA Grand Theatre – October 17, 18 & 19

Park City – George S. and Dolores Dore’ Eccles CPA – October 20 & 21

Ogden – Peery’s Egyptian Theater – October 24, 25 & 26

BTW, I was bummed to learn that the super awesome local lift ticket deals to Solitude (free ticket!) and Snowbird (2-for-1) that were offered to moviegoers over so many years are no more. Film attendees instead get a discounted ticket at Solitude ($45) and a 2-for-1 to Snowbasin. But, hey, you can ski free at Steamboat! Other deals include:

– $50 off the Mountain Collective Pass
– 2 lift tickets to Big Sky Resort for $139 + tax
– 25% off a single purchase or 50% off a ski/board/bike rental or tune at Sports Den (*SLC screenings only)
– $20 off at Alpine Sports (*Ogden screenings only)

It snowed last night; it’s going to snow all weekend. That’s mountain weather for you but all of a sudden my inbox is full of ski area opening dates and news. People, today was the first day of Autumn! If you’re getting excited about the recent storms, put a lid on it.

Having snow on the ground is simply a tease for the local resorts to hype up their advertising and get you to think winter skiing (and start spending money on a vacation). Nothing’s open until Thanksgiving so you can’t ski new snow anyway but who cares?! Further, there are no predictions of a successful snow year tied to snowfall in September.

Photo by Lisa Densmore Ballard

I guarantee you that it will all melt next week. We’re still rock climbing and mountain biking around here. Only a few dumb-asses are hiking for one run on snow-covered grass so please stop sending me your resorts-covered-in-snow photos. I have nearly two months for pre-season training.

As of Friday 9/22/17, we still have 56 days until the lifts start spinning in Utah.

Utah Resort Opening Dates:

Alta Ski Area: November 22

Beaver Mountain: TBD

Brian Head Resort: November 17

Brighton Resort: As Early As Possible

Cherry Peak Resort: December 18

Deer Valley Resort: December 2

Eagle Point Resort: December 21

Nordic Valley Resort: December 9

Park City Mountain: November 17

Powder Mountain: TBD

Snowbasin Resort: November 22

Snowbird Resort: November 22

Solitude Mountain: December 2

Sundance Mountain Resort: December 8

It’s a total Catch-22. You get a resort job and there’s no place to live. It’s getting harder and more expensive to find a seasonal Park City rental. Landlords want a year lease and solo tenants, and tenants want to live three to a room, from November-March. Impasse, much? Oh, and we’d like it to be $700/mo or less.

Let’s Get Realistic

Even if you aren’t looking for your own place it’s going to cost you at least $700+ a month. It’s even more if you want to live alone; and with a pet.

Deer Valley and Park City offer employee housing but it’s scarce and dormlike. Plus, if you aren’t a ski instructor, liftee, etc. you’re not welcome to it. So now, you might be pulling your hair out trying to find a Park City rental; especially if you aren’t local.

Where do you start to look?

Here’s the bad news- you should have started looking for a Park City rental back in August. What the hell were you waiting for? The right moment? The perfect match of charm and price? The good news is you still have about two months before it becomes slim pickings and desperation. I like to start leases December 1 because I know how easy it is to find renters. As a landlord, I know I can get my place rented in two days at that time. But I’m not on a busline, and it’s a one-year lease. The busline/month-to-monthers are gone by November.

Tips For Finding A Park City Rental

Almost Forgot This Pointer

One other thing I forgot to mention was to contact the HR departments at Deer Valley and Park City. They often will keep a folder of available rentals.

If all else fails, save your money for a reliable car, rent a place in Salt Lake City and commute.

Good Luck!!