Park City & Deer Valley

Funky 5K

A Labor Day Highlight

If you see a couple cows jogging down your street Monday morning, don't worry. There will probably be a witch and a few goblins following suit.

It's not exactly Halloween, but it is Labor Day weekend.

The eighth annual Funky 5K on Labor Day will take place Monday, and while the race is primarily to fund the Arts-Kids center, the fun in it all is the experience itself.

Racers are thoroughly encouraged to dress in costume and run the 3.1 miles.

Race organizer Jennifer Carr is a first-year associate of the Funky 5K, but knows it'll be worth the while.

"It's a Park City kind of run," Carr said. "It's just a fun race started a few years back and kind of just progressed into this."

The race will start at City Park, where breakfast will be served, and will eventually wind its way up toward Park Avenue and then eventually onto Main Street.

Originally, the race started as a collaboration between the Arts-Kids center the Winter Youth Sports Alliance, but eventually became primarily a benefit for Arts-Kids.

"It's all in combination in terms of the Labor Day in Park City," Carr said. "People will be able to run the 5K and then head up to Main Street and do whatever they want to do up there on Labor Day."

Those who dress conspicuously will have a good chance to win a boatload of cash.

A cash prize will be given to the best costume winner. Other prize winners will be: first, second and third-place finishers in specific gender and age categories, runners with baby strollers (both in costume), and a "centipede team" composed of five runners who run connected to one another. Also, there will be a prize for "funkiest chick and dude," presumably for some of the best costumes.

The race is open to all ages and abilities, and those who wish to walk are also welcome. Pre-registration for adults is $20, while it'll be $10 for the youth-to-19 age range. Registration on race day for adults will be $30, and $15 for the youth-to-19 range.

Carr hopes this will be another chapter in a very fun, eclectic community-wide event for a great cause.

"I encourage everyone to wear costumes and to have fun," she said.

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

by Christopher Kamrani OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record

Worlds of Wellness & Sustainability Combine at New Event

The inaugural EarthWell Festival will bring together the worlds of wellness and sustainability at Kimball Junction's Redstone Center the weekend of Sept. 11-12. For two days, attendees can explore a tent village of shops, educational booths, live, solar-powered music and free classes.

From experts in clean energy, sustainable building and green products to holistic healers, nutritionists and alternative medicine providers, the unique compilation of exhibitors will make EarthWell Festival the first of its kind in the Intermountain West.

"It will truly be a unique and unforgettable experience," says Chris Bachman, Festival Director. "From the moment EarthWell attendees enter the gates, they'll be transported into a festive, welcoming world of white tents with streets, parks and colorful flags. Imagine a blend of a Green Expo and Renaissance Fair," he explains.

Once inside, festival-goers will sample organic eats from chefs like Omar Abou-Ismail of Rawtopia, join in drum circles with Lets All Drum, take free ballroom dancing lessons from the professionals of Ballroom Utah and shop an array of wellness and sustainability vendors. The festival's ongoing schedule of free classes and activities makes this the perfect event for trying something new or delving deeper into a favorite topic. And for the kids, there will be a rock climbing wall, recycled art projects and more.

Walking its sustainability talk, EarthWell Festival will reuse, recycle or compost 95 percent of its waste. Disposable plastic bottles and bags will be considered contraband, and the festival will be strictly solar-powered. What's more, a portion of festival proceeds will benefit non-profits like Recycle Utah, Community Action Services & Food Bank and National Ability Center.

EarthWell Festival gates will be open at Redstone Center Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for two days, but festival-goers can save $5 by riding a bike to the festival, bringing a few food cans (to donate to the food bank), or completing a survey at http://www.earthwellfestival.org/save.htm . Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge.

For more information about EarthWell Festival, contact Chris Bachman at (877) 500-6575 or visit www.earthwellfestival.org.

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

Submitted by Ted Tuttle to The Park Record

How Do You Mountain?

Uphill Capacity to Increase 47 Percent

Talisker will be "re-creating" its Park City resort over the next 15 months. Changes to be ready for opening day include new branding, new gondolas, new lifts and a new village center.

Branding

The Canyons Resort is now to be called just "Canyons."

Paul Boardman from New York was recently hired as the company's new director of brand, strategy and development and explained that "Canyons" is more appealing at a Thursday press conference.

He also said he will be pressing the question, "How do you mountain?"

People have an emotional connection to mountains and Talisker wants to tap into that, he said.

"What are people's expectations, desires and emotions with the mountain?" he asked rhetorically. "Here people have some of the most strong, most passionate connections as with any terrain in the world."

A new series of video ads features people explaining what spending time at Canyons means to them.

Transportation

In addition to introducing its new campaign, the press conference also unveiled three new ways to get up the slopes.

The base of the Flight of The Canyons Gondola is moving to directly across the village center from Cabriolet Lift, dramatically shortening the walking distance for people parked below the resort.

The direct-connect gondola will still transport guests from the village center to the Red Pine Lodge. The gondola cabins will also be upgraded.

Where the gondola base had been will feature the resort's new high-speed quad lift that Talisker is calling "orange bubbled" and "state-of-the-art."

As guests sit down on the padded and heated seats they will pull down an orange, bubble-like enclosure. Managing Director Mike Goar said the color is visually striking from the outside, and makes colors "pop" from the inside like a pair of giant ski goggles.

Goar said he believes there may be none like it in North America; the inspiration came from Austria.

The new lift will take guests to just south of Sun Peak Lift in nine minutes and will increase uphill capacity by 47 percent.

Skiing/Snowboarding

Iron Mountain to the very south of the resort will see 300 aces of new, northwest-facing skiable terrain. This will include 10 new runs including intermediate to expert, and glade tree skiing, bringing the total at the resort to 176 runs. The construction will include a new detachable quad lift. Timberline Lift will also give guests access to the area.

According to resort spokesperson Elizabeth Dowd, "The new lift will enhance the ease of skiing both north and south off of Lookout Peak and guests will be able to ski directly to the Red Pine area. The south end of the resort is accessible via Timberline Lift which you can ride in both directions. It has stations at the bottom of Tombstone and the bottom of the new Iron Mountain Lift."

Goar said many of the complaints guests have had since Talisker bought the resort two years ago can be addressed through improved snowmaking so Canyons is constructing a 20-million-gallon reservoir. The water and other infrastructure investments will more than double the resort's snow-making capabilities and provide a more reliable early-season experience, he said.

He also anticipates this development to significantly improve the resort's rankings in SKI Magazine's annual survey.

Village Center

Boardman said something the resort is lacking is a way for guests to relax between runs. That's why changes to the village center are also planned including a "ski beach."

Located between the bases of the new gondola and new quad lift, guests on the beach can order food and beverages from breakfast to après ski. It will also make an appropriate venue for events, according to a press release.

Boardman said these changes are part of why Smokies Bar and Grill was torn down.

"All you saw was the back of a bar. Now you're looking at the slopes," he explained.

Ready by Winter

Goar said these changes will be ready by opening day. More are coming before opening day 2011. Everything Talisker has envisioned for the resort's "re-creation" will likely be completed within five to seven years.

An increase in ticket prices will be required to help fund the projects, but Goar said it won't be more than guests might anticipate or be comfortable with.

He also expected the resort to employ 100 additional people this year.

Goar said he believes these changes are the most significant improvements any resort is making in North America this year. They may be the most significant improvements made in years, he added.

Furthermore, he anticipates the first phase of construction to attract attention and raise the profile of Utah skiing.

"The strength of this business in the long term is the synergy that exists with the other resorts," he said.

"Our investment here is part of the larger thesis of Utah skiing," Boardman added.

Boardman said in a new video spot that his experience with the mountains began on hikes with his father in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He said in the press conference he is a newcomer to the ski industry, but is an expert in helping people make an emotional connection to a brand.

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

by Andrew Kirk OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record

DEER VALLEY Condominiums

Real Estate for Sale and Pending Sales

Updated August 5th, 2010

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Homes contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

*This information contained here in was obtained from the Park City MLS and is deemed accurate.  However, we do not guarantee its accuracy and all information is subject to chagne without notice.

DEER VALLEY Single Family Homes

Real Estate for Sale and Pending Sales

Updated August 5th, 2010

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Homes contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

*This information contained here in was obtained from the Park City MLS and is deemed accurate.  However, we do not guarantee its accuracy and all information is subject to chagne without notice.